Linux X1000 newbie

AmigaOne X1000 platform specific issues related to Linux only.
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alfkil
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Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:46 pm
Location: Denmark

Linux X1000 newbie

Post by alfkil »

Hi all,

I have decided to try and install Linux on my X1000 to give it some new life. I have so far failed miserably.

From various threads in here I have downloaded kernels:

4.16
4.19
4.20
5.0

As far I can see, the 5.0 version doesn't come with a Ramdisk file. Is this intentional?

Ok. So I am doing the stuff, that people recommend:

CFE> setenv bootargs "root=/dev/ramdisk"
CFE> ramdisk -z -addr=0x24000000 -fatfs usbdisk0:initrd.img-4.16-a3. (or whatever it is called)
CFE> boot -elf -noints -fatfs usbdisk0:vmlinux-4.16

So, I am booting from an usb stick placed in the top left port on the back (when viewed from behind). For all the ramdisk files, I have tried loading it with and without the -z option. When booting a kernel image called 'zImage-x.x', I replace '-elf' with '-z'.

When I am lucky, the linux boot screen with the two penguins shows up. Some of the output seems to indicate, that there is a problem communicating with the ata bus and the USB ports. Sometimes I get an output indicating, that /dev/ramdisk doesn't exist. Sometimes I get to the built in shell prompt, where I can type commands and do nothing, sometimes not. I have placed a net install version of Debian 9.8.0 burned onto a CD-R in the cd rom drive.

What is wrong?
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xeno74
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Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:58 am

Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by xeno74 »

Please try to install Fienix on your X1000 because it is based on the latest Debian.

Fienix installation instructions

You can use old initial ramdisks with the kernel 5.0.

— Christian
http://www.amigalinux.org
http://www.supertuxkart-amiga.de

Running Linux on AmigaONEs can require some tinkering.
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alfkil
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:46 pm
Location: Denmark

Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by alfkil »

So far I am stuck trying to get the image onto the usb. Somehow Ubuntu on my Mac Mini goes into pieces when I run the dd command.

When getting explicit output, I can see, that it slows drastically down around 2.7 GiB. I have only once had it actually finish at 7.0 GiB, and still the partition came out unreadable. It is strange, because I can mount it as a virtual disc just fine. I don't know much about disc structures, so I am kind of at a loss at this point.
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xeno74
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Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by xeno74 »

alfkil wrote:So far I am stuck trying to get the image onto the usb. Somehow Ubuntu on my Mac Mini goes into pieces when I run the dd command.

When getting explicit output, I can see, that it slows drastically down around 2.7 GiB. I have only once had it actually finish at 7.0 GiB, and still the partition came out unreadable. It is strange, because I can mount it as a virtual disc just fine. I don't know much about disc structures, so I am kind of at a loss at this point.
Could you please try it on another Linux computer?
http://www.amigalinux.org
http://www.supertuxkart-amiga.de

Running Linux on AmigaONEs can require some tinkering.
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alfkil
Posts: 67
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:46 pm
Location: Denmark

Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by alfkil »

Ok, I have managed to get the USB to a readable state. I can read the directory tree, and I have copied the kernel module. Not sure why 'dd' behavior was so strange. Apparently it just took a lot of time and multiple tries.

I can now load and boot the kernel from CFE. Again it took multiple failed attempts before it recognized /dev/sdb2 (the FIENIX partition) as root. Now, it seems to boot (writes 'Welcome to FIENIX' or something like that. The only problem is, that at the end of the text flow, I just get a black screen. I am not sure, whether it be because of my machine having a few insecurities. In any case, so far still no luck.

NB: I have successfully booted an old MintPPC partition on my hd. I am not sure if I would be able to somehow just transfer the FIENIX partition there. I am sure that doing so from AmigaOS would result in disaster. Or maybe I am off the charts?

EDIT: Could it be a graphics board issue? I have proven, that the kernel works, and that I can boot some version of Linux. So the only thing I can think of is, that there should be something wrong with the communication to the graphics hardware.
Last edited by alfkil on Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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xeno74
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Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by xeno74 »

alfkil wrote:The only problem is, that at the end of the text flow, I just get a black screen. I am not sure, whether it be because of my machine having a few insecurities. In any case, so far still no luck.
Which graphics card is installed in your X1000?
http://www.amigalinux.org
http://www.supertuxkart-amiga.de

Running Linux on AmigaONEs can require some tinkering.
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xeno74
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Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by xeno74 »

Please note: Hardware 3D acceleration doesn't work with the Radeon HD7xxx series and above (Radeon SI). You need a Radeon HD6xxx series or below.

If you have a Radeon HD7xxx or above (Radeon SI) installed in your X1000, then please prevent the libglamor module from loading. It is loaded if a Radeon HD7xxx or above card is detected and causes xorg to crash.

Code: Select all

sudo mv /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so.bak
http://www.amigalinux.org
http://www.supertuxkart-amiga.de

Running Linux on AmigaONEs can require some tinkering.
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sundown
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Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by sundown »

Will Fienix do 3d acceleration out of the box with a Radeon 4850 card, or is there another step to get that working?
Looks interesting enough to try, but I've found linux to be to slow to use without 3D. Also wondering if the image file size is a problem
on our Amiga systems & need to install with a PC.

Ken
X1000 - Antec Solo case, 4GB DDR2 mem, XFX R9 270 gfx card, Plextor DVD, 2 Samsung 1TB F3 HDD, RTL-8139 network card, Cooler Master Silent Pro 600W PSU
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xeno74
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Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by xeno74 »

sundown wrote:Will Fienix do 3d acceleration out of the box with a Radeon 4850 card, or is there another step to get that working?
Yes, hardware 3D acceleration works out of the box with your graphics card.

— Christian
http://www.amigalinux.org
http://www.supertuxkart-amiga.de

Running Linux on AmigaONEs can require some tinkering.
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sundown
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Re: Linux X1000 newbie

Post by sundown »

xeno74 wrote:
sundown wrote:Will Fienix do 3d acceleration out of the box with a Radeon 4850 card, or is there another step to get that working?
Yes, hardware 3D acceleration works out of the box with your graphics card.

— Christian
I really like that answer :-D
Thanks, Ken
X1000 - Antec Solo case, 4GB DDR2 mem, XFX R9 270 gfx card, Plextor DVD, 2 Samsung 1TB F3 HDD, RTL-8139 network card, Cooler Master Silent Pro 600W PSU
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