Adélie Linux for PowerPC

[dextructor]

Does that mean Void loses all support after Jan 2023? Is it worth installing if the project is over in a month?
I guess it’s worth installing from the standpoint of just learning how to install Linux

Yep, according to the main developer "the repositories will shut down next year, however". That's a shame, but his next project also looks promising.

In my opinion and my case, I only really learn Linux when I picked some distro that don't work all from the box, I installed Ubuntu a long time ago in my x86_64 machine, but only click, launch some programs, type some commands in the terminal when something doesn't have a GUI... Some more wise person said to me once: "Clicking and dragging windows isn't using/learning an Operating System"

And watching some video more than 2 years from DistroTube (I can't remember what specifically was, and I look his channel once every 2 weeks to see if something interest me) he said: "The best way to learn Linux, it's to build your own Desktop Environment"... So I did it.

It's perfect? Hell no
It's more lightweight than LXDE or many more minimal DE's? It's very comparable and efficient.
It's more functional than an Gnome, KDE, XFCE? It has all the features that I need, no more, no less

And I replaced the OMV on my Raspberry for Void as well, and learn a lot in the process.

Do I recommend you do it? Not necessarily, because everyone has your way to learn, and my it's to step out of the comfort zone of everything working for me.

Once Adelie gets off the ground rolling I can see it being a boon to PPC computers and old x86 ones as well

If I remember correctly it's the only distro that didn't completely ditched Firefox from any plans of running on PPC 32. Once I experimented MUSL in Void I love how snappy my machines work in general (occasional bugs, but not so severe that ruins my experience), but many browsers that was build from this community to PPC 32 and 64 only compile in GLIBC, so unless we can solve it that may be a "problem" to the adoption of some users who occasionally browse the web with this machines.

 

[Amethyst1]

Some more wise person said to me once: "Clicking and dragging windows isn't using/learning an Operating System"

Agreed. I didn’t try Gentoo because I was so keen on compiling everything from source (*shudders*), but because I was keen on getting my hands dirty with the internals of a Linux distro.

 

[ifrit05]

Never used such thing in my life... M.b. I'm a bit scared of TruHardCore bearded gurus there . I'll start from FAQ .

They are busy but very helpful, and eager to see more people show interest in the project. Drop in and say hello!

If I remember correctly it's the only distro that didn't completely ditched Firefox from any plans of running on PPC 32. Once I experimented MUSL in Void I love how snappy my machines work in general (occasional bugs, but not so severe that ruins my experience), but many browsers that was build from this community to PPC 32 and 64 only compile in GLIBC, so unless we can solve it that may be a "problem" to the adoption of some users who occasionally browse the web with this machines.

The one thing that really sets Adelie apart from other musl distros is the creation of the gcompat libary (https://git.adelielinux.org/adelie/gcompat), "The GNU C Library Compatibility Layer for Adélie Linux".

It still needs work and testing so if you decide to run Adelie run some programs that are complied agaist glibc on it and share the results/bugs with the devs!

(Alpine even endorses the use of gcompat in its distro as well!)

 

[MacMaverick855]

Yes, because the current keys on the RC2 media are now null and void. To get a working repository do this (if already installed):

su
cd /
curl -o keys.apk https://distfiles.adelielinux.org/adelie/keys-20221101/$ARCH/adelie-keys-1.0-r2.apk
tar -xf keys.apk && rm -r keys.apk
apk --initdb add
rm  /etc/apk/repositories
echo -e "https://next.adelielinux.org/system\nhttps://next.adelielinux.org/user" >> /etc/apk/repositories
apk update

Or while installing from RC2 media:

su
cd /
curl -o /target/keys.apk https://distfiles.adelielinux.org/adelie/keys-20221101/$ARCH/adelie-keys-1.0-r2.apk
tar -xf target/keys.apk && rm -r /target/keys.apk
apk --root /target --initdb add
echo -e "https://next.adelielinux.org/system\nhttps://next.adelielinux.org/user" >> /target/etc/apk/repositories
apk --root /target update

Where $ARCH corresponds to the current machines CPU architecture (pmmx, x86_64, ppc, ppc64, armv7l).



