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rhel 5.5 installation DVD not working on Power Intellistation 285

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robers97

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Dec 21, 2010, 2:31:52 PM12/21/10
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I'm trying to go from openSuse 11.1 to RHEL 5.5 to get at more of the
enterprise features, but the installation DVD hangs after the right
after the monitors are detected early on in the boot process. I think
this is because the 285 Intellistations come with GXT4500 or GXT6500
graphics adapters that are not supported.

The DVD passes the media check function.

A few questions:

Is there any option at the yaboot command line I could use to either
force text or a vga type video mode to see if this is what's causing
the trouble?

Should I attempt to build the RHEL source and apply a patch (http://
cruxppc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=333) and then attempt to
configure yaboot to try this image instead of using the install DVD?
I'm thinking I could source the rpms from the DVD, would just need to
copy the OS files and setup the partitioned disk space to start in a
dual install type of configuration...

Thanks in advance.

PW

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Dec 22, 2010, 10:09:06 AM12/22/10
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Hi there

I have an Intellistation 285 as well which is happily running Yellow Dog
Linux 6.2. It originally came with the GXT6500 which I replaced with a
GXT135P. This makes for an easy life as running an RHEL based distro is
then a straightforward exercise. I can confirm that RHEL 5.5 will boot
into Anaconda without any difficulty for a full graphical install using
the GXT135P.

Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Best regards

Pat


robers97

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Dec 29, 2010, 2:33:19 PM12/29/10
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>
> Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?
>

Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up as
'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with those
options as parameters to append in the image definition. I know that
definition was being sourced, but the install kernel looks like it
ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a GXT135P.

Jerry Heyman

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Dec 29, 2010, 9:08:11 PM12/29/10
to
robers97 wrote:

What chip is the Power Intellistation?
It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power Architecture.
I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6

jerry
--
// Jerry Heyman | "Congress does not draw to its halls
// Amiga Forever :-) | those who love liberty, it draws those
\\ // heymanj at acm dot org | who love power." Judge Andrew Napolitano
\X/ http://www.hobbeshollow.com

pw

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Dec 31, 2010, 3:42:09 PM12/31/10
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On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:08:11 -0500
Jerry Heyman <hey...@acm.org> wrote:

> robers97 wrote:
>
> >
> >>
> >> Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?
> >>
> >
> > Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up
> > as 'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with
> > those options as parameters to append in the image definition. I
> > know that definition was being sourced, but the install kernel
> > looks like it ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a
> > GXT135P.

Hi Jerry

>
> What chip is the Power Intellistation?
> It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power
> Architecture. I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6
>
> jerry

The chip is a POWER5+ in the Intellistation 285 model. I use YDL 6.2
on mine but the installer for RHEL 5.5 will start up (graphically) with
no problems provided the graphics card is a GXT135P.

I was aware that RHEL6 will support ppc64 only whereas RHEL5 supports
ppc and ppc64. I didn't hear they had dropped support for POWER5 :(


Pat

Jerry Heyman

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Dec 31, 2010, 7:40:31 PM12/31/10
to
pw wrote:

> On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:08:11 -0500
> Jerry Heyman <hey...@acm.org> wrote:
>
>> robers97 wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?
>> >>
>> >
>> > Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up
>> > as 'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with
>> > those options as parameters to append in the image definition. I
>> > know that definition was being sourced, but the install kernel
>> > looks like it ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a
>> > GXT135P.
>
> Hi Jerry
>
>>
>> What chip is the Power Intellistation?
>> It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power
>> Architecture. I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6
>>
>> jerry
>
> The chip is a POWER5+ in the Intellistation 285 model. I use YDL 6.2
> on mine but the installer for RHEL 5.5 will start up (graphically) with
> no problems provided the graphics card is a GXT135P.

This has been a problem for Linux on PPC - lack of graphic card support :-(
Not sure if it's because IBM doesn't release the information or because
no vendors are actually testing their cards w/PPC.

> I was aware that RHEL6 will support ppc64 only whereas RHEL5 supports
> ppc and ppc64. I didn't hear they had dropped support for POWER5 :(

It is unfortunate :-(

>
> Pat

ppc.addon

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Jan 3, 2011, 5:36:27 PM1/3/11
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i've a 275 with a GXT6500P running CRUX PPC.
Anyway there is some interesting infos on CRUX PPC forum about IBM
Intellistation POWER workstations.

cheers,
Nello

robers97

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Jan 21, 2011, 12:07:38 PM1/21/11
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On Dec 31 2010, 2:42 pm, pw <p...@invalid.info> wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:08:11 -0500
>

I downgraded to the GXT135P and have it working now. Thanks!

ppc.addon

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Jan 23, 2011, 5:17:42 AM1/23/11
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On 21 Gen, 18:07, robers97 <rober...@yahoo.com> wrote:

__cut__


>
> I downgraded to the GXT135P and have it working now.  Thanks!

hi,
when you run X.Org, do you have shifted colors or is it fine ?

thanks,
Nello

--
CRUX PPC user!

pw

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Jan 24, 2011, 11:29:18 AM1/24/11
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Hi Nello

I have no issue with shifted colors on Xorg - all looks fine with YDL
6.2 on the Intellistation 285 / GXT135P combination for
me.

All the best


Pat

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