UBUNTU Hardy 8.1 PPC G4 Rage128 issues

[scottdhansen]

Thanks to many in the forums I was able to locate and install the alternate Hardy Heron. I have also followed the https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPC information as well as toying with the xorg.conf until my fingers started bleeding. This mainly focused on the xorg.conf posted here https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCKnownIssues.

I have also toyed with other xorg.conf files posted in the forums.

running startx leads to a warning ***Invalid IO Allocation*** and some errors
Unable to find a valid framebuffer device
R128(0): Failed to open framebuffer device...
Screen(s) found, but none have a useable configuration.
Fatal server error:
No screens found...

Some Detail...
uname -r
2.6.24-21-powerpc

lspci | grep VGA
0000:00:10.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage PF/PRO AGP 4x TMDS


Before posting more detail I wanted to get a feel for what is needed to properly diagnose. I feel I am a fairly advanced user of UNIX but getting X to work is driving me crazy.

[stream303]

Since Intrepid contains nothing in the default xorg.conf, I found that the following keeps it from barfing on me - of course I'm using values for my G5 iMac, but Intrepid seems to like the syntax. It appears that using anything less, even if the sections are empty, causes it to go into low-graphics mode. I'm still experimenting, but I was overjoyed that I'm now able to make a custom xorg.conf for Intrepid that doesn't get rejected outright:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=978303

For your rage card, also be sure to see the old ppc archived read-only threads about it - maybe there's something in there that will work:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=3723

Let us know how it goes!

[scottdhansen]

Thank you for the information. I have tried the links you provided. Much to the same effect. startx now throws:
(EE) Failed to load module "type1" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) Failed to load module "xtt" (module does not exist, o)
(EE) No drivices detected
Fatal server error:
no screens found
I tried substituting my xorg.conf with the one listed in entry #10 on http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=3723 that you refrenced. In reading further I am confused by what was tried/changed.

[stream303]

When I first started out, I just wanted to use dithering for my lcd display, so I made a very short xorg.conf that enabled that option, hoping that Intrepid would deal with the rest of it.

My G5 iMac didn't need any special xorg.conf at all, except for when I wanted that option.

So, I ended up putting things back in until it no longer threw me into low-graphics mode.

The plan was not to copy verbatim an old xorg.conf from years ago, but try to let Intrepid handle most of it, and me supplying just the bare essentials.

I did this when very tired, and hate to admit that I didn't take notes - it was a very frenzied vi / logout / login session until it seemed to take. I'm sure it could use improvement, and other models might need even more.

I was hoping that all one really needed to change was their video driver, vertical and horizontal freqs, and go to town - but it looks like perhaps BUSID's and other things may be needed for different models....

[scottdhansen]

Would you suggest Intrepid on a G4? If so should I try the alternate install if there is such a thing?

[stream303]

Would you suggest Intrepid on a G4? If so should I try the alternate install if there is such a thing?

Sure. In fact the "alternate" text-based install image is the one I most frequently recommend, since the live-desktop requires a lot of ram that you may not have, and tries to dump you immediately into a gui environment, which X is not trained to handle for many models. Thus, the typical boot-to-black-screen effect is seen. :)

At least with the alternate, you can be sure you can at least get the data on the drive, and then use rescue-mode or linux-single mode techniques to custom edit xorg.conf or yaboot.conf as necessary.

You must know how much ram you have, as trying to put Intrepid on a 64 or 128mb box may be impossible. Ram is your friend, unless you want to run mostly a commandline system, or perhaps one with just a bare minimum X system on it with a DIY approach.

[scottdhansen]

Thank you for the reply. I will give the alternate install a try and post back here. If I need to look for fixes to xorg.conf or yaboot specific to Intrepid Ibex should I filter bases on PPC installs only or are notes from users running intel equally valid who have a Rage128 card?

[stream303]

I'd stick to the ppc installs since the yaboot boot loader is specific to the ppc, and we are also using the open-source video drivers. Many Intel users are using the proprietary drivers, which may have options that aren't even recognized by the driver we use.

Tip: after installation if your screen is black, try this at the second-stage yaboot boot: prompt

Linux video=ofonly nosplash
or
Linux nosplash

The goal is to get to a point where the system is installed, and you can easily edit /etc/yaboot.conf and /etc/X11/xorg.conf (if necessary) by using a virtual terminal (ctrl-alt-f2) to get to a text-based editor.

If things are really rough, then one has to rely on rescue-mode or Linux single, to go back in, but hopefully you won't have to do that.

Keep it fun!

[didg]

Thanks to many in the forums I was able to locate and install the alternate Hardy Heron. I have also followed the https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPC information as well as toying with the xorg.conf until my fingers started bleeding. This mainly focused on the xorg.conf posted here https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCKnownIssues.

I have also toyed with other xorg.conf files posted in the forums.

running startx leads to a warning ***Invalid IO Allocation*** and some errors
Unable to find a valid framebuffer device
R128(0): Failed to open framebuffer device...
Screen(s) found, but none have a useable configuration.
Fatal server error:
No screens found...

Some Detail...
uname -r
2.6.24-21-powerpc

lspci | grep VGA
0000:00:10.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage PF/PRO AGP 4x TMDS


Before posting more detail I wanted to get a feel for what is needed to properly diagnose. I feel I am a fairly advanced user of UNIX but getting X to work is driving me crazy.

Do you mean 8.10 or Hardy?

For 8.10 I had to add to Section "Device":

Option "NoINT10" "true"
Option "UseFBDev" "false"


Draw back fastswitch doesn't work

you can also add in the same section:
Option "NoDRI"

with
ection "Module"
disable "dri"
disable "glx"
EndSection

With a Rage 128 OpenGL is hopeless :)

[skigil]

I have almost the same problem. I am going to try the above tonight to see if I can get Xorg working on my G4 Rage128.