On 25/6/2006 6:10, "Brian Durant" <globetrotterdk@diplomatic-immunity.dk>
wrote:

> On Jun 24, 2006, at 22:28, Shane Ambler wrote:
> 
>> On 24/6/2006 8:01, "Brian Durant" <globetrotterdk@diplomatic-
>> immunity.dk>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> Wow, so the situation is even worse than with Linux? I don't really
>>> get what the problem is. The argument always seems to be based on the
>>> fact that there is such a plethora of different combinations and
>>> makes of hardware (cards, motherboards, etc.), but on the PPC
>>> platform, Apple has always maintained such a strict control on the
>>> hardware. The only time when this policy changed was during the clone
>>> period.
>> 
>> The biggest problem comes from custom chips that apple don't
>> release  tech
>> specs on how to write drivers for them.
>> 
>>> I haven't been able to get Linux working on either my recently
>>> purchased G3 PDQ or my G5 single (PowerMac 9.1) - except for Fedora
>>> Core PPC 5 (no sound). I would have thought that the BSDs being more
>>> closely related to OS X, the situation would be less problematic.
>>> Apple (claims at least, it) is supporting the Open Source community
>>> and I assumed that would include opening up for Open Source drivers
>>> for Apple gardware.
>>> 
>>> What are the alternatives for the G3 PDQ? Is it possible to strip
>>> down Jaguar (OS X 10.2.8) so that it only runs opgradable X Window
>>> apps? Many OS X apps have passed the cut off OS (Jaguar) for the PDQ.
>>> I know that a modified BootX exists that allows installation of
>>> Tiger, but I really just got the PDQ to run a Linux or BSD system on.
>>> 
>>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>>> 
>>> Cheers,
>>> 
>>> Brian
>>> 
>> 
>> I would have said that Yellow Dog Linux has the best Mac linux
>> support that
>> I know of but they seem to have disappeared recently.
>> 
>> You can get a copy of darwin (OS X without the gui) and run that
>> with X
>> Windows if you wish or leave it as a CLI machine depending on what
>> you want
>> to use it for.
>> http://www.gnu-darwin.org is putting together a system based on
>> darwin and X
>> Windows.
>> 
>> You can download darwin from http://www.opensource.apple.com/
>> darwinsource/
>> and use netBSD pkgsrc to add what you want.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> 
>> Shane Ambler
>> 007Marketing.com
>> Shane@007Marketing.com
> 
> Many thanks Shane. I have a few follow-up questions:
> 
> 1) Do you know anything about the installer (graphic, text or...)

Text based. I looked at it some time ago - the main hurdle is initial config
(if you are used to OS X gui config) the release notes had the initial
config steps I believe.
 
> 2) Are netBSD pkgsrc and X Windows already part of Darwin or...?

No you will need to install netBSD pkgsrc after darwin then install Xwindows
from that. Gnu-Darwin is working towards installing Darwin and Xwindows and
others in one go.
 
> 3) The file is called "darwinppc-602.cdr.gz" The ".gz" I recognize,
> but how does the ".cdr" compare to the ".iso" files that Linux
> distros use?
> 
As far as I know .cdr is the same as .iso - I know that toast burns both of
them as if it was it's own image file. Haven't tried burning with other
software.

> Cheers,
> 
> Brian
> 
> 

-- 

Shane Ambler
007Marketing.com
Shane@007Marketing.com