Linux for the PowerPC Kernel Information

What's Here: What is Linux/PPC Distributions System-Specific Information General Information Software Kernel Source Acknowledgements

What is Linux/PPC? Linux/PPC is a native port of Linux to the PowerPC processor. It is not the mach-based Linux derivative, mkLinux, that was developed by Apple. It runs natively on PCI based PowerMacs, PReP workstations, CHRP machines, Amiga Power-UP systems and several embedded platforms including the Motorola MBX and RPX. The kernel supports SMP on CHRP, Daystar (PowerMac) and MTX boards. Linux/PPC runs on most PowerPC chips: all the 6xx, 8xx and 7xx series but not yet on the 5xx and 4xx family. Work is in progress to port Linux/PPC to the 64-bit variants of the PowerPC and port RealTime Linux to Linux/PPC. Distributions of Linux/PPC We do not put together distributions, we are mainly kernel developers here. Other groups have put together distributions that are quite usable. SuSE - SuSE has a Linux/PPC version of their distribution German Distribution - Early work on a German-specific distribution LinuxPPC Inc. - sells CD's of a RedHat derivative (not supported by RedHat) installation for Linux/PPC and MkLinux YellowDog - TerraSoft sells a distribution of Linux/PPC Debian - The Debian distribution (installation instructions) TurboLinux - Sells a Linux/PPC distribution of TurboLinux - another RedHat derivative System Specific Pages and Information PowerMac - Linux/PPC on PowerMac Amiga - Amiga Power-Up system files and faq BeBox - Information on the effort to get the BeBox running LongTrail - Info about Linux/PPC on IBM's LongTrail CHRP based boards Embedded - Info about Linux/PPC embedded PowerPC systems General Information faq-o-matic - the Linux on PowerPC FAQ covering mkLinux and Linux/PPC - a very useful site ftp - Ftp site for the kernel mailing lists - List of Linux/PPC related mailing lists hosted by www.linuxppc.org Article from the May, 1997 Linux Journal on Linux/PPC (dvi), (html) BootX - MacOS utility to install Linux/PPC Linux/PPC Memory Management Paper - A paper on Linux/PPC, mainly focusing on performance issues lmbench numbers - Some old runs with lmbench. We hope to have newer lmbench numbers available soon. If you have some, please send them or contact us to help Software BootX - MacOS utility to install and boot Linux/PPC Kernel Source BitKeeper Repository - Information on getting ahold of the development source ftp.kernel.org - One of many ftp sites for the standard kernel source. LinuxCare - Paul Mackerras' ftp site for the kernel Frame Buffer X - Geert keeps binaries and sources for the Frame Buffer XFree86 server on the PowerPC Linux/PPC Scientifc Applications Archive - Maintained by Jose Nazario Cross-Compiler -- A pre-built x86 -> PowerPC cross compiler PlanB -- Video input for Linux/PPC Patches -- Patches to the kernel that haven't been integrated into the main Linux/PPC source yet Kernel Binaries Kernel Images -- A set of kernel images for various platforms Contacts Cort Dougan Please mail cort@ppc.kernel.org if you have questions about the project. Paul Mackerras Acknowledgements Thanks to UMAX and IBM for equipment donations, and to USENIX for a stipend. Thanks also to Linux International and its grant fund for the donation of a Motorola StarMax for our development and to Red Hat Software for supplying the monitor to go with it. The first Linux/PPC port was mostly written by Gary Thomas.