Gentoo Forums
Gentoo Forums
Gentoo Forums
Quick Search: in
Kernel booting problems on Ultra 2
View unanswered posts
View posts from last 24 hours

 
Reply to topic    Gentoo Forums Forum Index Gentoo on Sparc
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
adam613
n00b
n00b


Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 21
Location: The Big Apple

PostPosted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 2:45 pm    Post subject: Kernel booting problems on Ultra 2 Reply with quote

Background: I've been using Linux for about three years, Gentoo for a month (and Linux From Scratch for a year and a half before that). Never used Linux on Sparc, but I use Solaris at work (no root account).

I just picked up an old Ultra 2. Dual 168mhz UltraSparcs (trying to get a couple of 300mhz UltraSparcIIs from eBay), 1 GB of RAM, 9.1GB hd, OpenBoot 3.25. The machine works fine in SMP with Solaris 9.

I burned the Sparc64 ISO, and attempted to boot from it. The SMP kernel immediately bombed out with an "Illegal Instruction" error and returned me to the ok prompt. The UP kernel booted, but it was painfully slow to compile anything. I decompressed stage3, attempted to build a new SMP kernel (it took 45 mins), and rebooted into that, with the intention of starting from stage1 once I had two processors available. The new kernel hangs at random points before init starts, so badly that sending a break doesn't do anything and I have to hit the power button.

Is this likely to be one of those gcc-3.2 problems? Should I try the Sparc32 ISO and then cross-compile to sparc64? (I've cross-compiled from linux-x86 to solaris-sparc64 before, so cross-compiles don't bother me) Should I wait until I can get an UltraSparcII CPU? Do I need to give any more info?

Thanks all.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Weeve
Retired Dev
Retired Dev


Joined: 30 Oct 2002
Posts: 641

PostPosted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What kernel did you use to build your SMP kernel. The SMP kernel on the CD being broken is a known issue.

Thanks,
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
adam613
n00b
n00b


Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 21
Location: The Big Apple

PostPosted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What kernel was running? The UP kernel on the cd.

What kernel sources did I use? Whatever I got using emerge sparc-sources. Should I try vanilla-sources instead?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Weeve
Retired Dev
Retired Dev


Joined: 30 Oct 2002
Posts: 641

PostPosted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, kernel sources is what I was looking for. Do you know that that hw in your system is good? I'm currently running sparc-sources on a SMP ultra 2 (2x300MHz) with no problems. Also if you build a UP kernel from the same sources, does it have the same problems?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
adam613
n00b
n00b


Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 21
Location: The Big Apple

PostPosted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know the hardware is good, it runs Solaris 9 with no problems. I'm not a big fan of Solaris though.

I've decided to embark on the side project of cross-compiling it. I want to learn how to cross-compile anyway, and I don't have the patience to build multiple kernels in uniprocessor mode.

How long does it take to compile the kernel with 2x300mhz? (I'm trying to get a general sense of how much faster my machine would be if I invested in faster CPUs)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Weeve
Retired Dev
Retired Dev


Joined: 30 Oct 2002
Posts: 641

PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2003 12:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't recall the exact time but it's definitely under an hour. I'd guestimate 30-45 to build a kernel and all it's modules with a moderate set of options chosen. I also don't tend to do parallel builds when I make my kernel either, so that may help speed things up too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Gentoo Forums Forum Index Gentoo on Sparc All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum