Package: installation-reports Debian-installer-version: 26th Nov 04, from URL below uname -a: Linux odyssey 2.4.26 #5 Wed Nov 17 13:55:55 GMT 2004 ppc GNU/Linux Date: Multiple attempts Method: Floppy boot using own kernel and root.img, then net install from ftp.uk.linux.org, see below Machine: IBM RS/6000 7025-F40 Processor: PowerPC 604e, 233MHz Memory: 512MB Root Device: SCSI, /dev/sda Root Size/partition table: Probably not relevant Output of lspci and lspci -n: Probably not relevant Base System Installation Checklist: [O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Initial boot worked: [O] Configure network HW: [O] Config network: [O] Detect CD: [ ] Load installer modules: [ ] Detect hard drives: [O] Partition hard drives: [O] Create file systems: [O] Mount partitions: [O] Install base system: [E] Install boot loader: [ ] Reboot: [ ] Comments/Problems: Trying to install debian-testing onto an IBM 7025-F40 (PowerPC PReP) system using the debian-installer from: http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/sarge/main/installer-powerpc/current/images/powerpc/floppy-2.4/ This machine is rather esoteric and requires a specially patched kernel to boot it; I'm therefore trying to install by booting from a floppy containing a kernel with all the necessary drivers in it and then using the root.img root disk from the above location (this is the method I used to install the machine using the old Debian installation system). I use the following boot parameters: console=ttyS0,9600 load_ramdisk=1 ramdisk_size=32768 root=/dev/fd0 debconf/priority=medium This starts up OK and gets me into the installer menu; I can then configure country, language and keyboard OK, and opt to load drivers from the net-drivers.img disk. This also works, although it generates an error complaining about not being able to load kernel modules (because I'm using my own kernel); it nevertheless loads the next debian-installer components OK. I can then follow through the installation, configuring my hardware and specifying to use the ftp.uk.linux.org mirror (I've also tried it manually specifying a mirror at www.mirroservice.org), partitioning disks, etc., and installing the base system. The 'install the base system' part works fine until it reaches the point at which it tries to install a kernel. This fails, presumably because I'm using my own kernel. The trouble is, I can't progress the installation any further at this point - if I try to select any other option from the main menu, it just tries to re-run the 'install base system' part again. There seems to be no way out, and I'm left with an unbootable system. Since I can't use one of the standard kernels on my system anyway, would it be possible to have the 'install kernel' menu offer an option to 'not install a kernel and skip this step' - I could then finish off the installation and manually put in a kernel from floppy via the command line later on. Weird hardware like this is never going to be straightforward, but at least with the old install system I could get it working reasonably easily! ;-) Let me know if you want the .config file for my custom kernel or the contents of /var/log/messages from the broken install... Thanks, Brian. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]