1.5.1/2 release
NetBSD/iBook
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Trial
Use Upgrade option
Preparation
  Partition (MacOS)
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boot (netbsd.ram.gz)
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  hfsboot
shell
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Booting
  boot (Open Firmware)
  Permanent setup in OF
  /etc/rcconf
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Trial

This page is for New world PowerMac only.

If your PowerMac falls into the category mentioned at Machine Types section, you can try NetBSD boot without anything installed (other than two files on MacOS partition).

  1. Find trial stuff on Either
    • ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-1.5.2/macppc/installation/
      -r--r--r--  1 234  netbsd  1474560 Aug 18 14:47 boot.fs
      -r--r--r--  1 234  netbsd  1365828 Aug 18 14:47 netbsd.ram.gz
      -r--r--r--  1 234  netbsd    58932 Aug 18 14:47 ofwboot.elf
      -r--r--r--  1 234  netbsd    55200 Aug 18 14:47 ofwboot.xcf
      
    • or
      ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/macppc/snapshot/ 20020407-1.5ZC/installation/
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror  1472512 Apr 10 00:46 boot.fs
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror    63176 Apr  9 08:48 ofwboot.elf
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror    59400 Apr  9 08:48 ofwboot.xcf
      
      and at also 20020407-1.5ZC/binary/kernel/
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror       88 Apr 10 01:17 BSDSUM
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror      113 Apr 10 01:17 CKSUM
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror      180 Apr 10 01:17 MD5
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror       89 Apr 10 01:17 SYSVSUM
      -rw-rw-r--  1 mirror  mirror  1823837 Apr 10 00:36 netbsd-GENERIC.gz
      -rwxrwxr-x  1 mirror  mirror  2480967 Apr 10 00:46 netbsd.GENERIC_MD.gz
      -rwxrwxr-x  1 mirror  mirror  1401381 Apr 10 00:46 netbsd.INSTALL.gz
      
    Installation materials
    file nameKernelwith Memory Disk = installation purpose Description
    ofwboot.elf(none)
    boot loader (elf)
    ofwboot.xcf boot loader (generic)
    boot.fsINSTALLyesfor floppy boot
    netbsd.ram.gz limited kernel but in general use
    netbsd.INSTALL.gz noINSTALL kernel
    netbsd.GENERIC.gzGENERIC production kernel
    netbsd.GENERIC_MD.gz yesfull kernel for installation, CDROM,netboot etc
    netbsd.macppc included in macppccd.iso

    Kernel selection
    Namepurposedevice drivers
    GENERIC kernelalmost all necessary
    INSTALL kernelLimited size to be fit into 1.4M floppy diskminimum, missing gm0 etc

  2. Run MacOS and put
    ofwboot.xcf
    and 
    netbsd.GENERIC_MD.gz (or netbsd.ram.gz)
    
    on your MacOS volume, say Macintosh HD.
  3. Power on the machine with key combination pushed while chime rings:
    command + option + O + F
    
  4. You will see following screen or similar kind.
    Apple PowerBook2, 1 2.0f5 BootROM built on 01/24/00 at 13:58:31
    Copyright 1994-2000 Apple Computer, Inc.
    All Rights Reserved.
    
    Welcome to Open Firmware.
    To continue booting, type "mac-boot" and press return.
    To shut down, type "shut-down" and press return.
    
     ok
    0 > _
    
    If you type just "mac-boot" here, you will continue booting regular MacOS.
  5. Type
    boot hd:,ofwboot.xcf netbsd.ram.gz
    or
    boot hd:,ofwboot.xcf netbsd.GENERIC_MD.gz 
    
    (depends the release date.)
    then ofwboot.xcf runs, find the (install) kernel on the same Volume (partition) and the kernel starts up.
  6. If above ends up to
    ...
    root on md0a dumps on md0b
    root file system type: ffs
    erase ^H, werase ^W, kill ^U, intr ^C, status ^T
    Terminal type? [vt100] xterm
    Erase is backspace.
    (I)nstall, (S)hell or (H)alt ? s
    
    Type s for 'Shell', NetBSD will run on your machine.

    You may play with some bourne shell commands here.
    Some usefull command at this stage

    commandWhat for
    disklabel wd0browse disk label
    ifconfig gm0 192.168.1.1attach (gm0) Ethernet Interface
    mount 192.168.1.2:/export /mntmount /export partition of NFS server onto /mnt
    mount -t cd9660 /dev/cd0c /mnt mount cdrom /mnt
  7. type
    reboot
    
    to reboot the machine to get your machine back to the normal MacOS.
If you power off (by any means), your machine runs MacOS without anything changed.
Last Update: Fri, 03 May 2019 15:45:20 GMT 1.66 2008/03/08