You shouldn't add removable media to the fstab file. That's generally reserved for statically always-mounted media at boot time. No one says you can't, but it's not advised.

nano should work and install with zsh if you fix the /etc/apk/respository file. No idea what you mean by .sources file.

curl not found, tried to add curl, UNTRUSTED SIGNATURE, (duh) Kinda a catch-22, right now. kget appears to be an option but kget -o (-o not recognized)

 

[dextructor]

curl not found, tried to add curl, UNTRUSTED SIGNATURE, (duh) Kinda a catch-22, right now. kget appears to be an option but kget -o (-o not recognized)

Usually most errors have his origin in wrong date/time. Check that.

An alternative it's to use the arguments to ignore some errors

curl --insecure URL
curl -k URL

or

wget --no-check-certificate URL

Good luck, and see you all in a few days

 

[ifrit05]

curl not found, tried to add curl, UNTRUSTED SIGNATURE, (duh) Kinda a catch-22, right now. kget appears to be an option but kget -o (-o not recognized)

Boot from the install media and mount your system partition to /target, then follow the instructions I posted here for install media. This may break your current install so it may be better to install from scratch.

Usually most errors have his origin in wrong date/time. Check that.

An alternative it's to use the arguments to ignore some errors

curl --insecure URL
curl -k URL

or

wget --no-check-certificate URL

Good luck, and see you all in a few days

curl is not and cannot be installed until the new key and repositories are initialized.

 

[q66_]

Yep, according to the main developer "the repositories will shut down next year, however". That's a shame, but his next project also looks promising.

i will probably keep updating the packages until upstream void pushes gcc12, so as i see it that should be sometime during january

after that, how long the repo will stay up depends on the person hosting the repositories, and beyond my control

 

[MacMaverick855]

Adelie is a WIP and doesn't have all the packages it's parent distro has (Alpine), which in turn doesn't have all packages other distros have since they use the musl over the ubiquitous glibc.

There is a work around that is semi-auto (with user intervention), by using the USB's UUID and running a script.

First, install util-linux:
sudo apk add util-linux

Get your USB device's UUID by running blkid:
sudo blkid

(copy the PARTUUID after the equals sign, should be numbers, letters, and dashes)

Then save this next block of code as mount-usb in /usr/bin, and make is executable:

!#/bin/bash
if [ ! -d "/media/USB-Drive" ]; then
    mkdir /media/USB-Drive
fi
mount UUID=$UUID /media/USB-Drive

(The $UUID should be changed to what blkid spat out as the PARTUUID)

sudo cp mount-usb /usr/bin && chmod +x /usr/bin/mount-usb

Now when you run the script as root it should mount the USB device:
sudo mount-usb

We can do the same for unmounting as well by creating an alias:
alias unmount-usb='umount /media/USB-Drive'

Now whenever you need to mount your USB-drive, run sudo mount-usb, and sudo unmount-usb to unmount it.

Keep in mind that this will ony work for that specific USB device, and the UUID will change if you ever reformat it, so you will need to get the UUID again by running sudo blkid and updating the UUID in the mount-usb script in the event this happens.

I invite you to join the Adelie IRC channel for help if you ever need it, I am on there as well. You can join using a web browser by going to https://www.adelielinux.org/contact/irc.html



Start out with the easy distros on supported platforms first. Mint or *ubunu are the great learner distros. After that experiment with more complicated ones like Arch, Gentoo, or even Alpine. Then start messing around with older niche archetctures like ppc, ppc64, or even arm (Raspberry Pi).

