Running
without a restart.

Linux: How Free Is Free? by Andy Moraitis

A few months ago when Apple began cracking down on the developers at the MacThemes project and playing Big Brother, I attempted to express my outrage in two ways. First, I would write a complaint letter to Apple and second, I would choose an entirely new operating system and banish the MacOS from my new G4. This was a tough decision since I had been using the MacOS since the early days of System 6.0.x. In my younger years, I was even privileged enough to work for Apple Ft. Lauderdale in the capacity of a System 7.0 beta tester.

After scouting around various websites and speaking to a number of IT professionals, I became enthralled with the idea of using Linux. It sounded tremendous. Here was an OS loaded with powerful features, stable Unix underpinnings and a wealth of support software. I started browsing various Linux websites I quickly determined that downloading the entire OS would take days, no make that years, on my pokey 56k connection. Since Linux operating systems are fairly inexpensive, I took the plunge and picked up SuSE Linux 7.1PPC.

Although SuSE’s package came at a price ($69.99), it seemed feature rich and it came highly recommended. With my 500 page manual in hand, I began the process of backing up my OS9 files, reformatting the drive and re-setting proper partitions so that the MacOS and Linux could work in harmony until such time that Linux became my permanent replacement. The installation process went off without a hitch and I was amazed at how slick SuSE's YaST2 installer worked. After reading a bit more documentation, I discovered that I would not be able to use BootX from within the MacOS since I had a New World ROM machine. The manual listed detailed instructions for the modification of the yaboot.conf and os-chooser files as well as a new instruction set for open firmware.

I was a bit daunted by the complexity of the work involved, but I figured that I would try it anyway. I booted back into OS9 and opened my boot partition and began working in earnest. Immediately I noticed that none of the information my yaboot.conf file matched the information listed in SuSE’s manuals. I dug in anyway and did my best with this file as well as the os-chooser and open firmware. As a brief aside, if you’ve never modified open-firmware, this can be a hellish task since the bootstrap sequence is written in a very arcane language called Forth. This is definitely not something for the meek. Nevertheless, I wrapped everything up to the best of my ability, crossed my fingers and re-booted the machine.

Upon startup, the machine kicked into the open-firmware prompt and I could only access my OS9 system by typing, “mac-boot” at the prompt. All access to Linux through yaboot was non-existent. Please note that I was unaware that one could hold down the option key at startup and choose a bootable volume at this time. Since I was in over my head, I thought that the best option would be to call SuSE’s tech support. Unfortunately, tech support on Linux packages is not free (the user pays for the call) and although it was pricey to call California, from the New York metro area, I felt that it was my best option.

After waiting on hold for close to 15 minutes, I spoke to a very well intentioned, but incredibly inept tech support employee, who listened to my problems for 10 minutes and then passed me on to an equally inept tech support employee. Although she tried to help me, perhaps our efforts were somewhat hampered by the fact that she was from Bahrain and couldn’t understand or speak English very well. I asked if there was anyone else available in the department and I was told that these two employees were the only ones available.

Wonderful! I had just chewed up an hour of long distance charges to California with no apparent success or resolution to my problems and I had a machine that would only boot into open-firmware on startup. Frustrated, I wiped the drive, cleared the parameter ram and tried it again, but this time I decided that I would edit the Linux Loader file (lilo.conf) as a last result. As I tried to do so from within the vi editor, I noticed (can you see this coming?) that the lilo.conf documentation did NOT match what was shown on screen. Basically I was stuck with a system that would install Linux, but if I quit or re-started, I had no access to my Linux partition at all. After messing with the OS for a number of days and scouring every Linux website for help, I finally got fed up, wiped Linux from the drive and re-installed OS9.

A few days later, I corresponded with a friend who recommended LinuxPPC 2000Q4 instead of SuSE. He said that while the installed wasn’t as slick, that his system worked well and that the documentation was sound and to the letter. Excellent! I ordered a copy of LinuxPPC, at a cost of $19.95, and waited for it to arrive. In order to prepare myself for the onslaught, I purchased a separate 20gig drive at a cost of $120.00 from CompUSA and read and re-read the documentation. When my software arrived, I rushed home and began the installation process. My friend wasn’t lying. The install process was downright nasty to look at, but everything went off without a hitch and I got ready to modify my yaboot.conf file according to the instructions in the 2000Q4 manual. If you were about to guess that the documentation did NOT match what was showing on screen, then you win the jackpot and go to the head of the class! It took me about four hours to finally get yaboot working properly and when it loaded for the first time, I almost cried from sheer relief.

