Hi,
I've got a Pegasos 2 running MorphOS 2.7 and OS4.1 (sorry). Is it possible to install a PPC Linux like Ubuntu on this machine and then have a boot selector that allows me to boot either MorphOS, OS4 or Ubuntu? Is that possible? If so, how? I'm not very familiar with Linux so I'd need some sort of idiot guide.
Thanks for help!

yes it is possible, but you"ll be limited to some old ubuntu version as the pegasos is not supported anymore (if it ever was).
You'll find some boot and netinstall images here : http://genesi.hu/ubuntu/

AFAIK debian still supports the pegasos.

About bootmenu, all you need is to add an entry with the boot image name followed by the path to your root partition.
There are some tutorials that are a bit old but that could help on the web.

here is bootmenu http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/bootmenu (read the manual)


[ Edited by SoundSquare 29.06.2011 - 14:05 ]

> Is it possible to install a PPC Linux like Ubuntu on this machine

AFAIK the only Linux distributions that should have out of the box Pegasos II support in their most recent versions are Debian*, Gentoo and Crux.

Debian:
http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/6.0.2.1/powerpc/iso-dvd/ (Squeeze)
http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/weekly-builds/powerpc/iso-dvd/ (Testing/Wheezy)

Gentoo:
http://mirrors.kernel.org/gentoo/releases/ppc/current-iso/

Crux:
http://ftp.cruxppc.org/cruxppc/2.7/
http://cruxppc.org/~acrux/27a.iso (update)

* It might be that the Pegasos II is not supported by Debian Squeeze:
http://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/powerpc/ch02s01.html.en (see 2.1.2.4)
On the other hand, Debian Lenny has the same note while it supports the Pegasos II AFAIK:
http://www.debian.org/releases/lenny/powerpc/ch02s01.html.en

> and then have a boot selector that allows me to boot either
> MorphOS, OS4 or Ubuntu?

The Pegasos II SmartFirmware comes with a built-in "boot selector". You just have to write a Forth script to make proper use of it. For this there's the BootCreator tool to help you create such script.

> http://aminet.net/package/util/boot/bootmenu

I'd rather recommend BootCreator.

@ bluebutterfly

here a guide about bootloader Boot Creator (for Pegasos2)
http://www.nonsoloamiga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=251

here a guide about bootloader YABOOT (for PowerMac G4/G4, Mac mini G4, Emac G4, Powerbook G4 ...etc...)
http://www.nonsoloamiga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=106

> bootloader Boot Creator

BootCreator is not a boot loader but a generator of Forth scripts that are able to leverage the boot loader that is part of the SmartFirmware.

There's some info about installing Debian 5 (?) on Peg 2 here:
http://www.powerdeveloper.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1677&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I've got a Quad boot of OS4.1/MorphOS/Debian/Suse, But it was so long ago, I've forgetten how I did it

I don't use Linux much and SUSE less than Debian, probably due to the early version of KDE4, and I never got around to updating it, if that was even possible.

Thanks for the replies. Sounds more complicated than I thought :) Another problem is that I don't have a DVD drive. Is there also some Linux that comes on a CD ISO or is that too small?

> Is there also some Linux that comes on a CD ISO or is that too small?

The Gentoo and the Crux images I linked to are CD ISO files. For Debian see there:

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/6.0.2.1/powerpc/iso-cd/ (Squeeze)
http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/weekly-builds/powerpc/iso-cd/ (Testing/Wheezy)

Not really complicated, but... =)
Go here:
http://www.morphos-files.net/find.php?find=pegasos+book
and search for Linux installation,
or here:
http://morphos.lukysoft.cz/vypis.php?kat=15
and in the bottom of page you will find the Pegasos Book. There is a section (volume 4) that explains how to install different Linux systems on Pegasos. Debian is the easiest, not mentioning it is still supporting PPC and Pegasos.
Then go here:
http://www.debian.org/CD/
and you will discover there are several Debian CDs allowing to install. I suggest to use the NetInst version: it is small (135-175 mb)
and really user-friendly.
You find all versions here:
http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/debian-installer/

> not mentioning it is still supporting PPC and Pegasos.

Thanks for clarification that Debian Squeeze supports the Pegasos II. That's nice to hear.

