PowerPup! A project to port Puppy to PPC macs!

A home for all kinds of Puppy related projects
Message
Author
User avatar
mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#151 Post by mmmrr »

hi ben,

i hope this is okay with you.
there was interest, other than mine,
about porting puppy to powerpc at mintppc.org/forum.

http://www.mintppc.org/forums/viewtopic ... 18&start=0

i'm enjoying the mintppc but was trying to find away
to run puppy, virtually, inside mintppc. i've been posting
results, slim, and questions, several, on mintppc forum.

the developer/maintainer of mintppc suggested that a port
of puppy to ppc was doable in his opinion. in my reply i agreed,
mentioned yr work, linked to the topic here, to yr website, and
included yr useful summary as of last september[2010].

if this is a mistake on my part i'll remove it; my apologies
for not asking ahead of acting...hope things are going well
with you,

cheers, mm

User avatar
PowerPup
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed 18 Mar 2009, 01:56
Location: Washington, USA.
Contact:

#152 Post by PowerPup »

Hey mm,

It's okay that that you share my work and progress. If there are PPC Linux users out there, somewhere, that are more experienced than I, wanting to take the challenge of porting puppy, then by all means do share. ;)

Speaking of PowerPup, I plan on working on it again this summer, hopefully I'll get somewhere with it and have a minimalistic gui running. :D (Can't wait for summer, it rains a lot here during spring...)

Yeah I've been watching MintPPC, plan on trying it out sometime. Maybe during summer as well.

User avatar
Aitch
Posts: 6518
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 15:57
Location: Chatham, Kent, UK

#153 Post by Aitch »

Hi Ben/Powerpup

Still hanging in there....

I'm still watching/providing links, such as...

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=65059

It'll happen one day, I just know it.... :D

Aitch :)

linuxopjemac
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue 12 Jul 2011, 07:58

#154 Post by linuxopjemac »

I am willing to help but I don't want to start from scratch. Did anyone compile all packages needed for making a recent version of Puppy? What are the current problems and how did people try to solve them?

User avatar
Aitch
Posts: 6518
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 15:57
Location: Chatham, Kent, UK

#155 Post by Aitch »

Not sure if this has been posted before, but all info in one place!

Ted Dog has been working on Puppyfying a MacMini [intel], but has said;
.....Yes sorry the PPC puppy version I almost had workng years ago never could work around Xorg, that and the removal of OtherOS on my dev PS3 by SONY was the final blow. Still have the dev frozen in storage. I looked at if briefly when they found out how to regain linux on PS3.....
So, maybe worth pm'ing him, as well as read the various links in this thread....it's been awhile, but I know, I've posted loads!

Ben, Do you have anything maybe, anyone could work on?

There are several new build methodologies available in the main forum, but I think only Amigo's is cross-OS

Aitch :)

User avatar
Ted Dog
Posts: 3965
Joined: Wed 14 Sep 2005, 02:35
Location: Heart of Texas

iPuppy pre-anouncement

#156 Post by Ted Dog »

All the issues running puppylinux (fatdog64) on mini-mac have been solved. There is no real big changes, that a reordering of modules, init and small config files and one massive download from NVidia to correct Xorg and pipe the sound via HDMI.

After some replies on the MacPup thread Ive decided to name the project iPuppy since no other 'active' project uses that. I guess the first project name choice of AntiMacPup was a bit adversarial.

So it will boot in Apple 'BIOS' compatibility mode but the real iPuppy will boot in EFI mode by passing Apple Chooser and cutting boot time from 3 minutes to under 30 seconds.

This puppylinux did boot in EFI mode but no picture or sound had to go by the flash pattern of the light on my USB drive and a on-screen hicchup when it tried to start X windows.

I'll ask my nephew (the alpha mac-head of our family) if I can use the PPC mac left in the garage for the last 8 months, to dust off the PPC T2 code and see if the Xorg issue has magically disappeared. If you guys know any project using X successfully with PPC give me a PM. I have cross compile for PCC in stasis and need to relearn T2 inside of wolf system anyway.