As I watched Linux load up, I noticed that my screen resolution was set to 800 x 600 or some ridiculously insane number that made text look like it was rolling by in Courier 72 point size. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but I didn’t buy a 19” monitor (stealth black to match my G4 of course) so I could have GrannyVision resolution. I booted back into OS9 by using the option key at startup trick, and did some more reference work on the Linux websites. It turns out that I had to pass along certain arguments to the kernel so that it would change my resolution at startup. Of course this meant more editing of the yaboot.conf file. My research also indicated that I would not be able to use 1600 x 1200 in anything more than 8-bit color unless I compiled and installed Xfree86 since PPC2000Q4 comes pre-loaded with XPMac.

I don't know about many of you, but I’ve never compiled anything in my life, other than some bad debt, and the thought of hosing the kernel and having to reinstall everything certainly kept me away from XFree86. In addition, the maximum resolution I could pass along through kernel arguments within XPMac was 1280 x 1024 in 15, 24 or 32-bit color. Sorry, but 1280 x 1024 is still GrannyVision and although I tried to live with 1600 x 1200 in 8-bit mode, I just couldn’t handle it. End result (take a wild guess here)? Linux is off the machine and OS9 is back on.

Around this time, I started considering that maybe I had been a bit to harsh in thinking that Apple was this awful monster machine out to swallow the little guy. Well, I either thought that or I was unwilling to punish myself any further with self-flagellating operating systems that were so powerful, feature rich and free. I finally bit the bullet and bought OSX at the full retail price of $129.00.

The installation went beautifully and everything loaded up properly the first time. There were no kernel arguments necessary and no editing of any hidden files was required to get the system to boot. I lived very happily in OSX land until Yellow Dog Linux 2.0 came out. When I read Michael Coyle’s review, I was thrilled that the installer would automatically create systems that were bootable for either OS (Mac or Linux). I was suddenly excited about Linux again. I jumped in with both feet and bought the package for $39.99. When it arrived, I read the brief instructional manual and set up my second drive to run YDL, which was a good idea since nothing else was on it at the time.

The installer worked beautifully and lo and behold, the package included XFree86 and a host of other goodies! Following the full package installation, I restarted and was presented with an os-chooser menu. I typed “l” for Linux and wham, up comes YDL! After I log in and KDE fires up, I notice that my resolution has been properly configured in 1600 x 1200 with thousands of colors. I play around with a few things and I’m excited. Actually I’m downright amazed that everything works! I proceed to my next step and begin configuring my system to connect to the internet. Since I spend a bunch of time surfing, a system without net access is pretty much a jet-ski anchor to me.

I fire up netcnfg and start running through the installation process. My modem is detected and everything seems to be working OK. All of my account information is transferred and as I attempt to connect, nothing happens. Huh? Oh come on! It took all this time to reach the golden gates of success and now some little Linux Gremlin was laughing his ass off at me while I was ready to heave the machine out of the window. After 20 minutes of chanting and meditation, which included the sacrifice of a live chicken, I started troubleshooting the modem problem. I booted back into OSX and did some more research on a number of different sites. I tried the ResEx solution of pasting the modem init string into Kppp. Ummmmm nope! No dice there buddy. I tried using alternate device setups and every possible configuration option open to me. At every corner Linux would foil my attempts at simple OS happiness. The modem connection debug screens even seemed to mock my inabilities with messages like “starting pppd and hoping for the best”. Why thank you for your optimism, but I still can't hook up and connect at ANY speed. What’s worse is that every single post I made to a help forum went unanswered. I’ll bet you my G4 that if I asked a Mac question that it would be answered within 24 hours.

Are you willing to guess what my wonderful “free” operating system has cost me thus far? Well, I've spent upwards of $250.00 out of pocket, not including therapy for aggression transference, and to date, none of the distributions I purchased is anywhere near my machine. I think they're all stacked up in my closet somewhere collecting dust. Comparably, OSX cost me $129.00. I don't count the cost of my RAM upgrades since I would have bought extra RAM anyway. Oh, and in case you were wondering what happened to that extra 20gig drive; it happily holds my OSX swap partition, while the LinuxPPC 2000Q4 source disk holds my evening protein shake.

I really like what Linux has to offer, but I can't accept it at its current stage of development. Perhaps when I have a system that works as seamlessly as OSX with respect to installation and function, I’ll consider it. Just remind me to meditate and chant for a few weeks in advance. Maybe If I sacrificed a live goat instead of a chicken....