> the NetInst version: it is small (135-175 mb)

Actually, the debian-6.0.2.1-powerpc-netinst.iso is 238 MB ;-)

@ Andreas:
Not really sure it works.... =)
But I haven't found anything declaring the opposite.
And I've read this:
http://www.powerdeveloper.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14153

EDIT: 238 MB?!? Oops, I've read wrong =)


[ Edited by Jambalah 30.06.2011 - 14:32 ]

> http://www.powerdeveloper.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14153

Thanks for this link. So it seems Debian Squeeze indeed supports the Pegasos II out of the box. Nice :-) For Linux novices I really recommend Debian over Gentoo and Crux.

> 238 MB?!? Oops, I've read wrong =)

No, you read correctly. It's stated on the Debian site as you wrote, but it's a false statement there.

Quote:
=D
I'm going to try it.......

At first I thought it was complicated as well but at the end of the day I ended up with a Pegasos2 Booting MorphOS, amigaOS 4.1 and 2 Linux distros. Debian Lenny and Open Suse. Both are available in CD ISOS.

Have tried Ubuntu on Peg2 but I had only a very old version working, newer ones simply would not Boot even with the files from Genesi website presented.

The general idea behind the trick is to create a boot, root and swap partition that would be used by the Linux. Swap one should be doouble the size of your RAM. Boot should be a small one and Root should be a bigger one as it will host the basic System plus your workspace. Each installation program of a Linux distro would allow you to create and set those partitions by hand. Avoid automatic scripts of installation as they would usually mess your hard disk, do everything step by step and by yourself. You would be ask to set the file system of each aprtition letting be ext3 with journal -the most common filesystem on Linux that works great on Pegasos, ext4 would not be a good idea-. You will also need to set the usage of each partition letting be Boot for the boot partition and "/" -or Root- for the root one, swap would be for your swap partition. All these would need to be set on the partition management part of the install utility, which is actually the most tricky part of the game as the rest of the install should go in almost auto mode.

I suggest you should start with Debian, it is the most simple to use and out of the box, distro, it has a very friendly install script and would guide you step by step. Here are three tips that would make your life easier:

1. A good idea is to create the three new partitions under MorphOS setting them to be custom on the filesystem tab. Then you should change them in Ext3 and Swap under the installation prog of Debian.

2. As far as you have done with the install and before log in to your new Linux do this: Mount your boot partition on MorphOS -I do not know if in 2.8 ext3 partition are mount-able out of the box on older versions there was a tool allowing you to do this, I can not remember now the name but it was on the install CD and it was not automatically installed you should install it by hand, I will remember the name and re post it-. After mounting the partition copy the Yaboot loader into a partition that would be easil recognised by the Pegasos OF-. I sometimes had problem with the Of not recognising my Linux boot part. Let me explain:
To boot the linux after after the install we should press ESC and go to the OF fromm there we type the command:

boot hd3:yaboot

Let's say thta our Linux Boot partition is recognized by the OF as Hd3. All the partitions are marked as HDx form the OF. X is the partition number, go to each partition by typing HDx: (x is the number for example hd4:) and pressing enter. Use the LS command to see what is included in each partition.

Well sometimes the boot partition is not recognized by the OF so I have to copy yaboot into another SFS for example partition. Atually I have created a small Boot partition on the Peg2 titled Boot, it is on SFS and included all the bootloaders for all my OSes, bot.img for MorphOS, Yaboot for Linux etc... it also includes the BootCreator Do not mess this partition with the Boot partition of Linux which is something different and has to do only with Linux.

BootCreator is very easy to use. If you have trouble creating it I can help, I even can send examples, just PM.

I hope that I somehow got you into the point. Please M me if you have anything to ask or reply here. I tried to give you the general idea, use this with the links that have been given by the guys on the earlier posts and you will get on success.

ps1: I have installed Debian and Ubuntu on my PowerBook successfully, they work very good. MacOSX and 2 Linux distors, not bad, have left some free space and have created the small Boot partition as well, waiting for MorphOS :)

ps2. What I always wanted to do to complete my multiboot expierence on the Peg was to boot MacOSX in it. I have tried MacOnLinux and PegXMac with no success, if someone is able to give some basic guideline and some extra links -or tips- I would be very thankful!

ps3. II had NO success on installing a Linux distro on Peg1, nothing worked. Anyone that has managed to do so?