I went to the Adelie Linux IRC channel, the person assisting me seemed very knowledgeable. We tried a lot of things to get the repo updated but my G5 fought us every step of the way. I learned a lot from the interaction so I have some things to continue trying. I’ll return to the IRC when I can ask more focused questions. The biggest problem seems to be getting curl to work properly and updating the repository.

 

[MacMaverick855]

Well, I wanted to reinstall Adelie on my G5 after having some issues with the previous install. I’m able to boot the “live” CD, but not to a live desktop, it goes straight to the installer. Not thinking this was a big deal I proceeded with the installation. After answering all the questions and having a network access, I proceeded with the installation. The installer stops at the point of configuring the hard drive. The crash log indicates Adelie needs a partition to install on but the hard drive only has one partition.

I had erased the hard drive and formatted it in Mac Extended. What should a hard drive partitioning look like to get Adelie to accept the 250GB hard drive?

It’s frustrating because I don’t know that I did anything special the first time I successfully installed it.

MacMav855

 

[wicknix]

Watch this video. He explains it quite well.

 

[ifrit05]

Watch this video. He explains it quite well.

This method is currently broken on RC2 media, installation will fail.

Well, I wanted to reinstall Adelie on my G5 after having some issues with the previous install. I’m able to boot the “live” CD, but not to a live desktop, it goes straight to the installer. Not thinking this was a big deal I proceeded with the installation. After answering all the questions and having a network access, I proceeded with the installation. The installer stops at the point of configuring the hard drive. The crash log indicates Adelie needs a partition to install on but the hard drive only has one partition.

I had erased the hard drive and formatted it in Mac Extended. What should a hard drive partitioning look like to get Adelie to accept the 250GB hard drive?

It’s frustrating because I don’t know that I did anything special the first time I successfully installed it.

MacMav855

Don't run the Horizon-UI installer, it wont work with RC2 media.

Follow this guide up till you get to the Package Repository section. This is what you need to change:

mkdir -p /target/etc/apk
curl -o /target/keys.apk  https://distfiles.adelielinux.org/adelie/keys-20221101/ppc64/adelie-keys-1.0-r2.apk
tar -xf /target/keys.apk && rm -r /target/keys.apk
apk --root /target --initdb add
echo -e "https://next.adelielinux.org/system\nhttps://next.adelielinux.org/user" >> /target/etc/apk/repositories
apk --root /target update

Then continue to Install the Adélie base and a few other packages.

 

[MacMaverick855]

When I first installed Adelie, I “thought” I got to the Live desktop and “thought” I used the installer. @ifrit05 and @wicknix have now brought up recollections of how I “might” have really done it. After viewing the video I remember I had to format the hard drive as the Retro Action guy showed it. I recall it went pretty well. At Slide #15 in the instructions @ifrit05 posted, I get an error at “Configure hard disk(s)” and the install(er) fails.

Am I supposed to use the Manual Installation method to install a NON server version of Adelie?

Here’s what I am going to try next: Format the HD per the directions in the Retro Action Video. Boot up the Adelie (live) CD and try the installation again. It sounds like @ifrit05 you’re telling me this won’t work. But because I’m stubborn I’m going to try it.

However, it appears if I use the manual method from the guide you provided, I would be able to update the repository, which appears to be needed. 1st things first, get the HD formatted, then I’ll think hard about the next step.

Thanks for the quick reply,
MacMaverick855

 

[ifrit05]

Am I supposed to use the Manual Installation method to install a NON server version of Adelie?

Using either Server or Desktop media will yield the same results, so if you want a smaller download use the server media.

 

[MacMaverick855]

Well, the Manual Installation instruction require you have the live version booted. My CDs currently boot to the Installer screen,(the screen with the penguin and keyboaard and where you can chose launch tools continue (F8) or exit(F3) not the live environment. I tried a couple of the recommended commands and zsh returns command not found.
If I need to be in the Live environment I'm hosed because non of my Live CDs are booting to the Live desktop. Not sure why.
will try some more things.