User avatar
Aitch
Posts: 6518
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 15:57
Location: Chatham, Kent, UK

#157 Post by Aitch »


User avatar
PowerPup
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed 18 Mar 2009, 01:56
Location: Washington, USA.
Contact:

#158 Post by PowerPup »

Aitch wrote:Ben, Do you have anything maybe, anyone could work on?
The only thing I accomplished was swapping x86 binaries with PPC ones in the initrd, that way the ISO would boot.

The main problem was I don't know how to put a linux OS into a squashfs file. (Well, I kinda do. But reading how and knowing how are two different things. :P ) Then there was the issue of keeping it small enough to fit on a CD.


@Ted Dog: I haven't used that many PPC Linux distros but the ones I have tried with working Xorg are the following:

Slackintosh 12.1
Ubuntu 6.10 Live CD PPC
Frugalware -- (Had to use the xorg.conf generated from the Ubuntu Live CD to work. The bootsplash image wouldn't show in true color even though the desktop was fine.)
GeeXboX was a live CD that I tried in my PowerMac G4. Worked quite nice. But their homepage doesn't seem to be working. You can download it here.


My summer has turned out to be a lot busier than I thought it would be. I haven't even touched PowerPup yet. Guess it's been so long I'm not sure where to start. I've even had second thoughts on whether I want it based on PuppyLinux or not. Whether to use jwm or work with something else to make it feel more "Mac." I want PowerPup to be essentially an alternative for Mac users as PuppyLinux is for Windows users. The main issue is I don't use Linux enough to work with it. Much less to make my own OS. I need to find a place to setup a permanent Linux machine so I can sit down and really learn Linux, some programming, init scrpting, etc. Then maybe I can eventually learn to make an OS. There's just so many things I want to do and not enough time to learn them all at once.

User avatar
Dougal
Posts: 2502
Joined: Wed 19 Oct 2005, 13:06
Location: Hell more grotesque than any medieval woodcut

#159 Post by Dougal »

PowerPup wrote:The main problem was I don't know how to put a linux OS into a squashfs file. (Well, I kinda do. But reading how and knowing how are two different things. :P ) Then there was the issue of keeping it small enough to fit on a CD.
Just put the directory tree into a partition/directory, then run squashfs on it:

Code: Select all

mksquashfs /mnt/home/new-filesystem /mnt/home/pup_xxx.sfs
However, you might need to set the endianness (-le/-be) if it's different than x86...
What's the ugliest part of your body?
Some say your nose
Some say your toes
But I think it's your mind

ChiJoan
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri 27 May 2005, 08:41

MintPPC installed via netboot on spare hard drive...

#160 Post by ChiJoan »

I tried Debian 6.04 PPC net install, but reboot failed to bring up start button bar. Daily Lubuntu 12.04 failed to even get that far, but MintPPC worked, but online video is so slow. I think this needs more work with Apple dumping support for all these 16-bit Macs.

Joan in Reno

starhawk
Posts: 4906
Joined: Mon 22 Nov 2010, 06:04
Location: Everybody knows this is nowhere...

#161 Post by starhawk »

@PowerPup: I have a copy of a book called "Insider's Guide to PowerPC Computing", courtesy of Que books and the year 1994. If it would help you, I'd be glad to give it to you...

mini-jaguar
Posts: 597
Joined: Thu 13 Nov 2008, 13:45

Re: MintPPC installed via netboot on spare hard drive...

#162 Post by mini-jaguar »

ChiJoan wrote:I tried Debian 6.04 PPC net install, but reboot failed to bring up start button bar. Daily Lubuntu 12.04 failed to even get that far, but MintPPC worked, but online video is so slow. I think this needs more work with Apple dumping support for all these 16-bit Macs.

Joan in Reno
They are 32 bit, not 16. Try Debian CD or DVD, or Yellow Dog Linux.

