Re: install problems

On 3/16/25 23:37, Helge Deller wrote:
> On 3/16/25 22:33, Christian Groessler wrote:
>> On 3/14/25 16:56, Helge Deller wrote:
>>> On 3/14/25 14:57, Christian Groessler wrote:
>>>> I'm trying to install Debian on a C3750 workstation. My problem is
>>>> that after the initial boot loader I don't see anything after the
>>>> "If this is the last message you see ...".
>>>>
>>>> I've tried http://ftp.parisc-linux.org/debian-cd/debian-12/
>>>> debian-2025-01-hppa-CD.iso
>>>
>>> That CD should work.
>>> I used it to install on a physical C3700.
>>> I used serial console, maybe you are using graphics card?
>>
>>
>> Sorry, yes, I'm using a graphics card.
>>
>>
>>>
>>>> and https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2024-12-24/
>>>> debian-12.0.0-hppa-NETINST-1.iso as mentioned on https://
>>>> parisc.docs.kernel.org/en/latest.
>>>>
>>>> But I have a Debian boot CD from 2021, where after this message the
>>>> normal kernel boot messages appear. It had later issues when trying
>>>> to install to the hard disk iirc, so I hadn't installed Linux on the
>>>> box back then.
>>>
>>> Does the machine maybe has general issues?
>>
>>
>> No. It runs HPUX and OpenBSD fine.
>>
>> The problems with Linux back then were with detecting the disk iirc.
>>
>>
>>>
>>>> So what could be the problem? The old, working CD has palo v2.15.
>>>> The new CDs have palo 2.25 and 2.27. If palo is the problem. I don't
>>>> know the kernel versions.
>>> I don't think palo is the problem.
>>> Can you take screenshots or trace logs?
>>
>>
>> I could take screen shot, but you don't see much. After "If this is
>> the last message..." there is no output anymore.
>>
>> I'm just wondering, the old CD worked in this regard: after this
>> message the kernel boot messages appeared and the installer could be
>> entered.
>>
>> If this helps, the box seems to have two graphics cards, which are
>> detected by OpenBSD as 'sti0 at pci0 dev 2 function 0 "Hewlett-
>> Packard Visualize FX4" rev 0x02'.
>
> Ah, ok.
> The problem with all Visualize-FX cards is, that they are not supported
> in graphics mode (stifb) with the current Linux kernel.
> Just "sticon" mode will work, which is comparable to VGA textmode on PCs,
> and not using graphics (like showing a tux at bootup).
> I assume the install kernel hasn't sticon built-in (but which it should have).
>
>> If it doesn't work I can use serial, but I'd prefer to have a GUI on
>> this machine.
>
> I suggest you install the machine with serial console. Then, after installing
> a newer kernel you should be able to boot the installed machine
> with text-mode STIcon.

.... unless the STI firmware on the Vis-FX cards is broken.
I know that some models seem to have had broken firmware, which is why
HP-UX sometimes has own code to handle STI.
On the other side, you mentioned that OpenBSD works, so maybe that's not
the problem.

Helge