Simple answers to simple problems - read before posting

[gust4voz]

Q: My system just freezes when booting with a message like:
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Remapping the kernel... done.
Booting Linux...
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A: Your kernel config is wrong, you lack framebuffer and/or console support for your machine.
The installcd did work didn't it? Use the config in it (/proc/config.gz) as a basis for yours.


Q: My system panics when booting with a message like:
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Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)
<0>Press Stop-A (L1-A) to return to the boot prom
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A: Again your kernel config is wrong, you lack a hard-disk controller driver.
Did i mention /proc/config.gz from the installcd?

Q: My system boots and i get to the login prompt, but i can't type anything!
A: Your kernel config is wrong (lacking the necessary usb or sun keyboard interface options).
It's also slightly possible that your keymap (/etc/conf.d/keymaps) is wrong.


Q: ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~sparc" doesn't build!
A: We're not like some other architectures, ~sparc may break and sparc stable is usually up to date with tested stuff.


Q: I wanna know if i can stick "X" hardware and it'll work
A: Check the hardware compatibility guide at http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/sparc/hwlist.xml and http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/sparc/sunhw.xml


Q: I want the flash plugin
A: At the moment of this writting that's an x86-only binary, so no.


Q: I want java
A: Like the flash plugin, the java vm is a binary, and currently there's no fully-featured and secure linux/sparc one.
So much for portability huh?


Q: Where's the sparc32 stuff?
A: We don't support it any longer, it's old and slow hardware, there's no official linux kernel maintainer for it and we lack manpower.


Q: Is there a hardware RAID controller that'll work?
A: Probably not, most of them require BIOS (x86) initialization.


Q: My machine has two processors but the kernel only sees one!
A: You probably touched CONFIG_NR_CPUS, leave it at 32, some sparc systems don't do ordered cpu numbering.


Q: Why can't i use reiser/jfs/xfs?
A: They're broken, in the kernel and/or userland.
We test them extensively from time to time and if one of them gets into shape (i.e. won't corrupt all your data at least lightly) we'll enable it in install media.
_________________
Gustavo Zacarias
Gentoo/SPARC monkey

[EoD]