Linux???

Paul C

Paul C

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I've never even seen Linux running but wouldn't mind getting a version to run on my mac, I have a couple of questions though:

1. Can you get free versions of Linux?

2. Can you install it and have dual boot so I can have a choice of both OS X and Linux?

Thanks!
 
Yeah. A couple of distributions you might try. We're using Mandrake at school, that's got a Mac hardware version. Debian is a pretty nice distro too, also has a Mac version.

A friend of mine recommends Yellow Dog, but I've never tried it. The nice thing with Yellow Dog is it's PPC only - so the Mac platform isn't a second priority for them.

I used LinuxPPC a few years ago, but it seems to no longer exist, maybe swallowed by Yellow Dog.
 
Try http://www.yellowdoglinux.com. They have free distros you can download, burn to CD, then install. You can even have a dual-boot configuration (or triple, if you've got OS 9, OS X and YellowDog). The install is pretty much self-configuring if you haven't completely customized your Macintosh to the max, and it's RedHat based, I believe.

I would vote YellowDog Linux as the premiere PPC/Macintosh Linux distribution.
 
im using yellowdog here too...
i guess its your best bet for ppc.
the only problem i had was getting xserver (the graphical user interface) to work on a beige g3 233 with the onboard video (anyone got a clue how to get this working?).
 
My personal recommendations, with first being the most recommended:
  • Yellow Dog Linux
  • Debian Linux
  • Gentoo Linux
  • SuSE Linux
  • Slackintosh (an unofficial port of Slackware to the Mac. I'm basing my recommendation on the original Slackware, since Slackintosh is basically the same thing. I would have put this higher up, but it IS an unofficial port.)
  • Mandrake Linux
 
macmasta said:
im using yellowdog here too...
i guess its your best bet for ppc.
the only problem i had was getting xserver (the graphical user interface) to work on a beige g3 233 with the onboard video (anyone got a clue how to get this working?).
Click to expand...

I think you have to specify "ati" or "aty" as the display driver for that G3 in /etc/X11/XF86Config. If I remember correctly when I ran YDL on a Beige G3 333 MHz tower, I had to specify that.

You might want to check Apple's Spec Database or Low End Mac for more information on the video.
 
nixgeek said:

  • ...
  • SuSE Linux
  • Slackintosh (an unofficial port of Slackware to the Mac. I'm basing my recommendation on the original Slackware, since Slackintosh is basically the same thing. I would have put this higher up, but it IS an unofficial port.)
    ...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pointer on slackintosh - I quite like slackware, maybe I should look into that one.

Have you used SuSE on PPC hardware? Did you purchase, or is there somewhere to download ISOs from - I only saw the x86 version on their website, and I'd like to try that one out...
 
Well, I think the only way you can get the full version of SuSE (especially for PPC) for free is through FTP. When you go to the FTP download pages, you'll notice the mirrors list which versions of SuSE they have (PPC, x86, etc.).

The only ISOs they have available are the Live-Eval CDs. Other than that, it's either pay or FTP.
 
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