Old G3 PowerPC iMac, Idea's For Running PCLinux Over A Debian PPC Base.

[pclinmike]

I have been given an old iMac G3 power pc with 1 gig of ram, I have Burn't a Debian net install disc and installed a Debian powerPC base system, I can now boot it up to a single user terminal.

Anybody any idea's of how I can run 'PCLinuxOS Light-Raw' on it over the base system. ?

[AS]

I believe your only chance is some PC emulator ( qemu ? ) if available for that Debian .. 

Unless you are willing to repackage the whole PCLOS for PowerPC G3 CPU 

AS

[T6]

no pclinux on ppc and afik, compile the whole base is hard and extremely time consuming

other distros might work, there was a post talking about this same attempt on a old laptop here on the form, a search could bring you the result recommended that time, can't remember which one maybe yellow dog linux?

[Taco.22]

My first ever linux install was 'buntu 6.06ppc onto a B&W G3.  Worked well and introduced me to linux on pcs.  I have tried other distros since then as occasionally someone throws an old Mac my way.  However the PPC architecture is a dead-end, the 'puters are getting older and the pool of OS options is shrinking.

However, http://penguinppc.org/about-2/distributions/ may give you some assistance.  Don't want to see an old Mac go to waste - I still have a soft spot for them.

[OMSkates]

My first ever linux install was 'buntu 6.06ppc onto a B&W G3.  Worked well and introduced me to linux on pcs.  I have tried other distros since then as occasionally someone throws an old Mac my way.  However the PPC architecture is a dead-end, the 'puters are getting older and the pool of OS options is shrinking.

However, http://penguinppc.org/about-2/distributions/ may give you some assistance.  Don't want to see an old Mac go to waste - I still have a soft spot for them.

I agree.  Just a few still going for PPC application http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/ppc/2011-December/001453.html  and http://mintppc.org/ are most up to date afik.

[Taco.22]

Wow, almost want a Mac to play with!!  Check out http://www.mintppc.org/content/imac-g3-bondi-blue-and-bw-g3

Now, doesn't this almost bring a tear to the eye -


Open source rules

[pclinmike]

I believe your only chance is some PC emulator ( qemu ? ) if available for that Debian .. 

Unless you are willing to repackage the whole PCLOS for PowerPC G3 CPU 

AS

Re.. "PC emulator ( qemu ? ) if available for that Debian" Yes an emulator was one of my first thoughts, I have not used 'qemu' is it any good ?.

I did some searching before I posted and there seems to be about maybe about 10 ppc distro's I have found.
But I though it would keep my grey matter working a bit longer    if I tried to get PCLinuxOS Raw Light working on it.

Thanks for the links

[kjpetrie]

To emulate an x86 processor on a PPC means using a software emulator, but all software emulators are very slow by nature. I mean seriously slow. I once started a pclos image in one (it might even have been qemu) and it took 45 minutes to boot to a text prompt and another 45 minutes to start the lxde desktop.

By all means try it, but prepare for disappointment if it doesn't work as intended.

[pclinmike]

To emulate an x86 processor on a PPC means using a software emulator, but all software emulators are very slow by nature. I mean seriously slow. I once started a pclos image in one (it might even have been qemu) and it took 45 minutes to boot to a text prompt and another 45 minutes to start the lxde desktop.

By all means try it, but prepare for disappointment if it doesn't work as intended.

90 Minutes