Linux for (classic) Amigas

macce2 · 25 June 2007, 23:08

What distributions of Linux for classic Amigas (m68k) are there ?
Which are still being developed / updated ?

From where could I download ISO-files etc. of the install disks ?

rbelk · 26 June 2007, 00:35

Debian/GNU Linux has a disto for 68020 or greater CPU's. Also FreeBSD. But for CPU's less than a 68020 you will have to use Minix.

mtb · 26 June 2007, 11:40

Debian/GNU Linux had a disto for 68020 or greater CPU's.

4.0 is not there, maybe there is an unofficial one. iirc gcc problems.

Quote:

Also FreeBSD

I don't think so.

There is Netbsd: http://www.netbsd.org/ports/amiga/

MrZammler · 26 June 2007, 11:55

I've found that NetBSD works better than linux. Seems faster...

Performance pretty much depends on your gear. An 060 is ok, but X is not usable unless you have a good gfx card. Even then though, performance is limited on Cirrus based cards (Picasso's II/IV + only 8bit color and no support for the onboard blitter). I've heard cybervisions are better, but havent used one myself.

I'd say it's a nice geek toy, and a place to learn about unix. They do run stable though, I had a PHP+SQL+Apache server running on an A1200/030 24/7 without a single crash (it was way slooooow, though).

ppill · 26 June 2007, 13:11

I remember using a version of Debian some years back. I still got the distribution CD somewhere... there:

Debian/m68k 2.1

There was a newer version I believe. Still you're better of with NetBSD as it's still kept up to date.

Also there was an unofficial version of RedHat (Red Tower?) and another one I can't remember the name of.

macce2 · 26 June 2007, 13:28

Is there any site from where Linux ISOs for classic Amiga could be
directly downloaded ?

Thanks for direct NetBSD link, mtb !

mtb · 26 June 2007, 13:37

Debian 3.1 sarge ( that still gets security updates for an year or so ):

http://www.us.debian.org/releases/sa...ian-installer/

Info about 4.0

http://people.debian.org/~cts/debian-m68k/etch/

http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/...ts-new.en.html

ppill · 26 June 2007, 13:40

Debian 3.0 (woody) seems to be the last one. Here's a link to the miniCD m68k distro.

ppill · 26 June 2007, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtb

Debian 3.1 sarge ( that still gets security updates for an year or so ):

http://www.us.debian.org/releases/sa...ian-installer/

Nice find mtb! So I guess Sarge is the last official one?

_ThEcRoW · 26 June 2007, 15:41

Does netbsd need mmu?. I mean it could be installed on an 68ec030 for example?

MrZammler · 26 June 2007, 15:55

No, it requires an MMU, and an FPU although it is stated in the manual that it doesnt (at least the 3.0 version I tried).

mtb · 26 June 2007, 22:18

Quote:

So I guess Sarge is the last official one?

Yes.

Post us some photo of the installation process

( debian or netbsd, whatever you want ).

Jope · 27 June 2007, 09:43

I'd really say don't bother with Linux on Amiga..

It's really agonizingly slow.. Even with 060 + gfx board. If you have a PPC board, it is usable (Linux/APUS).

macce2 · 27 June 2007, 10:39

@Jope

I guessed it ! That it's slow.

However, I think it's worth trying out some day ?!

lucadip · 27 June 2007, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by macce2

@Jope

I guessed it ! That it's slow.

However, I think it's worth trying out some day ?!

It's slow if you plan to use it with a gui. If a shell in a console is enough for you then it will work quite good.

Of course, in terms of pure performances, it's not comparable to a linux installation on a modern pc...

ppill · 27 June 2007, 10:58

As Jope said it's not exactly a zippy system on a classic set-up.

But do remember enjoying myself on a pretty basic config (A1240/40/32Megs) running the text console in two colours. The scrolling was reasonably fast even in laced modes. I mean there are plenty of nice and useful utils that just need a dumb terminal or ncurses.

Now I can only imagine installing linux for kicks (if you're into that sort of thing) since most of the Linux programs I would find myself running have AmigaOS ports or are part of GeekGadgets anyway.

Jope · 27 June 2007, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by macce2

However, I think it's worth trying out some day ?!

Perhaps, but otoh all the software you can run on it will run faster on AmigaOS. The main reason I'd have wanted Linux on my Amiga was a proper SSH client and a proper browser, but .. well .. I got so disappointed in the FB-console that I couldn't even bother configuring the installation properly.

The console might actually be faster in a custom chip mode, rather than with an RTG board.

macce2 · 27 June 2007, 22:29

@ppill
Thanks for the link.

