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1995-04-22
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Last-modified: 95-03-13
Maintained-By: Joerg Mayer <jmayer@informatik.uni-kl.de>
Posting-Frequency: bi-weekly
Archive-name:
Frequently Asked Questions on Linux/m68k
A Linux port to Motorola's 680x0 processors
Version of this FAQ : 1
Version of Linux/m68k: 09pl5
Version of Linux : 1.2pl0
i) Introduction
===============
This is an updated version of the Linux/m68k FAQ. Since it probably contains
errors (typographical and logical), outdated and missing infos, I ask that
you send feedback and corrections to me. This document is not intended to
describe what Unix is or how to to administrate it. To find out more about
that read the standard Linux manuals.
ii) Newsflash
=============
- Linux/m68k 0.9 Patchlevel 5 released (Hamish)
- Hamish will no longer post to the mailing list at niksula.hut.fi as it is
being phased out. Please use the one at vger.rutgers.edu.
- Mega patches for pl 5 by Andreas Schwab on the mailinglist (most but not
all for Atari).
iii) Contents
=============
i Introduction
ii Newsflash
iii Contents
1. About Linux and Linux/m68k
2. Requirements to run Linux/m68k
2.1 Processor
2.2 RAM
2.3 Harddisk
2.4 Software
3. Similarities and differences of Amiga and Atari Linux/m68k
3.1 Similarities
3.2 Differences
4. The current status of Linux/m68k
4.1 General
4.2 Amiga
4.3 Atari
4.4 Mac
4.5 PC
5. Hints on installing Linux/m68k
6. Sources for information/sources/binaries
6.1 Documentation
6.2 Newsgroups
6.3 Mailinglists
6.4 WWW-sites
6.5 Ftp-sites
6.6 Modem
6.7 Distributions
7. Activities
7.1 Coordinator
7.2 Bug reports/Known bugs
7.3 Under construction/To do
8. Famous last words
1. About Linux and Linux/m68k
=============================
Linux is a freely available operating system for PCs - to be more precise,
it is one of many flavours of Unix. Linux is being developed on the net by
several thousand people and being tested/used by many many more.
The fun and success of Linux inspired some people to port it to another
platform - the Amiga. The first version released to the general public was
005. While 008 was current, a few enthusiasts ported that version to the Atari
and the two versions have been successfully merged with 09pl3 (this reads
version 09 patchlevel 3). Linux/m68k can be regarded as beta. This means that
code that hasn't been ported/written recently works well most of the time.
Hamish is working to integrate the m68k code into the main Linux source tree.
2. Requirements to run Linux/m68k
=================================
2.1 Processor
-------------
You need a Motorola 680x0 processor *with PMMU*. There is *no way* to run
it without one. This reduces the list of possible processors to 68020+68851,
68030, 68040, 68LC040, 68060. Currently only the 68020+68851, 68030 and
68040 are supported. At this stage you will also need a 68881 or 68882 FPU
if you don't have a 68040. A FPU is not strictly necessary as it can be
emulated with the normal processor, however nobody has written the code to
do so. This list of processors excludes the 68000, 68010, 68EC020, 68EC030,
68EC040. Linux/m68k can *never* run on these processors as they lack a PMMU
and an interface for an external one.
The following Amigas have the "right" processor built-in: A3000, A3000T,
A4000/40 (not! A4000/30).
The following Ataris (or clones) have the "right" processor built-in:
Atari Falcon (FPU is not standard but needed!), Atari TT, Medusa (not yet
supported), Eagle (not yet supported). Note: In some of the older TTs there
is a bug in the PAL controlling the access to the FPU. This may cause a
crash. A file describing a hardware fix exists (German language only).
Any processor upgrade card with a 68040 or 68030+68881/2 (like PAK/3) is able
to run Linux. Note: The PAK/3 is not yet supported on the Atari.
2.2 RAM
-------
Note: On the Amiga the size of fastram is relevant.
It is possible to boot Linux/m68k with as little as 2 MB. Now you know that
the kernel works on your system - that's it. If you want to work with it you
should have at least 4 MB (8 MB with a X-server).