I can get to a terminal using Control-Option F2 but non of the commands from the Manual Installation are recognized. The Commands from the Action retro video are working.
I can't remember if I just split the 230GB partition into two partitions (boot and Home) or if I delete all the partitions and create a boot and home partition.

Not being able to enter the manual instructions commands from a terminal while root (su) is really jamming me up.

Thanks for your help,
MM855

 

[MacMaverick855]

Hope everyone survived Winter Storm Elliot and were able to enjoy the holidays. I have been trying to boot to a live Adelie desktop using various techniques unsuccessfully. The “live” CDs would boot directly to the GUI installer screen with no way to get to the live desktop. I tried booting USBs but this G5 just won’t do it, even from open firmware.

So, I decided to try one of the CDs again and to my surprise, it booted to a live MATE desktop. Which was very strange since the CD was a KDE desktop iso burn. Then I realized I hadn’t removed the MATE burn USB from the usb port. I messed around with the MATE live for a while but it didn’t have a lot of applications and the network wasn’t working. I couldn’t figure out how to get it working so I’ve decided to burn KDE to a usb drive and see if, booting to the CD with the KDE usb inserted brings me to a live KDE again then I’ll follow the instructions from Action Retro video and the instructions from @ifrit05 to see if I can finish the install on the G5.

Things are looking up!!!
MacMav855

 

[ifrit05]

Hope everyone survived Winter Storm Elliot and were able to enjoy the holidays. I have been trying to boot to a live Adelie desktop using various techniques unsuccessfully. The “live” CDs would boot directly to the GUI installer screen with no way to get to the live desktop. I tried booting USBs but this G5 just won’t do it, even from open firmware.

So, I decided to try one of the CDs again and to my surprise, it booted to a live MATE desktop. Which was very strange since the CD was a KDE desktop iso burn. Then I realized I hadn’t removed the MATE burn USB from the usb port. I messed around with the MATE live for a while but it didn’t have a lot of applications and the network wasn’t working. I couldn’t figure out how to get it working so I’ve decided to burn KDE to a usb drive and see if, booting to the CD with the KDE usb inserted brings me to a live KDE again then I’ll follow the instructions from Action Retro video and the instructions from @ifrit05 to see if I can finish the install on the G5.

Things are looking up!!!
MacMav855

You can always switch to a TTY session (dedicated terminal) by pressing Control-Alt-F# no matter if the iso boots directly to a installer OR desktop, F7 is usually reserved for the current X Session (GUI).

G5's have an alias for USB booting. I can always boot Adelie with boot ud:,\\tbxi in Open Firmware.

Don't follow the the Action Retro Guide, use mine instead.

 

[MacMaverick855]

You can always switch to a TTY session (dedicated terminal) by pressing Control-Alt-F# no matter if the iso boots directly to a installer OR desktop, F7 is usually reserved for the current X Session (GUI).

G5's have an alias for USB booting. I can always boot Adelie with boot ud:,\\tbxi in Open Firmware.

Don't follow the the Action Retro Guide, use mine instead.

This particular G5 does NOT have a ud in the dev / ls or devalias list. I've seen instructions on how to "create" a ud but these haven't worked. I've tried several different types of usb booting instructions and, on this G5 it's a no go.

I now have a live desktop running and will follow the link guidance and your instructions to install Adelie KDE. And I realize I don't need it, proceeding to manual installation.

Regardless of the instructions I use it appears many assumptions are made. Like we ALL know Linux like the backs of our hands. For example, the Manual instructions for formatting the hard drive using mac-fdisk, the first command shown is “i” what the instructions DON’T show is what entering “i” means or does. So when mac-fdisk asked if I wanted to reinit(ualize) I assumed I did. I wonder how long it takes to reinit a 230GB HD? Also further down in the instructions you create a “bootstrap” partition, a boot partition and then a data partition. I find it difficult to believe that the partition type for the bootstrap partition is “help”. Later on you create a boot partition as ext2, then an ext4 for data.

