Very Computer

Hi!

I recently prevented my boss from throwing away 3 RS/6000's. I hoped I could
still be able to get them running with whatever OS would run on it. Since
Linux is known to run on RISC systems, I thought I'd give it a go. I checked
with Debian, and I noticed that there are several sub-architectures, and I
haven't got the slightest idea on which one I should use. I also don't
exactly know what kind of processors are used in the RS/6000 350 and 320
(both desktop models).
If someone can provide me with some tech specs of these machines, or tell me
which distribution to take (also a distribution installable from disk is
preferred!), I'd be very happy!

Regards,

Leon Boot

I am guessing the desktops you have are actually 7012 models 320 and  350.  If
I am correct then I have some bad news for you because the 7012 family of
machines were MCA (microchannel architecture) based.  Even though they use PPC
processors, the PPC Linux port won't run on them because the PPC Linux kernel
relies on openfirmware and the PCI bus device tree to identify and configure
devices and these MCA machines have neither (MCA was an IBM proprietry bus
standard that was also used on some high-end PS/2 servers and, confusingly, is
supported by the x86 Linux port).  So unfortunately you are going to be stuck
with AIX or nothing, which is a shame because they were a nice mid range box
that still go pretty well for their age, and because while AIX has a few good
points, as unices go it generally sucks.

IBM are pretty *retentive about keeping reference data for all their
hardware, though, so a look around the rs6000 support site is probably
warranted to prove me wrong: http://www.veryComputer.com/

Best of luck.

--

Materials Engineering Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
University of Oulu
PO Box 4200
Oulun Yliopisto 90014 FINLAND

: Hi!

: If someone can provide me with some tech specs of these machines, or tell me
: which distribution to take (also a distribution installable from disk is
: preferred!), I'd be very happy!

There are a few freaks who try to get get Linux running on such
machines. Please find some very basic informations on:

        http://www.sjdjweis.com/linux/rs6k/

Furthermore this architecture is listed in the "suggested ports" in
the NetBSD project.

        http://www.de.netbsd.org/Ports/#suggested-ports

Cheers,

        Christoph

Since I posted that I have drunk some coffee and the memory has improved
a bit (I have some RS/6000's lurking in my past) so I should correct
myself.  Some of the 7012 series were PPC based, others were POWER or
POWER2 based.  IIRC the basic 7012 motherboard has the CPU on a
daughter-card, early ones shipped with POWER (IBM's first generation
32-bit RISC architecture), in about 1993 or 1994 some PPC601 and POWER2
(a "super-scalar" version of the POWER architecture) models appeared.
AIX 3 shipped (like earlier Solaris versions) with kernel support for
all three processors and there was backwards binary compatibility for
the earlier processors, some of it done in hardware and some in
software.

The official IBM version of the Orwellian memory hole is available on
the web at  http://www2.ibmlink.ibm.com .  There should be either
offering or technical data for both machines there.  While none of this
puts you any closer to definitely answering your question, I am almost
certain they are POWER architecture (ie. MCA) designs that predate the
first PREP machines that featured PCI and openfirmware and cannot,
therefore,  run the Linux PPC kernel.

--

Materials Engineering Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
University of Oulu
PO Box 4200
Oulun Yliopisto 90014 FINLAND