Got Tiger Server to boot on a Beige G3.

[DarthNvader]

I thought I'd give this a try, I really want to get my SAS cards woking on the Beige G4( G3 ), but only Tiger Server and Leopard have drivers for the LSI SAS cards I have.

Had not tried the SAS cards yet, I was able to boot Tiger Server in Safe Mode, but I had to install a patched GeForce 6600 PCI-E into my PCI to PCI-E adapter to get this far.

The Xpostfacto Gossamer.ndrv for OS X seems to kernel panic the system with the built-in Rage II GPU enabled.

The GF6600 disables the FCode for the builtin Rage II and I was able to safe boot, but not full boot yet.

I'll try it with the GF6200 PCI that has also been patched for Old World Open Firmware support and see if I can drop the Rage II properties from the device tree before booting OS X.

" /pci/@12" find-package drop delete-node

 

[DarthNvader]

I got Tiger Server fully booted and did some testing with an LSI SAS card on a SATA SSD, things look pretty good speed wise, seems much quicker than the SiL3112 with the same drives in this machine.

I'll have to download Carbon Copy Cloner and try and boot from the LSI card.......

 

[DarthNvader]

Here are some xls of benchmarks of the SAS, vs 80Gig PATA on the ATA33 bus and a FW400 drive.

 

[joevt]

Can't the drivers be copied from Tiger Server to Tiger?

Not sure what Gossamer.ndrv is. Gossamer has ATI chips so the ndrv should be from ATI. Do you mean GossamerNDRVSupport? All it does is override ATIUtils functions ATISetMBRES, ATISetMonitorTermination, and ATIIsAllInOne.

GF6600 fcode disabling builtin Rage II fcode seems like an interesting problem...

 

[DarthNvader]

Can't the drivers be copied from Tiger Server to Tiger?

Not sure what Gossamer.ndrv is. Gossamer has ATI chips so the ndrv should be from ATI. Do you mean GossamerNDRVSupport? All it does is override ATIUtils functions ATISetMBRES, ATISetMonitorTermination, and ATIIsAllInOne.

GF6600 fcode disabling builtin Rage II fcode seems like an interesting problem...

I tried copying the drivers over once before, not sure if I tried from Leopard or Tiger Server but they would not link/load. I think the LSI drivers require some newer things than can be found in Tiger.

Oddly Xpostfacto 4 will not launch in Tiger Server, just bounces in the dock once, then gone.

I cloned Tiger Server( TS ) to one of the drives connected to the SAS card but have no way to boot it!

 

[DarthNvader]

GossamerNDRVSupport?

Yes, deleting it and clearing the .kext and kernel caches got TS up with the GF6200 and the ATI built-in not disabled( shows as no driver loaded ).

 

[GorfTheChosen]

I tried copying the drivers over once before, not sure if I tried from Leopard or Tiger Server but they would not link/load. I think the LSI drivers require some newer things than can be found in Tiger.

Oddly Xpostfacto 4 will not launch in Tiger Server, just bounces in the dock once, then gone.

I've found that this can occur in Tiger as well.

Seems too happen after something has been installed or updated and the computer needs to be rebooted.

Try launching XPF in Tiger Server again after doing so and let us know what happened.

I cloned Tiger Server( TS ) to one of the drives connected to the SAS card but have no way to boot it!

Head back to your OS 9 install by holding down the "C" key at reboot and use XPF to boot it there ?

 

[DarthNvader]

Head back to your OS 9 install by holding down the "C" key at reboot and use XPF to boot it there ?

That's not an option for the LSI SAS cards, not Mac OS 9 drivers( NDRV ).

Only Tiger Server and Leopard have drivers for the two LSI SAS cards I have. OF can use them just fine, but the Beige lacks support for reading disk partitions from OF.

I think I tried launching XPF right after CCC was done, so maybe that was the 'bounce' issue.

I'll reboot and report back......

 

[DarthNvader]

I reboot to TS and even repaired the disk permissions, but no dice XPF will not launch and I get no error report or logs to help figure why.

No great loss, I'd just like to see how fast the system is when booted from the SAS card.

Anyone know if XPF 4 works in Leopard?

 

[DarthNvader]

Anyone know if XPF 4 works in Leopard?

It does not, same deal, just bounce and die.