Should the “bootstrap” partition be type “Apple_Bootstrap”? My guess is yes. So, I’m currently ”i” ing the hard drive and hope it comes back as initialized, and I can follow the remaining instructions to the point where I get to implement the @ifrit05 gambit.

I’m not sure what /dev/sda1 will be.

MacMav855

 

[MacMaverick855]

@ifrit05 I followed the manual installation instructions, used your repository instructions and received 2 errors, 2 warnings, All centered around APKINDEXs, and UNTRUSTED signatures. At this point I am heading to the manual instructions to "continue to Install the Adélie base and a few other packages." Not holding out much hope though.
MM855

 

[MacMaverick855]

@ifrit05, @wicknix, I tried the Retro Action instructions and got to the point where he states that Adelie 1.0 RC2 doesn’t recognize the Ethernet or Wifi cards on his G5. Ya, mine either. Until I go to Konsole (terminal) and enter in dhcpcd eth0, then I get an ethernet connection. When I’m in the live desktop, I can use Netsurf. The GUI installer though fails to hit the network.

So, I decided to go “full-tilt-boogie” with the manual installer from the Adelie wiki. Formatting the hard drive in the wiki doesn't look anything like the retro action video.The Video specifically mentions ensuring the boot partition is formatted as Apple_ bootstrap, the manual instructions never makes that statement. This can't be right.

For example the formatting steps for mac-fdisk want you to initialize a partition map. This step either takes days or it just doesn't work, or you’re not supposed to wait and go right into formatting. Another issue is, why are there two boot partitions? One formatted HFS the other ext2? And neither is flagged as Apple_ bootstrap. I thought this was necessary.

Later in the manual instructions, you use mkfs and never format an apple boot partition. So I didn't. I went ahead using the Partitions as instructed: /dev/sda2 as hfs, /dev/sda3 as ext2, and /dev/sda4 as ext4 (/dev/sda1 is an APM).

I then proceeded to use @ifrit05 instructions to set the repositories.
I think there might be a typo in one of the instructions, is it really supposed to be entered:

echo -e "https://next.adelielinux.org/system\nhttps://next.adelielinux.org/user" >> /target/etc/apk/repositories

With the n in front of " / system \nhttps:// "?

Sorry this is so long but it's frustrating seeing two instances of installing a distro differ so much and neither is working. I'm still getting errors and warnings about the repository access, but will try again tomorrow. One change I am going to make is to format / dev / sda2 a 100M, Apple_ bootstrap partition. Not sure how I'm going to deal with the step quoted above.

MM855

 

[wicknix]

To be honest i have no real knowledge of Adelie. Only the mate live disk worked on my G5. Kde and lqxt wouldnt even boot. I couldnt get the installer to work or a command line install to work. Then i found it had no wifi drivers after reading some forum posts so i gave up. Its not as straight forward as void, debian, ubuntu, etc. I really only wanted to try it so i could build musl versions of arctic fox and interweb since firefox is broken, but i gave up and stuck with glibc ppc linux.

Cheers

 

[ifrit05]

So, I decided to go “full-tilt-boogie” with the manual installer from the Adelie wiki. Formatting the hard drive in the wiki doesn't look anything like the retro action video.The Video specifically mentions ensuring the boot partition is formatted as Apple_ bootstrap, the manual instructions never makes that statement. This can't be right.

For example the formatting steps for mac-fdisk want you to initialize a partition map. This step either takes days or it just doesn't work, or you’re not supposed to wait and go right into formatting. Another issue is, why are there two boot partitions? One formatted HFS the other ext2? And neither is flagged as Apple_ bootstrap. I thought this was necessary.

Later in the manual instructions, you use mkfs and never format an apple boot partition. So I didn't. I went ahead using the Partitions as instructed: /dev/sda2 as hfs, /dev/sda3 as ext2, and /dev/sda4 as ext4 (/dev/sda1 is an APM).

