> MintPPC is back: [...]
> ...as is CRUX-PPC: [...]

Slackware for PPC32/PPC64 BE/LE:
https://www.riscyslack.org

Arch Linux for PPC32/PPC64 BE/LE:
https://www.archlinuxpower.org
https://github.com/kth5/archpower/releases


Edit: ArchPower now also for PPC64BE.

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf 21.03.2023 - 14:28 ]

Update:

> debate whether this ABI on PPC64BE is proper
> ELFv2, a subset of ELFv2 or no ELFv2 at all:
> https://lists.ozlabs.org/pipermail/linuxppc-dev/2020-June/thread.html#211731

Solution regarding "ELFv2 BE ABI" announced:

"- Right now things work “by accident” [...]
- IBM thinks VSX requirement is a part of the ABI
- Solution: Formalize “ELFv2 Legacy-Compatible” ABI [...]
- ELFv2 minus POWER8/VSX requirement
- Extension of the official spec
- No VSX nor VMX requirement [...]
- Coming during 2021"
https://www.fosdem.org/2021/schedule/event/voidlinuxlittleendian/attachments/slides/4462/export/events/attachments/voidlinuxlittleendian/slides/4462/void_ppc_update.pdf (p. 36-38)
https://video.fosdem.org/2021/D.power/voidlinuxlittleendian.mp4 (MP4 video)
https://video.fosdem.org/2021/D.power/voidlinuxlittleendian.webm (WebM video)

Twitter message:
https://twitter.com/octaforge/status/1349073651455418368


Edit: added video links

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf 16.02.2021 - 12:04 ]

These will help remedy some of the browser issues (or lack thereof) on 32-bit ppc Linux. Generic G3 (no altivec) builds compatible with ubuntu, debian, fienix, mint, gentoo, and void (glibc version).

Install via dpkg, or unpack the .deb and manually install to a location of your liking.

Arctic Fox
SpiderWeb

Cheers

[ Edited by wicknix 27.01.2021 - 17:45 ]

@Andreas_wolf: This is good news, thanks for the update!

"A G4 ought to be enough for anybody." like Bill Gates once said.

> "A G4 ought to be enough for anybody."
> like Bill Gates once said. ;-)

If this is meant in relation to "ELFv2 BE ABI", then no. ELFv2 is strictly 64-bit (as is ELFv1, btw), so no G4. In terms of MorphOS-compatible machines, this means G5/PPC970 and QorIQ P5.

Hmm... I didn't realize this would be 64bit only. His 32bit LE efforts seem to be for the G4 though. Would also increase software compatibility I guess.

> I didn't realize this would be 64bit only. His 32bit LE efforts [...]

64-bit big-endian ELFv2 ABI and 32-bit little-endian SVR4 ABI are two distinct efforts that happen to be initiated by the same developer. There's no overlap between them.

> [...] seem to be for the G4 though.

From p. 22 and 29:

"- Works as a chroot on 64-bit kernel [...]
- Easier emulation of 32-bit x86
- Port LE Linux to G3s/G4s? :) [...]
- For now, strictly POWER8+ though"

According to this, bare-metal port to PPC32 hardware may happen, but is not the primary objective. The point seems to be the simplification of 32-bit x86 emulation on PPC64LE hardware.

On another note:

"we're planning [...] allowing the little endian userlands to work on G3/G4 powermacs"
https://www.talospace.com/2020/12/void-ppc-goes-little-endian-on-32-bit.html?showComment=1608436832788#c1276631954537967166

> Slackware for PPC32/PPC64 BE/LE: https://www.riscyslack.org

Another attempt, also for PPC32/PPC64 BE/LE:
https://bonslack.org/status.html

Update:

> ELFv2 BE ABI

Now officially supported by the Linux kernel (as of v6.2):
https://lists.ozlabs.org/pipermail/linuxppc-dev/2022-November/251506.html (GCC)
https://lists.ozlabs.org/pipermail/linuxppc-dev/2023-February/254725.html (Clang/LLVM)


Edit: added link to kernel patch for Clang/LLVM support

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf 24.02.2023 - 01:34 ]

Been running ELFv2 BE ABI since 6.2-rc1 on my G5 11,2 and Talos II and it just works. Kernel and module size is a bit smaller due to lower stack usage it seems.

ELFv2 BE ABI 6.2 kernel is also possibla with clang with use of yet-to-be-mainlined patches (see https://github.com/ClangBuiltLinux/linux/issues/1761). Performance seems on par but with some Altivec regressions compared to GCC build.

> just use Void Linux (klick).

With Void Linux stopped being maintained for Power(PC) half a year ago, the former maintainer has now made a first experimental Live ISO image of his Chimera Linux, a BSD userland running on a Linux kernel, available for PPC64BE:

https://twitter.com/chimera_linux/status/1671002574244265987
https://floss.social/@chimera_linux/110574504379141787

@Andreas_Wolf: Did you try Chimera on a G5? I wonder how it performs compared to other ppc/ppc64 Linux Distros?

> Did you try Chimera on a G5?

No. If I do, it will be with a less experimental state :-)

Update:

>> ELFv2 BE ABI

> Now officially supported by the Linux kernel (as of v6.2): [...]

Switched from supported to default as of v6.5:

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.5-POWER
https://lists.ozlabs.org/pipermail/linuxppc-dev/2023-June/258569.html

@Andreas_Wolf: ELFv2 BE ABI works fine on ppc64. I've been using it since v6.2 and never had any problems with it. Kernel also gets a little bit smaller. As of v6.3 you can also build your BE kernel with clang/lld (at least clang-15 is needed), which was not possible before.

But AFAIK it's only a ppc64-thing. 32bit ppc uses a different ABI anyhow.

> ELFv2 BE ABI works fine on ppc64.

Yes, I know. Void PPC successfully started it some years back, as comment #50 has been a testimony to.

> I've been using it since v6.2 and never had any problems with it. Kernel also
> gets a little bit smaller. As of v6.3 you can also build your BE kernel with
> clang/lld (at least clang-15 is needed), which was not possible before.

Yes, I took as much from your comment #70 and added the Clang info shortly after to comment #69 :-)

> AFAIK it's only a ppc64-thing. 32bit ppc uses a different ABI anyhow.

Yes both ELFv1 and ELFv2 ABI are PPC64-only (see comment #65). And yes, Linux/PPC32 uses SVR4 ABI (see comment #67).

Your memory of my postings is certainly better than mine.

So the news value really only would be ELFv2 BE ABI going default for v6.5. Which is what you already posted.

Update:

> first experimental Live ISO image of [...] Chimera Linux [...] for PPC64BE

PPC64BE now regular release architecture: https://repo.chimera-linux.org/live/latest/

PPC32 now regular release architecture as well:
https://chimera-linux.org/news/2025/02/new-images.html
https://repo.chimera-linux.org/live/latest/


Edit: added info about PPC32 release

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf 17.02.2025 - 13:22 ]

Ok, then I'll try the new ISO. The beta one from July did not boot on my G5...