This chapter contains a short overview over the 7248-133 and Linux for PowerPC. The data for the other 7248 models should not be too different from this.
The IBM RS/6000 43P model 7248-133 is a not extremely new PReP based PowerPC workstation which was produced from 1995 through 1997. The 43P series includes a lot of machines, both CHRP and PReP based. Our model has among other things this to offer:
PReP architecture
132MHz PowerPC model 604 processor
512K synchronous L2 cache
Max 192MB RAM (EDO)
Integrated ncr53c810 SCSI-2 controller
Integrated IDE controller
Integrated AMD PCnet32 PCI ethernet adapter
Integrated IBM E15 2MB graphics adapter based on the S3 Vision864 chip
Integrated Crystal Audio cs4232 sound adapter
1.44MB Floppy disk drive
IBM 8X SCSI CD-ROM drive
Usually equipped with a 1.2MB IBM DPES 31080 SCSI hardisk
You can find more information at IBM's sales manual for this machine, found at this horrible URL
Linux has now a native port to the PowerPC processor, and all official code is maintained in the main kernel tree. The main part of the port was done by Gary Thomas. The story of the port can be found here. For more information on running Linux on the PowerPC processor, check out the LinuxPPC homepage http://www.penguinppc.org.
The LinuxPPC-2000 distribution has no less than two installation programs included on the CD. Unfortunately, there are some bugs that we have to sort out to make them work. The first is the "native" LinuxPPC installer, made with a graphical user interface. We're going to use this method after some hacking to get it to work. The second is a text based simple installation. You may want to try it if nothing else works. The installer from the ncurses- and text based Red Hat installation program may also occure if you use old ramdisks. It's abandoned by LinuxPPC, and will not work with LinuxPPC-2000.
We are actually not going to change much. The only problem is that the X installer LinuxPPC has made is made to work on PowerMacs, and is therefore a little buggy on our dear 7248 box. So, we have to do some of the configuration manually. Don't despair, this document will lead you through it, step by step.
Here is what we are going to do:
Set up the hardware properly ("BIOS settings") with IBM's System Management Services (SMS)
Get installation files from CD or FTP
Make boot floppies
Get the machine to boot and start the installation program
Partition the hard drives
Install the system
Boot the system
Set up networking
Update the kernel and set up X
Set up sound