Thanks for your multi boot description - my Pegasos II boots MorphOS, AmigaOS and Xubuntu just nicely, but to be truthfull: This was mostly done by the former user of this system, so I would really get into trouble if I had to set it all up by myself!

> a small Boot partition on the Peg2 titled Boot [...] also includes the
> BootCreator [...] BootCreator is very easy to use. If you have trouble
> creating it I can help

I don't think it makes any sense to have BootCreator on a boot partition or to even "create" BootCreator. As I clarified in this very thread, BootCreator is just a creator of Forth scripts, so actually it is creating something but not being created itself by the user. And it really doesn't matter on which partition it is located. You may even delete it after you got it to create your desired script.

> I have tried MacOnLinux and PegXMac with no success, if someone is
> able to give some basic guideline and some extra links -or tips- I would
> be very thankful!

Most people seem to prefer MOLK over PegXMac (both of which use MacOnLinux btw). French installation guide:

http://obligement.free.fr/articles/molk.php

> II had NO success on installing a Linux distro on Peg1, nothing worked.
> Anyone that has managed to do so?

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2946&forum=17&start=16 :-)

I didn't try anything more recent though, and I ran this YDL version on my Peg1 until I sold it in 2009, but did manage to install some newer packages as long as they didn't require a kernel update (I ran 2.6.8), which was very few (I think I ran Mozilla 1.7.13 in the end). I avoided to upgrade the kernel because I didn't want to take any risk.

Quote:

Yes I was basically referring to the file that is generated by Boot Creator :)

Thanks for all the replies! I've now successfully managed to install MorphOS, OS4.1, and Debian on the same system. I didn't try Debian Squeeze, though, because of the problems mentioned in the other forums. I just went with Lenny because I really don't need to have the latest version. Lenny is fine.

One more question: Is it possible to mount my SFS partitions in Debian? The Wikipedia page on SFS says that Linux supports SFS in readonly mode, but in Debian I can't seem to get it working. Also, can MorphOS read ext2 partitions?

> can MorphOS read ext2 partitions?

Yes, since 2004 there's a MorphOS native ext2/3 filesystem handler, still read-only back then. Since 2005 it can also write ext2/3. Ext2FS is included in the MorphOS ISO image since 2010 (as of MorphOS 2.5).

http://www.google.com/search?q=site:morphos-team.net+ext2fs

Thanks, MorphOS mounts my ext2fs partitions just fine.

One more question though: How can I get my SFS partitions to show up under Linux? I found this web site which seems to have SFS drivers for Linux:
http://home.elka.pw.edu.pl/~mszyprow/programy/asfs/

Do these work on my Debian Lenny installation? If they do, how do I install them? I'd need to have an idiot's guide on this because I'm sort of a Linux noob :)

blue butterfly

Unfortunately, with some Linux operations there is no "idiot guide" lol as it can be difficult.. However you can for sure mount SFS in linux but I think its mounted with a command using AFFS or something I forgot the deal, look on genesi's linux support website. I used to mount my boot partition which is SFS in linux to xfer files alot.. (boot kernels and things) afaik

I've tryed to boot from the minimal cd of gentoo thats linked but seems to be missed the pegasos kernel.
I can boot a menu but when try to boot the comandline, do not found the "pegasos" file in the /boot dir.

I've tryed too with peg804_netinst ubuntu but say that Ca't found the disk controller and I can't enter to the partition menu in the installer ... I had this installed a long time ago :(

Tomorrow I will try with debian.
Wish-me good luck

[ Edited by Doraemon 28.09.2011 - 23:00 ]

I am bringing back this topic cause I have my Peg1 in here and want to finally install some Linux on it.

Thanks for the links given about YDL :)

But it seems that I can not find the ISO anywhere.

Does anyone has an ISO of Yellow Dog Linux that supports Peg1 or perhaps knows a palce where the ISO of YDL 4.0 cna be loaded?

Any optional distros for Peg1 would be cool to be mentioned :) -links, isos etc..-.

:)

> Any optional distros for Peg1 would be cool to be mentioned :) -links, isos etc..-.

The most recent Linux distro that I know of that runs (almost) out of the box on Peg1 is CRUX 2.5:

http://www.powerdeveloper.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1756