 

[GorfTheChosen]

I reboot to TS and even repaired the disk permissions, but no dice XPF will not launch and I get no error report or logs to help figure why.

I have cured a variety of problems (Software Update or other apps not launching, not running after launch, or outright hanging/freezing, can't get to the login window after boot, can't get to the desktop, no menu bar, etc) by renaming /Library/Caches to /Library/Caches.old forcing the OS regenerate the caches.

Also repeatedly starting up in Safe Mode has fixed some problems, as well as running Disk Utility from the installer DVD.

This has largely been on a 7600 and a 9600.

My native G4/G5 machines tend to be rock-solid for the most part.

No great loss, I'd just like to see how fast the system is when booted from the SAS card.

Anyone know if XPF 4 works in Leopard?

From what I have read I believe it should ... but I haven't personally tested it.

 

[GorfTheChosen]

Maybe try opening the Console when launching XPF ?

 

[DarthNvader]

I have cured a variety of problems (Software Update or other apps not launching, not running after launch, or outright hanging/freezing, can't get to the login window after boot, can't get to the desktop, no menu bar, etc) by renaming /Library/Caches to /Library/Caches.old forcing the OS regenerate the caches.

Also repeatedly starting up in Safe Mode has fixed some problems, as well as running Disk Utility from the installer DVD.

This has largely been on a 7600 and a 9600.

My native G4/G5 machines tend to be rock-solid for the most part.



From what I have read I believe it should ... but I haven't personally tested it.

I tested it and it did not work, so I downloaded it from OWC and it fired right up in Leopard, so I'll have to try that copy in TS as it will likely work just fine, thanks!

 

[GorfTheChosen]

I tested it and it did not work, so I downloaded it from OWC and it fired right up in Leopard, so I'll have to try that copy in TS as it will likely work just fine, thanks!

Yeah ... I've had issues at various points.

Now that I think about it a bit, what hat I ran across was to trash the XPF Log file in the OS 9 Prefs folder in the System Folder AND the XPF app itself and reinstall like you did.

Good show !

 

[DarthNvader]

I managed to get TS booted by using a 'Helper Volume' on the Beige's internal ATA33 Bus, but no luck booting it without a helper disk yet.

Here are the results trying to boot the LSI SAS card from OF via XPF:

Open Firmware, 2.0f1
To continue booting the MacOS type:
BYE<return>
To continue booting from the default boot device type:
BOOT<return>
For Open Firmware serial I/O type:
TTYA IO<return>
 ok
0 > printenv

