G5 boot test reports and how we should prepare tests

[darthnVader]

Having a working debugger like GDB is pretty much mandatory.

GDB is not option (or is not good debugger anyway (my biased opinion)).

Very beginning of start we have to use Open Firmware debugging, some information might be here: http://www.dialectronics.com/Words/OF_Part_II.shtml
And here some information if somebody want use open firmware debug thru ethernet with telnet connection: https://www.fenestrated.net/mirrors/Apple%20Technotes%20(As%20of%202002)/tn/tn2023.html

I've never been able to get the Nano Kernel log from ethernet in two machine mode, I think it will dump only to serial?

I suppose you maybe, somehow, able to enter into the Nano Kernel interactive debugger, but good luck using it.

By all means, do things the hard way

[teroyk]

I've never been able to get the Nano Kernel log from ethernet in two machine mode, I think it will dump only to serial?
I suppose you maybe, somehow, able to enter into the Nano Kernel interactive debugger, but good luck using it.

By all means, do things the hard way

"in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too" J.F.Kennedy

[IIO]

and then he got shot

[teroyk]

PowerMac G4 developer note from 2003 in page 20:
https://web.archive.org/web/20030701081015/http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G4/PowerMacG4/PowerMacG4.pdf
shows block diagram of Powermac G4 MMD (Firewire800)

Has somebody same kind of block diagram of PowerMac G5 single 1.6 Ghz PCI?

EDIT This file works! is for later G5 single 1.8Ghz PCI model:
http://mirror.informatimago.com/next/developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G5/PowerMacG5_SP/PowerMacG5_SP.pdf

[IIO]

yes, broken.

here is the best place to start

 [[[[[ https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/sitemap.php ]]]]]


.../hardware/developer notes/...

https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G5/PowerMacG5_SP/0Preface/Q78_pref.html

[teroyk]

https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G5/PowerMacG5_SP/0Preface/Q78_pref.html

yes it's for 1.8 Ghz. It seems that it almost more differences between first dual G5 and second single G5 than Powermac G4 dual (firewire800) and first dual G5s.

[IIO]

oh i missed that and i missed that you already found this exact file under another url.

though i would bet that the 1.6 looks the same except for PCI i can not garantee that. (to be exact, i have no clue.)

[teroyk]

oh i missed that and i missed that you already found this exact file under another url.

though i would bet that the 1.6 looks the same except for PCI i can not garantee that. (to be exact, i have no clue.)

You was first I was edit that link when you have posted your links

[teroyk]

If it takes too hard to get memory down to 256 MB, maybe this might help:
Technical Q&A QA1099, Reducing the size of Physical Memory in Open Firmware
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/qa/qa2001/qa1099.html
go down and there is hint for Mac OS 9 users too.

[teroyk]

First G5s has (P)ATA-interfaces for optical drives. Has anybody try to boot to OSX (or OS 9) with HD from there?

[nanopico]

First G5s has (P)ATA-interfaces for optical drives. Has anybody try to boot to OSX (or OS 9) with HD from there?

I do believe all the G5 PowerMacs had PATA for the optical drive.  That was why I had used a custom CD I made to do my tests on my G5 a few years back.

[IIO]

it is ATA 100 and i see no reason why it wouldnt boot from there when you exchange the optical for a SSD.

[anonymouse]

...are there anybody even tested to boot the first G5 model with Mac OS 9 compatible AGP-card?

Would be better boot with Mac OS 9 compatible PCI-card?
There is officially Xserve G5 compatible additional GPU card VillageTronic MDD Pro that has also MacOS9-drivers.

[teroyk]

...are there anybody even tested to boot the first G5 model with Mac OS 9 compatible AGP-card?

Would be better boot with Mac OS 9 compatible PCI-card?
There is officially Xserve G5 compatible additional GPU card VillageTronic MDD Pro that has also MacOS9-drivers.

You mean MPDD Pro?
https://web.archive.org/web/20060721133421/http://www.villagetronic.com/mpdd/mpddpro_appl.html

[anonymouse]

You mean MPDD Pro?
https://web.archive.org/web/20060721133421/http://www.villagetronic.com/mpdd/mpddpro_appl.html

Sorry my typo. Yes MPDD Pro. I don't have card or ever seen on, but I think it is secondary display card as VTBook, so it doesn't show anything before extension is loaded. So have to setup Finder menu to 2nd display with another machine. And have to boot machine as without display card. This might not be best option to test, but it might be option.

[teroyk]

Maybe it is time ask again: Has somebody PowerMac G5 1.6 Ghz?

[chrisNova777]

I wouldn't even want a G5 running macos9 even if I could have it.. they take up far too much room + too much power + not enough processing power in return... and bottom line they were engineered to run OS X Panther + Tiger which are fun os to run so just go with it man

they should have just made an ATX form factor Mac. But that what OS X intel hackintoshes are for I guess.

[DieHard]

Yes, I know that it is little stupid dream that G5 can boot to Mac OS 9 ever, but...

I hate to say it, but even though we have made so many advancements in the past, IMO G5 hardware is just never going to yield success when booting to OS9. 

The xServe never got finished and it has way fewer logic board differences (I mean being able to "boot" without most of the hardware working is not really that exciting). I am guessing that even if we get the G5 to boot someday (via some awesome new developement) it will be without any functioning hardware in OS 9.

[teroyk]

Yes, I know that it is little stupid dream that G5 can boot to Mac OS 9 ever, but...

I am guessing that even if we get the G5 to boot someday (via some awesome new developement) it will be without any functioning hardware in OS 9.

Actually if we get first G5 boot,  it has to see PCI-slots, so hardware in PCI-slots (videocards, soundcards) might work also and as far I know PowerMac G5 1.6Ghz (and only that model) has same PCI-system than PowerMac G4 MDD. Correct me if I am wrong, I haven't seen that model ever, only read some info.

There might be also academic questions..when/where/why MacOS9 boot stops in G5.

[Jubadub]

@DieHard Even if utterly broken, imagine the excitement of OS 9 booted from a G5. I know I would totally freak out in excitement. Now also consider the XServe G4's availability (and people's general knowledge of their very existence) versus the availability of used G5s, and the amount of attraction such a feat would provide.

If @teroyk gets his hands on an 1.6GHz G5 and try to experiment away, I know I would be excitedly reading about it from the edge of my seat. Just for fun. If @ELN, @nanopico & gang also made a comeback and joined forces, that would be even more exciting, although that might be me asking for too much.

In any case, yeah, I agree with you, we will keep expectations "realistic", but it's still fun to walk the journey.