2.3 Harddisk
------------
If you want to do more than just boot Linux/m68k you will need 30 - oo (infinity)
MB of space on your hard disk and a supported hard disk controller.
2.4 Software
------------
Amiga: In order to run amiboot you need AmigaDOS 2.0 or higher (expansion.lib-
rary V36+) and at least version 39 of ixemul.library.
3. Similarities and differences between Amiga and Atari Linux/m68k
==================================================================
3.1 Similarities
----------------
All code that depends only on the processor (i.e. paging, systemcalls,
parts of the interrupt handling and of c(o)urse those parts of Linux that
were hand optimized by writing the code in assembler) has to be ported to
Linux/m68k only once. This means that the Amiga and the Atari may use the
same kernel image (in fact the vmlinux from tsx-11 runs on both machines).
Another big bonus is that all user programs (= binaries) should work on
any machine running Linux/m68k no matter whether the machine is an Amiga
or Atari - as long as no machine specific devices are used (see below).
3.2 Differences
---------------
All code that depends on the hardware is machine dependent and with very
few exceptions which are in the kernel (timer, a small part of interrupt
handling, startup code) has been put into modules called device drivers.
Writing device drivers makes up most of the porting work.
4. The current status of Linux/m68k
===================================
4.1 General
-----------
What has been done? The kernel (this means all the processor/mmu/fpu specific
stuff) has been ported. Version 09 is based on the Linux 1.0 patchlevel 9
sources but many modules from 1.1 have been integrated since. Several hardware
independent devices have been ported:
Ramdisk, mem, pty, tty, vt, slip, net/inet, general SCSI stuff. Also the fol-
lowing filesystems have been done: minix, ext2, msdos, proc, isofs, affs, nfs,
ppp (affs = Amiga Fast File System, read only).
There exists a X-server which uses the frame buffer device. Frame buffer
devices exist for both Amiga (monochrome only) and Atari.
4.2 Amiga
---------
Supported built-in hardware:
A3000-SCSI, A4000-IDE, A1200-IDE, serial port, parallel port, mouse, keyboard,
graphics emulates an ASCII-terminal (resolution varies with your chipset/
setup), timer, floppy disk drive (DD and HD, Amiga-formatted disks only).
Supported cards:
Several SCSI cards are supported. These are the A2091, A590 and GVP Series II.
To find out whether additional hardware is supported, look at the Linux/m68k
source (config.in provides a list of supported hardware).
4.3 Atari
---------
SCSI, ACSI, Falcon IDE, serial ports driven by a MFP (i.e. Modem 1 and
Serial 1), keyboard, Atari mouse, parallel printer port, RTC clock, floppy
disk (DD/HD), native Atari graphics (ST/TT/Falcon).
Note: Linux' Minix FS is compatible to the Minix V2 FS used with MiNT.
4.4 Mac
-------
A Mac version is under construction but not yet finished. Main (sole?)
developer is George Andre (dat94gan@ludat.lth.se). He has written a FAQ
about Linux/m68k-Mac which the interested reader should get first. It is
available as ftp://www.ibg.uu.se/pub/maclinux/FAQ.txt. There is a mailing
list too (see: 6.3 Mailinglists).
4.5 PC
------
As PC's don't have Motorolas inside (except on soundcards and other plug-ins),
this section should read "What parts of Linux/m68k are available for but not
part of Linux/i386?"
- Amiga Fast File System (read only) tsx-11:/pub/linux/patches/amigaffs.tar.Z
Please note that most disk controllers for PC, Atari and Mac are not able
to read Amiga formatted disks (this is a hardware limitation).
5. Hints on installing Linux/m68k
=================================
Please note that there is a much better installation doc available. It's the
'Linux/m68k installation guide' written by Frank Neumann and Ingo Wilken. If
you want to find out whether Linux/m68k runs on your system the hints given
here may be sufficient. If you want to work with your Linux/m68k system you
should get the Installation guide.