(Answer) (Category) Linux on PowerPC FAQ-O-Matic : (Category) Booting Trouble :
Install/Boot problems on a PowerMac 7600
The 7600 (and possibly the 7500, I'm not sure about it,) has a problem with Linux, in that Linux cannot reliably access SCSI ID 0 on the internal bus (/dev/scsi0.0 in pdisk/fdisk). I had all kinds of problems trying to install until I switched the SCSI ID of that disk.

Switching the SCSI ID is a hardware modification on the drive itself. Typically, jumpers need to be installed, or perhaps dipswitches. The hardest thing about it is finding the small jumpers that are used in hard drives.

Any problems or questions about this, please contact me.

melhus@fdrc.iit.edu

Thank you so much for posting this information. I was having all sorts of problems with linuxppc sometimes recognizing my HD, and sometimes failing.
I am working with LinuxPPC on a PowerMac 7500. I found that the HD was made by Quantum (www.quantum.com). Their website has the information on how to change the SCSI bus. After messing around a little with the jumpers I changed the HD from SCSI bus 0 to SCSI bus 2. This worked great.
Good Luck.
prodeje@gws.org
Hi - I read this with great interest. I have just installed Linux on my 7600 - there are/were some significant issues.
My configuration is a 7600 with 200Mhx 604e, running OS 8.6 using an external 2G disk.
I did not so much have a problem with the SCSI id as
(a) the Boot X extension casuses all sorts of lock ups - I have now removed this - the BootX constrol panel is fine. (b) The X-based installer looked good until re-booting into Linux - got message unable to open intial console then freeze - nothing I did changed this. (c) Ended up using the RedHat installer - apart from a problem with Screen recognition with the X-installer (I use an HP 14 inch SVGA with a mac adapter ) which was resolved later within Linux using Xautoconfig)
All is now (or seems to be well) although two outstanding question remain
- The installation spotted some issues with bad sectors on one of the Linux partitions - does LInux keep and use a bad partition map? - I have an image of a arrow based cursor permanently on the display (it doesn't do anything- just sits there ) - I assume something to do with the screen settings. any ideas
Thanks
Bill Buchanan
wtrb@ziplink.net
I was wondering why I couldn't install before on my 7500 but now I could. The only difference was that afterwards I got a new HD and tried installing on to that.
theandy@aol.com
I wonder why this topic never made it to the installation documentaion. I spent two hours trying to figure out why the installer always told me it couldn't find my scsi drive, then one hour more trying to find this info. At least I found it, thenks
godefroy@lelab.com
Just a note on setting SCSI ID's. Silverlining, and I belive FWB can set most hard drive's ID's through software, making it much easier that finding the jumpers.
smithd@blkbox.com
I can confirm that FWB Hard Disk Tool Kit Version 3 allows you to change the SCSI ID of the Quantum Drive that is internal on a PM 7600/120. I did it today: changed it from ID=0 to ID=1 using HDT. Never had to open the computer! I had already partitioned the drive for MacOS and LinuxPPC; so after making the SCSI ID change I rebooted with the LinuxPPC 1999 V2 CD in the CDROM drive and booted into the installer. Followed the "standard" instructions and it WORKS!!
Thanks to everyone else who posted this FAQ!
muon@muon.com
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