Take a gander at Gentoo's Wiki entry on New World Macintosh bootblocks. It explains quite a bit and may help you to understand how it works. https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/GRUB_on_Open_Firmware_(PowerPC)#NewWorld_Bootblock_partition

I then proceeded to use @ifrit05 instructions to set the repositories.
I think there might be a typo in one of the instructions, is it really supposed to be entered:
echo -e "https://next.adelielinux.org/system\nhttps://next.adelielinux.org/user" >> /target/etc/apk/repositories
With the n in front of " / system \nhttps:// "?

Yes. \n means "new line". The output of that command will make a text file named repositories in /target/etc/apk with the contents

https://next.adelielinux.org/system
https://next.adelielinux.org/user

Sorry this is so long but it's frustrating seeing two instances of installing a distro differ so much and neither is working. I'm still getting errors and warnings about the repository access, but will try again tomorrow. One change I am going to make is to format / dev / sda2 a 100M, Apple_ bootstrap partition. Not sure how I'm going to deal with the step quoted above.

MM855

It's all good. Learning is part of the fun. If you are struggling remember to reach out to the devs on the web irc client.

 

[MacMaverick855]

To be honest i have no real knowledge of Adelie. Only the mate live disk worked on my G5. Kde and lqxt wouldnt even boot. I couldnt get the installer to work or a command line install to work. Then i found it had no wifi drivers after reading some forum posts so i gave up. Its not as straight forward as void, debian, ubuntu, etc. I really only wanted to try it so i could build musl versions of arctic fox and interweb since firefox is broken, but i gave up and stuck with glibc ppc linux.

Cheers

Which version of the Void iso would I use? I'm not familiar with the ROOTFS.

musl or ppc64le?

I haven't had much luck with some of the Void distros I've downloaded in the past, was just wondering what you recommend.
Mav

 

[wicknix]

For a G5: https://repo.voidlinux-ppc.org/live/current/void-live-ppc64-20210825-xfce.iso

For a G3/4: https://repo.voidlinux-ppc.org/live/current/void-live-ppc-20210825-xfce.iso

 

[MacMaverick855]

Thanks @wicknix, I did download the correct files, now if I could only boot this G5 from a USB I'd be set.
Mav

 

[MacMaverick855]

@ifrit05 , This photo shows responses to the commands you suggested for getting Adelie loaded onto my G5. Errors and warnings aren’t ever a good thing so, when those are the results of the commands one has to think they aren’t working as expected. Is this true or should I just ignore them?

I did ignore them on one attempt to install Adelie following the wiki instructions. The further into the instructions, the more errors and frustrations with results ensued. I find myself having to transpose the wiki instructions as some of the steps make no sense and aren’t explained as to what you are doing as you enter a command.

Here is where I get and accomplish up and until it’s time to install Adelie:
I can boot to a live KDE Plasma desktop
I can get the Ethernet/network connection working by entering “dhcpcd eth0” as root
I can format the hard drive, a single and separate 250GB HD, into an APM, boot (100MB) Apple_Bootstrap, 250GB data drive, ext4.

For success, I may have to create the APM, boot (Apple_Bootstrap), another boot (grub I guess) ext2, and data, ext4

One thing I was hoping would work would be to follow the Retro Action Video up to the point of the actual install, enter your command line entries as root in Konsole which I understand are to point me (ok the machine) to a valid repository for the Adelie install via the network. I’m not sure that’s working based on the photo above.

Then return to the horizon-ui, install and hope the machine accesses the correct repositories. Ya-no.

The frustrating part of this whole thing is, at one time I actually had Adelie loaded on this G5, but it wasn’t seeing external drives. So, I started over and haven’t been able to load the distro since either because of network issues or UNTRUSTED Signature issues.

I will be researching other sites to see if I can find instructions that give me more insight as to what the most successful path will be.

I appreciate your assistance to this point, it has been enlightening and helpful.

MacMaverick855