2blue
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri 12 Dec 2008, 16:14

#163 Post by 2blue »

I have discovered there are quite a lot of powerpc still used on a daily basis. They were fairly good computers and I see after marked replacement parts are easily available at much lower prices than originally. There are numerous challenges with all the powerpc distros out there, including tiger and osx. The debian related distros are so close to working all fine on these computers, but needs a bit of attention for some applications to run more smoothly. A debian related puppy-ppc would be really interesting for both osx and linux users.

Are there any new on the project :)

User avatar
mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#164 Post by mmmrr »

hi 2blue,

i posted some specifics about the minttppc iso failed downloads at:
thread Linux on iBook G4
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 481#651481

welcome to this corner of the kennels

i found mintppc an excellent os for powerpc
i think a puppy port would be even better, in
large part because we run as root and mintppc,
being debian based, does not.

i don't know if an automated build system like
woof or roar-ng which can build a puppy out of
non-pup packages from debian could use mintppc
packages to assemble a ppc, running as root, puppy.

there is finnix [finnix.org] a linux for x86 and ppc
versions, a strong, small, fast--just like puppy--
where user runs as root, like puppy. finnix is debian
based user-root cli os.

if you want a graphical interface then the packages/tools:
apt, install, etc. are there to make it so. the developer has
provided it, for years, as a command line os for sys-admins.
a lightweight gui to fit with finnix would be excellent.

another possibility would be to see if finnix packages
could be used to build a command line puppy to which a
familiar set of desktop tools: jwm and rox might be fitted

one challenge the powerpc pup faces is a shortage of powerpc
boxes for interested folks to test on; at any rate it might help
things along if there was an ppc emulator to run on puppy with
a hassle-free setup and operation.

basilisk ll seems like it might be useful, one puppian has it
running well i gather but i've had an unsuccessful time with
it over 2 1/2 days. a virtual ppc would be handier than the
two actual powerpc units i have, when it came to testing & tuning.

it seems like with clear instructions and possibly some scripts
that a virtual ppc of the mac os 8 vintage could run on puppy
of the wary 5.3, kernel 2.6.3xxx...basilisk2 properties say a 2.6.4
kernel...

anyway that the new from here. mm

User avatar
8-bit
Posts: 3406
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 03:37
Location: Oregon

#165 Post by 8-bit »

As to testers, I currently have an Apple laptop running OS 7.5 and would be willing to be a tester.
I would have to check and see if it has enough memory though.
It seems that most of the older Apple hardware was shortchanged as far as memory goes.
The laptop has the 68000 PPC processor.

User avatar
mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#166 Post by mmmrr »

hi 8-bit,

that's great, thanks.

what occurs to me as presently useful with yr machine
would be to see if it can run an pc-emulator which could
run an early puppy such as 202 opera which only uses xvesa.
this forum's good-host, john murga, made the still outstanding puplet.

also to see if finnix for x86, with no gui, could be emulated.
also to see if finnix for ppc would boot/run natively on such a processor.
would you be willing/able to try any/all of those things.

i can help in looking for an emulator but at the moment i must go.

cheers mm

ChiJoan
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri 27 May 2005, 08:41

Lubuntu 13.04 PowerPC works

#167 Post by ChiJoan »

Just thought you might like to know...

Joan in Reno

User avatar
mmmrr
Posts: 184
Joined: Tue 03 Mar 2009, 05:26
Location: vancouver island, canada

#168 Post by mmmrr »

hi joan,
thanks for the info.
it's nice to know that the ppc boxes
are not being forgotten by linux but
it would be great if we could put a pup
there, i agree.
cheers, mm

jimwg
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon 19 Aug 2013, 02:44

#169 Post by jimwg »

Sorry I'm not a programmer because I'd happily help you out creating a Puppy for PPC Macs! That's why I first tried out MacPup but found out it doesn't do real Macs, but it's a great OS! Hate to see these older but fine MAChines go to as obsolete waste!

All the best to you!

Jim in NYC

Post Reply