Mol on 2.6.0-test9-benh5

[gino_rotormind]

I have successfully compiled mac-on-linux under the 2.6.0-test9-benh5 kernel running on a new Aluminium Powerbook G4 15". When I run startmol --loadonly it complains about there being no sheep.o kernel module. However, when I run startmol --test it runs through without a problem. Is this going to be an issue once I have it working properly??

When I run startmol proper, it loads nicely to the point where I have a disk on the screen with a ? in the middle. I can see no reference to this on the mol documentation or these forums describing what it means. Does it mean it can't find the ROM image under the MacOS X /System/ folder??

the output from MOL before it sits and stares at me with a disk with a ? is as follows:

[joaopft]

You have not provided a valid boot disk in your configuration files.
Check that you have configured mol properly. Edit the files:

/etc/mol/molrc.macos (read when you run 'startmol' -- boots Mac OS, versions 8.5 - 9.2)

/etc/mol/molrc.osx (read when you run startmol -X' -- boots Mac OS 10.0 - 10.3)

Mol reads information like the Mac OS boot partition from these files. You have to provide the necessary info. For instance my molrc.macos has the following
in the "HFS Volumes" section:

blkdev: /dev/cdrom -cd ${cdboot}

ifeq ${session} 0 {
# default configuration
blkdev: /dev/hdb12 -rw -boot
blkdev: /dev/hdb13 -rw
}

You should also set ram_size to an appropriate value and enable altivec (if
you have a G4).

I have created /dev/hdb12 (of type Apple_HFS). I could then boot mol from the cdrom, with the command:

startmol --cdboot

(I have used a MacOS 9 install disk). Formatted /dev/hdb12 and the installer takes care of putting the system in that partition.

You may use a partition where you already have Mac OS installed, but be advised things may not work that good if you have a lot of stuff running there. To be on the safe side, better use a fresh instalation and test drivers and apps with mol one by one.

[gino_rotormind]

Thanks for the help, It begins to load os x now, however it repeatedly displays the following message on the console:

[joaopft]

My instalation works OK, except for sound (doesn't have any). I am using
kernel 2.4.22-ben2, though. USB is working fine, with 6 USB devices connected!

The messages about USB I get from mol are just:

Using USB mouse on /dev/input/mice
OHCI USB controller registered
.... and ....
USB device connect (2:6)

Try disconnecting all USB devices except mouse and keyboard and then boot mol. If it works without USB errors/warnings, then you should recompile your kernel and enable support for all the USB devices you have disconnected.

I suppose your kernel has some USB support compiled in, otherwise you couldn't use mouse or keyboard. Anyway, check your kernel config. In the USB menu, you should have enabled:

<*> Support for USB
....
<*> OHCI (Compaq, iMacs,...) support
<*> USB human interface device support

Other drivers in the "USB Host Controler Drivers section" (EHCI, UHCI) are not needed, and you should not select them. Then you should enable the specific drivers for the USB devices you have (printer, scanner, ...)

Also, if you compile USB support as modules, make sure they are loaded at startup (edit /etc/modules.autoload and add there any modules you want loaded at startup).

If all this doesn't solve your problem, and your mol configuration files are OK, maybe it is an incompatibility between your version of mol and kernel 2.6. Try the newest mol you can find (even if it is masked). Also ckeck the forum in the mol site (www.maconlinux.org) for hints.

It may also be a bug in the 2.6 kernel proper. To be on the safe side here, check bugzilla and see if other people report the same problem.

[gino_rotormind]

Cheers,

You hit it right on the head in that I hadn't properly set up and loaded the appropriate USB modules etc. works like a charm now and loads heaps quicker.

thanks again