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Mandrake Linux 8.0 Final Released For PPC

Posted by timothy on from the ibooks-look-ever-sweeter dept.

rstewart points to this press release, writing: "Mandrake has released version 8.0 final for the PPC architecture. Now Mac users have a choice of distributions between Mandrake and Yellow Dog. Now if only we could easily buy parts and build them cheap in our basements. " And PPC choices already include SuSE, LinuxPPC, Debian, NetBSD and more.

2 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Mandrake offers the most up to date PPC RPMs by Curious__George · · Score: 4, Informative
    If you are a linux on PPC user, you owe it to yourself to try Mandrake. When I'm looking for RPMs to install, one of the things that normally bums me out is that the ppc.rpms are WAY behind the i386-i586 rpms (in versions available). Check out the RPMFINDER database if you don't believe me. The most recent versions are almost ALWAYS available from the Mandrake/Cooker project. I think these guys deserve our support!

    (Linux is a great way to put older Mac Hardware to use!) Mandrake offer's great online installation instructions, too! Also, check out the Mandrake Linux PPC 8.0 FAQ (it says "beta", but applies to the more recent releases, as well.)


    Curious George

    --
    ***General Consultant to the Human Race*** My opinions are free. You get what you pay for.
  2. Re:Not for newbies (re installation) by Laplace · · Score: 4, Informative
    It's not for newbies any more than Linux on I86 wasn't for newbies a year ago? Here are the steps for installing SuSE Linux PPC on a mac:

    Reformat your hard drive. You need an hfs partition (not hfs+) to install the boot loader on. This is a good place to put OS9 if you want to run Mac on Linux.

    Install Linux. This includes setting up your swap, root, and other partitions.

    Install yaboot (a lilo like program) onto the hfs partition. Configure yaboot. No worse than lilo

    Set up the open firmware to boot lilo (not too hard), or set up the open firmware for dual boot. Dual booting is the hardest part, although there are some tools that automate the process. I dual boot so I can play with OS X. Mac on Linux meets all of my OS9 needs.

    The distributions keep getting better and better. GCC is a general purpose compiler, so it generates general purpose (real slower) code on almost every platform. I've been using some flavor of PPC Linux for almost 2 years now, and find the platform to be very mature.

    --
    The middle mind speaks!