Subject: Newbie questions
From: Ted (ted@mailin.appleonline.net)
Date: Thu Jul 06 2000 - 14:39:20 MDT
Dear All,
I've run Linux on PCs for a number of years, but I am new to=20
running Linux on the Mac. In fact I'm new to Macs full stop!
I have successfully set up Yellow Dog Champion Server 1.2 on=20
a G4 PowerMac, and I can boot into MacOS 9, or into YD Linux.=20
Howerver, there are one or two things that I would like help with.
There only seems to be an American keyboard. This does not=20
matter too much, the keys are identical to the United Kingdom=20
keyboard, but there is no key for the =A3 sign. Does any one know how=20
I can type =A3 signs in Yellow Dog Linux?
Also, I've installed a number of distributions of Linux on=20
PCs, and I have usually been able to configure X by using XF86Setup=20
or Xconfigurator. In YD 1.2 the Xconfigurator seems to be automatic,=20
and runs without my being able to enter the kind of input I am used=20
to. I wanted to alter the default resolution of the monitor. What=20
seems to be happening is that somehow YD Linux picks up the monitor=20
resolution from the MacOS partition, because if I change the=20
resolution in MacOS 9, and then boot Linux, the text based console=20
runs at the resolution set in the MacOS, and if I rerun=20
Xconfigurator, it automatically changes the monitor resolution in X=20
to that set in the MacOS.
The YD 1.2 installation has picked up correctly my USB=20
keyboard and USB mouse, which surprised me, since I did not think=20
that Linux supported USB yet, I did wonder what would happen. Is=20
there support for any other USB devices in YD Linux? I'm thinking=20
about a USB printer, and an USB Zip drive.
I did not choose to install a printer during the installation=20
process, because the install procedure indicated that the printer=20
would be connected to a COMM port. Does this mean the ADB serial=20
ports that Macs used to have are described as COMM ports under YD=20
Linux? And if so, could I get a card for my G4 with serial ports on=20
it which would work with Linux, and so support my printer?
Lastly, I've read the faq about 'Bootloading on New World ROM=20
Machines', but I can't seem to get the instruction in section 7 to=20
work. If I enter "setenv auto-boot =3D false" at the Open Firmware=20
prompt the computer still boots into the MacOS unless I press=20
'Command + Option + o +f' to evoke the Open Firmware Prompt. Is=20
there an error in the command? I can't seem to find any=20
documentation on the use of the Open Firmware prompt.
Please forgive these newbie questions. I would greatly=20
appreciate comments on any of these issues.
Ted
It's all part of life's rich pageant.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a24 : Thu Jul 06 2000 - 14:42:55 MDT