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Hello Amiga Folks!

Now, I am in the process of a new installation of the linux mint ppc 11... Using CFE isn't that easy at first, but okay, I am going to be used to it. First try of installation went good, instead of former Ubuntu ppc 12 installation I removed all the partitions with debian 7.2 netinstaller, but I didn't notice that partition manager used ext4 file system to format my root and /home partition. So that later I found out that linux can't boot. Yes, its well noted in manual, I havent paid attention to it first time

Right now, I am starting a new fresh install, but I formatted root and /home partition as ext3 file systems as needed.

Second very important thing is to see how installer names your partition, in my case root will be #3 partition, swap #4 and /home #5 (/dev/sda3, dev/sda4 and dev/sda5).

This step (that this may differ with systems) should be better noted in manual and written down.

So far, I have seen that CFE has a command to show and name me the devices in the computer. Is there any command to show all the partitions on for example in (my or some) harddisk? It would be very useful command.

Show devices shows that my HDD-DVD devices are on IDE devs list, but Debian install says other device, SATA0.1 should be used.
Debian installers should pay attention to this small difference as it will disable all further CFE related steps.

During this second installation, I am writing the steps I do, so that finally I would like to improve the manual, for novice users.

More to come soon ... hope MINT will be alive soon and that I will be smart enough with good manuals to re-edit Boot Menu

Also, it should be stressed somewhere in manuals how important Kernel files on Card are.
I have copied newer one to card drive but had no idea CFE settings for Linux boot are linked to it, and deleting
old 3.9 kernel from card rendered Ubuntu boot impossible, even before I started killing it.

Since it cannot be accessed from AmigaOS and CFE cant copy from USB, thats a bad luck. External readers only.

But soon I hope new Linux will be linked to new kernel on Card reader

This is modified manual based on my experience on Mint 11.
Soon I will propose what should be better stressed in great X1000 Linux Debian and others manual

Herby I salute my friend @knight http://forum.opensource-srbija.org/user/303-knight/ that has spend whole day and night
playing with my Master Miggy.

PRE-REQUISITES / INTRO

Why Mint 11 PPC? http://www.mintppc.org/ Well, it takes best of Debian and Mint, mixes it with light LXDE and makes
way faster distro then Ubuntu 12.04 LTS REMIX. If its my penguin taste, this should be
our supported distro However, note that Ubuntu does comes with some newer software,
no need to insert kernel and does have Firefox 22 instead of Iceweasel. And is about 2-3x slower
(my subjective experience). At the other hand, Debian files are tested and way more stable release.

None have Flash support on PPC, use HTML5 (youtube.com/html5) whenever possible.

HAVE FAST INTERNET

If you intend to use Net version of Mint11 / Debian 7.2. install good side is smart
CD to download and you will get most recent files (no need to update after install)
but it will take thousands of small files downloaded. Pick US mirrors or fastest
mirrors from your location, have a real fast net!

READ THE MANUALS
Note these files are accessable only to registered X1000 users
Firmware guide http://secure.a-eon.biz/download/AmigaO ... e-v5.1.pdf
Linux install guide http://secure.a-eon.biz/download/Debian ... X-1000.pdf

Get to know your CFE. Read whole Linux install guide as most important steps are listed in ordinary
Linux Debian install. Read Mint 11 specific install.

Text in bold are file paths that may vary depending on current Debian and X1000 kernel,
as well as device of your choice to use DVDs, USB flash or Card Reader during install.


BE SMART

Dont follow the procedures blindly, think is that path / partition on your computer.
Read everything on screen. Have a skilled Penguin around. Be patient. Love your X1000

COMPIZ PROBLEM

Compiz and Screen Applets are great, but can so easily spoil the LXMDE desktop.
Avoid it unless stable release that does no evil appears. And it slows down the gfx
performance.

CFE>

CFE> are commands in Firmware mode. Enter CFE by pressing F on X1000 boot menu.

KNOW YOU FILES

Once in CFE there is no way to access files and see them. Check and write
down ALL FILE PATHS of KERNELS AND LINUX INSTALL FILES.

X1000 KERNEL

Get the latest X1000 specific kernel from XENO and good guys.
IDEALLY IF YOU CAN COPY IT TO CARD READER AS IT WILL BE OF PERMANENT USE AFTER INSTALL.
DO NOT DELETE THOSE FILES ONCE LINKED TO LINUX AND CFE BOOT MENU COMMAND,
it MAY RENDER LINUX BOOT IMPOSSIBLE.

IF YOU USE USB

Make sure its FAT16 formatted, CFE cannot read FAT32/NFTS. Also, insert USB Flash drive
AFTER YOU ENTER CFE

Recommended method is shorten kernel, LInux net install file names and Kernel names
and to have them ideally on CF in X1000 (NEEDS EXTERNAL CARD READER, YOU CANNOT SEE
CF IN AMIGA OS 4.1.6, only in Linux)


HERE WE GO!