VARIABLE            CURRENT             DEFAULT
little-endian?      false               false
real-mode?          false               false
auto-boot?          false               true
diag-switch?        false               false
fcode-debug?        false               false
oem-banner?         false               false
oem-logo?           false               false
use-nvramrc?        true                false
real-base           -1                  -1
real-size           100000              100000
virt-base           -1                  -1
virt-size           100000              100000
load-base           600000              4000
pci-probe-list      -1                  -1
screen-#columns     64                  64
screen-#rows        28                  28
selftest-#megs      0                   0
boot-device         pci/@E/@0/@17:12    /AAPL,ROM
boot-file                               
diag-device         fd:diags            fd:diags
diag-file                               
input-device        ttya                kbd
output-device       ttya                screen
oem-banner                             
oem-logo                               
nvramrc             
     hex
     : $D find-device ;
     : $E device-end ;
     : $L BLpatch ; : $R BRpatch ;
     : $X execute ;
     : $p 0 to my-self property ;
     : $a " /chosen" $D $p $E ;
     : &c " ata-enable" $call-parent ;
     10 buffer: km
     dev kbd
     get-key-map km swap move
     $E
     : ck 0 do swap dup 3 >> km + c@ 1 rot 7 and << and or loop ;
     : bootr 0d word count encode-string " machargs" $a
     0 0 1 ck if 0 and else dup 1 = if 3d 0 1 else f 3d 0 2 then ck if 40 or then then
     40 and if bye else 1e 0 do ['] boot catch drop 1f4 ms loop then bye ;
     dev enet
     ' open constant $M
     : $M2 $M 710 - $X ;
     : rl@ -7D9D40 $X ;
     : chstat begin $M2 $M 14f8 - $X -7D6C20 $X rl@ 400 and 0= until ;
     : bmstat begin $M2 $M 13F0 - $X rl@ 100 and until ;
     : xmt1 get-msecs $M 720 - ! chstat $M A00 - $X bmstat chstat ;
     ' xmt1 ' WRITE 10 + l!
     62 ' READ 7 - c!
     : READ { _p _n ; _a } begin _p _n bead -> _a _a 2+
     if _p c@ 80 and 0= else 1 then until _a ;
     $E
     dev /packages/mac-parts
     : $M -7E89E0 $X 8000 alloc-mem 7F00 + 4 -7E89E0 $X ;
     ' load 268 - ' $M $L
     ' load 160 + ' 0 $L
     $E
     dev ide0
     : open use-ata-interface 0 &c -1 ;
     : set-device-ID set-drive-select ;
     : reset-atapi-bus reset-ata-bus ;
     ' reset-ata-bus 2c + ' 2 $L
     $E
     dev ide1
     : open use-ata-interface 0 &c -1 ;
     : set-device-ID set-drive-select ;
     : reset-atapi-bus reset-ata-bus ;
     ' reset-ata-bus 2c + ' 2 $L
     $E
     dev scsi
     : $M ['] do-cmd + ;
     : $M2 5 us -5f0 $M $X ;
     : $M3 -710 $M f over $X $X ;
     : $M4 1 ms ;
     -1AC $M ' $M2 $L
     100 $M ' $M3 $L
     120 $M ' $M4 $L
     124 $M ' 1 $L
     $E
     ff000000 dup dup 400 28 do-map 4+ w@ 10 and 0=
     if 90b7 f3000032 w! then
     unselect-dev                       
boot-command        0 bootr  debug=0x2 -v boot
 ok
0 > boot chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12
 ok
0 > 0 bootr debug=0x2 -v boot chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12chip reset error
 can't OPEN: pci/@E/@0/@17:12

It goes on there trying to Open the SATA SSD then just reverts to booting from the /AAPL,ROM and boots OS 9.2.2.

So it's having trouble opening the drive so it can do it's magic and load BootX???

@joevt

 

[DarthNvader]

It's not of any great matter, Tiger Server doesn't really suffer any performance hit booting from the Helper Volume and redirecting to the SATA SSD on the LSI SAS card, it's just an extra step that takes a few seconds.

So it's pretty cool, I can Benchmark this drive connected to the LSI card and the SiL3112 in this Beige to show why I am interested in using the LSI card.

The SiL3112 is a very poor performer on the Beige's PCI bus. It does really well in my MDD G4, it peaks out about 90MB/s with the same SATA SSD, and just comes nowhere near that in the Beige.

Plus the LSI card has 4 ports.

 

[DarthNvader]

TS really has a lot of the enhancement of Leopard, but also has Classic.

I tried to install in on a virtual machine running on x86 but the bluebox just hung at some point, I forget how far I got, but it was pretty far.

For whatever reason it's not installed on my G5 running TS, so I'll try and install the Classic Package form the TS DVD on the Beige and see if I can get classic going here....

 

[DarthNvader]

TS really has a lot of the enhancement of Leopard, but also has Classic.

I tried to install in on a virtual machine running on x86 but the bluebox just hung at some point, I forget how far I got, but it was pretty far.

For whatever reason it's not installed on my G5 running TS, so I'll try and install the Classic Package form the TS DVD on the Beige and see if I can get classic going here....

I guess I was wrong there, the TS DVD doesn't contain classic package, I must have installed it from the 10.4.6 Retail DVD, so I'll check and see if I can install it and it will run on PPC TS....

 

[DarthNvader]

The BlueBox was always sort of a mysterious thing in how it worked.

I think it runs in the PPC hypervisor in some mode and that hypervisor is brought up in the kernel.

The classic preference pane ran on TS x86, but it would always hang trying to boot classic. I think the process that hung was the BlueBox, but I'll know more once I recreate what I did on x86 to this PPC install.

Does anyone know how classic actually works on PPC?

Is it some sort of hypervisor mode?

 

[DarthNvader]

Yes!

Classic runs just fine on Tiger Server PPC.

So we have a lot of the benefits of Leopard( mostly the updated LSI drivers for me ) and we can still run apps never updated for OS X in the Classic Env.