I'm a long time user of NetBSD on old Mac hardware, and I tried 
various Linux versions (MkLinux, LinuxPPC) on not quite as old Mac 
hardware.  I wouldn't necessarily say that one is better than the 
other, but I do have problems with the many subtile differences in 
the two systems.  So I gave up on Linux and went back to what I'm 
familiar with, NetBSD.  Especially now that it runs quite well on my 
Power Mac 8500.

I can see two reasons to want to switch to LinuxPPC.  One, that you 
want to try Linux, and two, that you want to run a Unix clone on you 
Power Mac hardware.  If it's the first, have fun, and maybe you'll be 
back when you want to use the system instead of learn the system.  Or 
maybe not, it depends upon which you prefer after trying both.   If 
it's the second, then I recommend you stick with NetBSD, and not 
waste your time learning about all the differences so you can setup 
the machine to do what you want.

Now back to your actual questions, "how easy is it to compile source 
from NetBSD on LPPC R5?"  It depends upon the sources.  If you're 
compiling a widely used program, say Apache for example, it'll be 
easy.  The developers of most popular programs will already have 
included support for Linux.  There will probably even be a 
precompiled package that you can down load and install.  If you're 
compiling your own software, it then would depend upon how your code 
is written, and how tightly it depends upon NetBSD.

For your second question, "Is there other ways to share from the 
NetBSD platform?"  Stay on NetBSD.  Remotely use a NetBSD box, 
through telnet, NFS, XWindows, etc.  Add an extra hard disk, and dual 
boot.

Have fun.


Eric Damien Berna
eric@thiel.com

NetBSD 1.3.3 on a Mac Quadra 800
NetBSD-current on a Power Mac 8500