INSERT DEBIAN V7.2 PPC64 NETINSTALL DISK
DURING BOOT-A ENTER FIRMWARE BY PRESSING F ON X1000 BOOT SCREEN


CFE> ramdisk -z -addr=0x24000000 -fs=iso atapi0.1:install/powerpc64/initrd.gz /PATH TO INIT FILES OF LINUX INSTALL

CFE> setenv bootargs "root=/dev/ramdisk install url=mintppc.org” /PATH TO DOWNLOAD MINTPPC FILES

CFE> boot -elf -noints -fatfs cf0:vmlinuz /PATH TO KERNEL

DEBIAN WILL REPORT ERROR OF NOT HAVING PROPER KERNEL, CONTIUE
WHEN ASKED FOR NETWORK TAKE PA SEMI ONBOARD ETHERNET, BE SURE YOU ROUTER IS CONNECTED TO IT
REPARTITION HARD DRIVE IF NEEDED, DO NOT TOUCH AMIGA DH PARTITIONS. TAKE A NOTE THAT AT THIS
STAGE ROOT MUST BE EXT3 FORMATTED. MOUNT EXT3 ROOT WITH / AND MOUNT /HOME IF NEEDED
AS WELL AS SWAP PARTITION IF NEEDED/. /CHECK AND WRITTE DOWN WHAT IS YOUR ROOT SDA - which SDA

My drives scheme


SCSI 1 (0, 0, 0) (sda) - 2.0 TB ATA MOUNT POINT

#1 121.9MB affs7 BDH0

#2 109.8GB B DH0

#3 40GB F ext3 dhx /

#4 80GB F swap dhx swap

#5 491.5GB F ext3 dhx /home

#6 1.4TB DH1



SCSI 7 (0, 0, 0) (sdb) 129.0MB ATA ATP COMPACT FLASH

#1 PRIMARY 128.5MB B FAT16

SCSI 8 (0, 0, 0) (sdc) 4.0GB VERBATIM STORE N GO

#1 4.0GB FAT16

AFTER SETTING MOST BASIC THINGS UNDER LINUX - LOCALE - USER AND ROOT A THOUSANDS
FILES WILL BE DOWNLOADED FROM NET. TAKE A WALK, BE WITH PERSON YOU LIKE

After reboot re-enter CFE as described.

CFE> setenv -p bootargs “root=/dev/sda3“ /HERE USE YOUR /HOME SDA SDA

CFE> setenv -p boot_debian "ramdisk -max=20000000 ide0.0:/boot/initrd ; boot -elf -noints -fatfs cf0:vmlinuz" /LOADS KERNEL FROM CARD

boot_debian

MAKING BOOT MENU - DEPENDS ON YOUR MENU CONFIG

CFE> setenv -p MENU_2_COMMAND "boot_debian"

CFE> setenv -p MENU_2_LABEL "linux mintppc 11"

TEST IT BY USING COMMAND MENU and choice

SETTING 3D ACCELERATION

In LINUX TERMINAL
/etc/init.d/gdm stop /STOPING GFX SERVICES
Root YOUR PASSWORD
ls /etc/X11
mkdir /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-vsync.conf /ENTERING TEXT EDITOR, type in it:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Radeon HD 6870 " /DEPENDS ON YOUR CARD
Option "SwapbuffersWait" "False"
EndSection

CTRL + X, confirm with Y

nano /etc/profile.d/radeon_sh
# export LIBGL_DRIVERS_PATH=/usr/lib/xorg/modules/dri_g/
# export R600_ENABLE_S3TC=1
export vblank_mode=0
export CLUTTER_VBLANK=none
CTRL + X, confirm with Y

HOW TO TEST GFX CARD

Enter terminal, type glxgears - without 3D it will be 60 fps with it 1500 fps and up depending on card

After this you should insert newly created user (in my case vox( in sudoers user group - LXDE menu USERS AND GROUPS

If you wish to use encrypted DVDs install libdvdcss2 via Synaptic or software manager

At this time it is libdvdcss2.1.2.10-0.3_powerpc.deb
sudo /home/vox/ARCHIVE/x1000 files/libdvdcss2.1.2.10-0.3_powerpc.deb (This is not mentioned in manual for this to work you have to be sudoers group of users and needs a restart to work)
sudo dpkg --install /home/vox/ARCHIVE/x1000 files/libdvdcss2.1.2.10-0.3_powerpc.deb

/home/vox ... is path where I downloaded it.

COMPIZ INSTALL:

sudo apt-get install xcompmg (You need to add scrinlets via Synaptic, this is also lacking in manual)
gedit /etc/xdg/lxsession/Mint-LXDE/autostart
And edit file and add to the end

@xcompmgr -n

Save file.

/etc/init.d/gdm stop /SHUTDOWN xorg server: ROOT ONLY

Enter root username and psw in terminal
su
/etc/init.d/gdm start

If you wish not to use compiz re-edit the mentioned file with line @xcompmgr -n and save it, restart

BUG REPORT: Lower LXDE panel might discappear, or something else might go wrong on LXDE desktop.
SOLUTION: DELETE HIDDEN FILES top and bottom in /home/vox/.config/... and RESTART. New LXDE
desktop will be generated during boot

ENJOY MINT 11 POWERPC64!