Hello,
I’m currently want to install openSUSE 11.1 on an old IBM Server, but it don’t work.
I can start the PPC-NET-CD and at the moment I want to start the setup the system freeze.
The last message on screen is
yaboot starting: loaded at 00040000 00063fc8 (0/0/00c1b320; sp: 0121ffd0)
Config file 'yaboot.cnf' read, 551 bytes
Welcome to openSuSE 11.1!
Type "install" to start the YaST installer on this CD/DVD
Type "slp" to start the YaST install via network
Type "rescue" to start the rescue system on this CD/DVD
Welcome to yaboot version r22.8-r1174.SuSE
booted from '/pci@fef00000/scsi@c/sd@1,0:1,\suseboot\yaboot.ibm'
running with firmware 'IBM,SPH01271' on model 'IBM,7044-170', serial 'IBM,0144443AC'
Enter "help" to get some basic usage information
boot: install
Please wait, loading kernel...
Allocated 01400000 bytes for executable @ 01600000
Elf32 kernel loaded...
SuSE Linux zImage starting: loaded at 01600000-02886d30 (4000000/0/00c1b320; sp: 0121fd50)
uncompressing ELF header done. (00000100 bytes)
Allocated 00f85e48 bytes for kernel @ 02a00000
Leave 00f4eeec bytes for initrd @ 0192b217
uncompressing kernel done. (00a89a80 bytes)
entering kernel at 02a10000(192b217/f4eeec/00c1b320)
There are a few threads. It’s not specifically a SuSE issue, more of a
hardware support problem. Some claim it is not possible, while others seem
to have fussed with/removed the video card and made it work which of course
would make it a headless box. Not sure what you are hoping to use it for,
but you may find that running AIX5L (if it will run on a 170) is the better
way to go. I have two 120’s and a 530 but honestly they aren’t worth the
power to turn them on.
> I have this server from a friend bought. Probably a mistake.
> Now I have it and try something useful with it.
>
> I thought to install linux and run a Gateway, DNS and Proxy Service on
> it.
>
> where can I get AIX? I didn’t find any webpage to download it? Is it a
> commercial product, or?
>
> Greetings
> P.Prasch
Yes. Unfortunately classic IBM server hardware is extremely proprietary as
were the operating systems that ran on them. AIX is a paid for OS.
You may need to check with IBM what rights you may have regarding getting
an OS for that machine. In any case you would likely have to find out which
version of AIX is supported on that hardware. An IBM sales rep could help
you. This might be a good place to start:
I too have tried and failed to boot 11.1 on an IBM 7044 model 170. The messages on the screen are the same for me. The LED error code I receive is 25A80211 which says Setenv/$Setenv parameter error - Value contains a null character.
Your 7044 is significantly down level on firmware, but I get the same error after upgrading to the latest firmware. AIX 5.3 boots and loads just fine on this machine. My machine does not have a graphics card, I use an ascii terminal as a console.
I do intend to try earlier versions of OpenSUSE in case one of them can boot successfully. More than once, problems with booting new versions of AIX were fixed by upgrading system or CDROM firmware. In this case, it is unlikely that IBM would release a fix for an older machine like the 7044 just to fix problems with OpenSUSE.
I can confirm that 10.3 did boot and install on my 7044-170. I have no graphics card and found PuTTY connected to S1 serial port displayed the menus needed to install and configure.