Subject: Re: NetBSD PPC
To: Nathan Raymond <nate@staff.feldberg.brandeis.edu>
From: David Brownlee <abs@anim.dreamworks.com>
List: port-mac68k
Date: 06/08/1998 09:33:24
I think the relevant part of Erik's email was "correct and
complete". AFAIK the OpenFirmware on Apple machines has
'interesting' breakage such as opening a tftp session anytime
you try to access a network device.
This means that an OS relying on OpenFirmware for anything other
than the most basic of booting facilities will have no luck on
Apple machines. Hence NetBSD/macppc is a distinct port from
NetBSD/ofppc, though they both share common code from
/sys/arch/powerpc, (as does NetBSD/bebox).
David/absolute
-=- Sue me, screw me, walk right through me -=-
On Mon, 8 Jun 1998, Nathan Raymond wrote:
> On Mon, 8 Jun 1998, Erik E. Fair wrote:
>
> > The "ofpcc" is for systems with correct and complete OpenFirmware (IEEE
> > 1275), a category that, alas, does not include any Apple products. After
> > all, that sort of thing might make it easier to boot an OS other than
> > MacOS...
> >
> > Erik <fair@clock.org>
>
> PCI PowerMacs *do* have OpenFirmware - Apple had to impliment OF for PCI
> support.
>
> OF is how LinuxPPC works - MkLinux uses a booter like NetBSD, but LinuxPPC
> does NOT need the MacOS at all to boot (and it only works on PCI PowerMacs
> of course). You have to break into OF early at startup and change some
> variables at the command line to boot into LinuxPPC. No reason why NetBSD
> PPC couldn't do the same.
>
> --
> Nathan Raymond
> http://www.everythingmac.com
>