Package: installation-reports INSTALL REPORT
Debian-installer-version: rc1, 2 Aug 2004, from ftp.debian.org. uname -a: Linux eclipse 2.4.26-sparc64 #1 Sun Jun 20 02:39:17 PDT 2004 sparc64 GNU/Linux Date: 30 Aug 2004 Method: CD-ROM installer (using cdrom-mini.iso), followed by net install (http, not proxied) Machine: Sun Ultra 5 Processor: TI UltraSparc IIi (Sabre) Memory: 256M Root Device: /dev/hda Root Size/partition table: 9.1G drive, approx. 8.4G root partition (/dev/hda1) followed by approx. 700M swap partition (/dev/hda2) Output of lspci and lspci -n: [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~> lspci 0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Ultra IIi 0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Simba Advanced PCI Bridge (rev 13) 0000:00:01.1 PCI bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Simba Advanced PCI Bridge (rev 13) 0000:01:01.0 Bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. EBUS (rev 01) 0000:01:01.1 Ethernet controller: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Happy Meal (rev 01) 0000:01:02.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage Pro 215GP (rev 5c) 0000:01:03.0 IDE interface: Silicon Image, Inc. (formerly CMD Technology Inc) PCI0646 (rev 03) [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~> lspci -n 0000:00:00.0 0600: 108e:a000 0000:00:01.0 0604: 108e:5000 (rev 13) 0000:00:01.1 0604: 108e:5000 (rev 13) 0000:01:01.0 0680: 108e:1000 (rev 01) 0000:01:01.1 0200: 108e:1001 (rev 01) 0000:01:02.0 0300: 1002:4750 (rev 5c) 0000:01:03.0 0101: 1095:0646 (rev 03) [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~> Base System Installation Checklist: [O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it Initial boot worked: [E] Configure network HW: [O] Config network: [O] Detect CD: [O] Load installer modules: [O] Detect hard drives: [O] Partition hard drives: [O] Create file systems: [O] Mount partitions: [O] Install base system: [O] Install boot loader: [O] Reboot: [O] Comments/Problems: Mostly fine. The only problem was with the initial boot: the linux kernel would begin to load and moments later the screen would go blank with an "out of range" error. It turns out the solution was to boot with video="atyfb:[EMAIL PROTECTED]" (or some other appropriate resolution) at the debian-installer SILO prompt. I actually found this in the gentoo install docs through some googling (http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-sparc-faq.xml). I then had to supply this again at the SILO prompt after debian-installer rebooted, and then finally add it to my /etc/silo.conf once my system was running. It is worth noting that the sparc was connected to a PC LCD monitor (the one I usually use for my i386 box). Until I found the gentoo docs this was a rather vexing problem, since it hit at the very beginning and so you had no feedback whatsoever -- you could not even watch the kernel messages as the machine booted up. I'd suggest that this is worth an entry in the troubleshooting section of the sparc installer docs (section 5.3), in the event that other people also try to hook their sparc box up to an ordinary PC monitor. Thanks - Ben. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]