From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: with ECARTIS (v1.0.0; list linux-mips); Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:07:06 +0100 (BST) Received: from alnrmhc12.comcast.net ([204.127.225.92]:14776 "EHLO alnrmhc12.comcast.net") by ftp.linux-mips.org with ESMTP id S20022205AbXJCGG5 (ORCPT ); Wed, 3 Oct 2007 07:06:57 +0100 Received: from [192.168.1.4] (c-69-140-18-238.hsd1.md.comcast.net[69.140.18.238]) by comcast.net (alnrmhc12) with ESMTP id <20071003060614b1200m1ra0e>; Wed, 3 Oct 2007 06:06:14 +0000 Message-ID: <47033156.7090703@gentoo.org> Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:06:14 -0400 From: Kumba User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (Windows/20070728) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Ed Stafford CC: linux-mips@linux-mips.org Subject: Re: What is the current state of the Octane/IP30 support? References: <41370a610710021341g749742dejec06b3a38477fd47@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <41370a610710021341g749742dejec06b3a38477fd47@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-Path: X-Envelope-To: <"|/home/ecartis/ecartis -s linux-mips"> (uid 0) X-Orcpt: rfc822;linux-mips@linux-mips.org Original-Recipient: rfc822;linux-mips@linux-mips.org X-archive-position: 16816 X-ecartis-version: Ecartis v1.0.0 Sender: linux-mips-bounce@linux-mips.org Errors-to: linux-mips-bounce@linux-mips.org X-original-sender: kumba@gentoo.org Precedence: bulk X-list: linux-mips Ed Stafford wrote: > I have a single-proc Octane at home that I've decided should be > running with Linux, but I have been reading up online about the > Experimental nature of the kernel in relation to the hardware. Since > most of the info I found was dated 2006, I wanted to ask your (as a > group) opinion on how stable / usable the Octane is today with the > current kernel. > > I'm not adverse to bleeding edge, I just want to know whether or not > I'll be struggling on something that just doesn't have enough drivers > written for it to make it usable. > > Just in case anyone asks, I'll probably be using Gentoo, but I'm not > glued to that distro. (I'm very agnostic and just prefer it to work > the best vs. distro-warring..) > > Thanks a bunch! Right now, Gentoo does have the best support for them (mine is running 2.6.23-rc5 about 3.5ft from me as I type). But I do believe the debian guys have been working on a debian install image for them too (tbm/ths, am I right on this?) For the most part, Impact-based systems run great. You get X, unaccelerated, no 3D, and a framebuffer. VPro, framebuffer, but no X. USB kinda weorks if you have a PCI-Card Cage and a OHCI chipsets (UHCI is dead last I checked), and I think EHCI works fine. Haven't tried much else beyond those PCI devices. A lot of the other XIO Boards, outside of the Impact or Vpro boards, are wholly untested, and likely won't work at all. Nor do I think dual head will work if you have a second Impact card kicking around. For gentoo, we have an "RC6" livecd. I've played with building an RC7 several times, but that got sidetracked about 2-3 months ago. I hope to resume work on it soon. You can find that and the current netboots on your local gentoo mirror, in the experimental/mips sub-folders. Further gentoo questions regarding this system should be directed to the gentoo-mips ML; linux-mips here is more for distro-agnostic development. Have fun! (and what Proc, btw?) --Kumba -- Gentoo/MIPS Team Lead "Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere." --Elrond