Holger Banko wrote:
> Hello NG,
>
> I want to install Linux on a SGI Octane Machine.

why?

> Didn't found any
> information on the Web if its possible or not.

not possible.

> Just found something about
> Indy, Indio and O2... Seems thats the Debian-MIPS distribution can work.
> Anybody here who has a hint for me ?

God created geese in the wild to be chased.

grts,

avi

Holger Banko wrote:
>
> Hello NG,
>
> I want to install Linux on a SGI Octane Machine. Didn't found any
> information on the Web if its possible or not. Just found something about
> Indy, Indio and O2... Seems thats the Debian-MIPS distribution can work.
>
> Anybody here who has a hint for me ?

http://www.linux-mips.org/ is the home for the Linux port to MIPS
processors. They don't mention Octane at all, but you can probably
conclude that means it is unsupported.

It is important to realize that even if the Linux kernel does run, you
will not have support for graphics on your Octane. (Only Indy's
"Newport" graphics are supported, and then only in an unaccelerated
mode.)

That begs the question, "why"? Most opensource Linux software can be
compiled for IRIX (and much is available in pre-compiled packages at
http://freeware.sgi.com/). Any closed-source Linux applications are
likely to be Linux/ia32 (and sometimes Linux/PPC or Linux/Alpha) but
unavailable for Linux/MIPS.

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 15:12:06 +0200, Holger Banko wrote:
> I want to install Linux on a SGI Octane Machine.

Why?

As far as I know there isn't any working port at all.


Gerhard

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 17:39:47 +0200, Holger Banko wrote:
> I dont have any experiences in administrating an IRIX System. Well its
> "Unix" and is useable for me but I used to use Linux so I fell more
> comfortable with it.

Personally I enjoyed my switch to IRIX from Linux some year ago. Both
are pretty much SysV related and if you are somewhat experienced in
administrating Linux by 'vi' you shouldn't be too worried about your
first experiences with IRIX.

> If there is no way, then I will try it with IRIX and KDE and all the other
> nice things I love to use.

I'd stick with the basic IRIX desktop and install the relevant libraries
for your applications. That way I'm using gimp, sylpheed, mozilla,
bluefish, etc. on IRIX without IRIX-specific problems.

> Then the next problem will be to "hack" my Octane, I dont have the ROOT
> password :-). Maybe I can mount the ROOT Filesytem from Linux and modify
> the /etc/passwd.

From Linux you should at least be able to use crack on /etc/passwd.
Don't know if Linux/IRIX can write XFS on the same disk without
problems.



Gerhard

Gerhard Lenerz wrote:
>
> On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 17:39:47 +0200, Holger Banko wrote:
> > I dont have any experiences in administrating an IRIX System. Well its
> > "Unix" and is useable for me but I used to use Linux so I fell more
> > comfortable with it.
>
> Personally I enjoyed my switch to IRIX from Linux some year ago. Both
> are pretty much SysV related and if you are somewhat experienced in
> administrating Linux by 'vi' you shouldn't be too worried about your
> first experiences with IRIX.

I'm constantly going back and forth between Linux and IRIX now, having
come from a Linux background (and Solaris before that).

I found IRIX a little intimidating at first, but then I installed (from
the freeware site): Bash, GNU tar, gcc, and GNU make and suddenly I
felt right at home.