Debian 3.0 on a B180L

[Kelli Ward]

Hi all,
I have installed Debian 3.0 on a B180L system.
Over all it runs well (slow with 96Mb of RAM though) but I noticed a possible issue while configuring basic networking.

I was not able to use any ipchains commands except ipchains -L and recieved a rather ominous error to the effect of "not compatible with this kernel" This to me sounds as though I will not be able to configure firewall. Can anyone confirm this? Or has anyone found a work around. I didn't find anything usefull on the PA-Risc sites.

Other things to note:
Set your color depth (Xserver settings) to 8 bit or your desktop environment will not run.
(Can also be set in the color depth option in the XF86config-4 file.)

Install program has an annoying screensaver. Do not hit enter to deactivate it or you might also return carriage the install screen behind it and choose an option you might not have wanted and couldn't see.

I run multiple systems off a four port KVM switch, which worked fine during the install, but gave me a keyboard error during real boot forcing me to add a dedicated keyboard. (Mouse and Monitor are fine)

Has anyone noticed other bugs with this or any other PA-Risc systems?
I will be looking to implement this on a D or K class in the future.

Thanks,
Kel

[Javier Ramirez_1]

Where do yo find Debian for HP Visualize Workstations? Is there a bootable CD version?. Time ago there was a Debian version that must be compiled before installed...so is there a "nice-installation" version from Debian now??
How good is it? Does it recognize your hard?
Is there any linux software binaries for this version (any Debian CD with software)?
Thanks,
Javier

[Frerk Friedrichsen_1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Kel,

which kernel version run on your B180L ?

In case 2.4.x run, try iptables instead of ipchains.

a Frerk

[Kelli Ward]

Hi Javier,

Below are 3 links for Debian for PA-Risc (hppa)

Oregon State gave me the best ability to download the ISO images, but I recommend checking Debain's web site for the purchasable copy, it's about $28 and well worth the headaches. (I downloaded and also tried Jigdo with less than pleasing results) Once you have the ISO's you burn them to CD's your self. There are 6 CD's, you need them all. Each is over 600Mb. (They are not like Intel CD's that have 1 to 3 install disks and a number of source disks. CD1 is the install and the rest are the software packages.

Check the links below

http://www.parisc-linux.org

http://www.debian.org

http://debian.oregonstate.edu/debian-cdimage/3.0_r0/hppa/

Hi Frerk,
Good thought, I had been jumping around on configurations and iptables slipped my mind. I am running a 2.4 kernel
I'll check iptables and post points.

Thanks,
Kel

[Kelli Ward]

Okay, that didn't sound right.
The CD's are around $28 and well worth it considering the possbile headaches of downloading your own. ;)
Kel

[Aaron Mildenstein_1]

Just FYI, since the problem seems to have been resolved:

I have a B180L, with 256M of RAM, an 18G hard drive, and Debian 3.0. I've been running it that way for MONTHS now, without so much as a hiccup. It is, in my network, functioning as a DNS server, a DHCP server, and a SQUID proxy server. I love what this box has done for me, and would recommend PA-RISC linux to anyone with an old box to play on.

[Kelli Ward]

Hi Aaron,
Good to know. On my system, with 96Mb RAM, only about 7Mb of it is available on a freshly booted, idle system. I need more RAM definately. Other than that and a few installation woes, resolved now that the installation is over, it is working well.

Hi Frerk,
iptables looks good, thanks.

Kel

[Javier Ramirez_1]

Thanks all,
Now I've got Debian on my Visualize 180L. But there's a lot of applications that don't work. Hera are some:
Mozilla, Ethereal, xpdf,.., and many more. For me, Mozilla is needed, I??ve tried to compile it but compilation enters in a loop and it doesn't end. Same happens when trying to compile apache.

Any clues??
Thanks a lot,
Javier

[Jerome Henry]

Try onpeing a new thread on it. It's better.
Check the compilation order.
If A needs B needs C, you have to be careful on compiling.
J

[Mathew_9]

Hello,

I have a Visualize B180L that has hp-ux 10.2 on it. The OS is trashed and rarly boots without hanging on a service. I'm new to nix so would like to start freash with a new install of 10.2+ or Linux.. any sugestions?

Thanks,
-Mathew

[Javier Ramirez_1]

Hi,
In fact it depends on what kind of desktop do you need. I mean that if you need a lot of applicactions maybe yuo'll need linux but if you want to have a robust system (in case of hppa) you will need HP-UX. Why don't you use HP-UX for a couple of months and then try linux?.
You can have both but I think that isn't an easy issue if you're newbie.

Regards,
Javier

[Kelli Ward]

Hi,
Debian installs nicely on a B180L and runs well.
Do your self a favor. If you choose to install it. Understand how to partition a drive as you will need a bootable partition, swap and a filesystem partition. I also highly recommend creating a /boot (filesystem) directory partition (where your kernel resides before the root / partition. If you were to ever rebuild your kernel in the future and did not do this and it happened to copy past the first 2 Gb of the drive. Your system will be rendered unbootable.

Also, pony up the money and buy it rather than download and burn. It's 6 600Mb CD's. You'll thank me later, it's around $30.

Read the documentation.

Let's close this thread. No more replies on this one please.

Thanks,
Kel