However, I'm having problems when trying to download the miniCD ISO file.
I've tried already three times, and the downloading always starts correctly,
but always fails after about 20-30 Mb.

ppill · 27 June 2007, 22:41

@macce2

Weird, I've downloaded it without problems (all 195 megabytes) using Opera.

macce2 · 27 June 2007, 22:58

@ppill

That's strange, I'm using Opera, too ?! :-)

25 June 2007, 23:08	#1
macce2 Retro maniac Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland Age: 49 Posts: 1,219	Linux for (classic) Amigas What distributions of Linux for classic Amigas (m68k) are there ? Which are still being developed / updated ? From where could I download ISO-files etc. of the install disks ?

27 June 2007, 10:58	#16
ppill CON: artist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poland Age: 43 Posts: 1,250	As Jope said it's not exactly a zippy system on a classic set-up. But do remember enjoying myself on a pretty basic config (A1240/40/32Megs) running the text console in two colours. The scrolling was reasonably fast even in laced modes. I mean there are plenty of nice and useful utils that just need a dumb terminal or ncurses. Now I can only imagine installing linux for kicks (if you're into that sort of thing) since most of the Linux programs I would find myself running have AmigaOS ports or are part of GeekGadgets anyway. Last edited by ppill; 27 June 2007 at 11:29.

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26 June 2007, 00:35	#2
rbelk an old bsd'er Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rylos Age: 64 Posts: 58	Debian/GNU Linux has a disto for 68020 or greater CPU's. Also FreeBSD. But for CPU's less than a 68020 you will have to use Minix.

26 June 2007, 11:55	#4
MrZammler Zone Friend Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Crete Age: 46 Posts: 191	I've found that NetBSD works better than linux. Seems faster... Performance pretty much depends on your gear. An 060 is ok, but X is not usable unless you have a good gfx card. Even then though, performance is limited on Cirrus based cards (Picasso's II/IV + only 8bit color and no support for the onboard blitter). I've heard cybervisions are better, but havent used one myself. I'd say it's a nice geek toy, and a place to learn about unix. They do run stable though, I had a PHP+SQL+Apache server running on an A1200/030 24/7 without a single crash (it was way slooooow, though).

26 June 2007, 13:11	#5
ppill CON: artist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poland Age: 43 Posts: 1,250	I remember using a version of Debian some years back. I still got the distribution CD somewhere... there: Debian/m68k 2.1 There was a newer version I believe. Still you're better of with NetBSD as it's still kept up to date. Also there was an unofficial version of RedHat (Red Tower?) and another one I can't remember the name of.

26 June 2007, 13:28	#6
macce2 Retro maniac Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland Age: 49 Posts: 1,219	Is there any site from where Linux ISOs for classic Amiga could be directly downloaded ? Thanks for direct NetBSD link, mtb !

26 June 2007, 13:37	#7
mtb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Italy Age: 40 Posts: 466	Debian 3.1 sarge ( that still gets security updates for an year or so ): http://www.us.debian.org/releases/sa...ian-installer/ Info about 4.0 http://people.debian.org/~cts/debian-m68k/etch/ http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/...ts-new.en.html

26 June 2007, 13:40	#8
ppill CON: artist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poland Age: 43 Posts: 1,250	Debian 3.0 (woody) seems to be the last one. Here's a link to the miniCD m68k distro.

26 June 2007, 15:41	#10
_ThEcRoW Amiga NetRunner Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Spain Age: 45 Posts: 941	Does netbsd need mmu?. I mean it could be installed on an 68ec030 for example?

26 June 2007, 15:55	#11
MrZammler Zone Friend Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Crete Age: 46 Posts: 191	No, it requires an MMU, and an FPU although it is stated in the manual that it doesnt (at least the 3.0 version I tried).

27 June 2007, 09:43	#13
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	I'd really say don't bother with Linux on Amiga.. It's really agonizingly slow.. Even with 060 + gfx board. If you have a PPC board, it is usable (Linux/APUS).

27 June 2007, 10:39	#14
macce2 Retro maniac Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland Age: 49 Posts: 1,219	@Jope I guessed it ! That it's slow. However, I think it's worth trying out some day ?!

27 June 2007, 22:29	#18
macce2 Retro maniac Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland Age: 49 Posts: 1,219	@ppill Thanks for the link. However, I'm having problems when trying to download the miniCD ISO file. I've tried already three times, and the downloading always starts correctly, but always fails after about 20-30 Mb.

27 June 2007, 22:41	#19
ppill CON: artist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poland Age: 43 Posts: 1,250	@macce2 Weird, I've downloaded it without problems (all 195 megabytes) using Opera.

27 June 2007, 22:58	#20
macce2 Retro maniac Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland Age: 49 Posts: 1,219	@ppill That's strange, I'm using Opera, too ?! :-)

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