This is a quicker method of installing based upon information from tingo/tingox and
the mailing lists. It is for systems dedicated solely to FreeBSD as the only OS on the drive(s).
Resource:
http://sites.google.com/site/tingox/powermac_g4_freebsd
See the FreeBSD PowerPC page for compatible hardware.
http://www.freebsd.org/platforms/ppc.html
Suggested minimum requirements.
PowerPC system with 400MHz processor, 384M RAM, 40G hard drive.
Be sure that the system has Open Firmware version 3.x or higher.
Media needed.
A FreeBSD disk one iso for the powerpc architecture.
ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/snapshots/201102/
Booting.
Prepare the media by burning the image to disc.
Boot the machine and hold down the left option key. You should see an icon of a harddrive.
Open the tray and place the disc in it. Select the CD when the icon appears then the arrow
to start the process.
>>> If your firmware hasn't been updated, you will need to boot using ctrl+option+O+F.
Open the tray and insert the CD. Close the tray.
Code:
> setenv boot-device cd
>mac-boot
Let the CD boot. Select what applies to you.
Partitioning.
At the main menu, select Fixit. Hit enter. Select 5 for shell. Hit enter.
CTRL+ALT+F4.
If your system has two or more disks, then choose the one you want to use.
Code:
gpart -delete -i <partition number> ad<disk number>
This will delete all partitions.
Code:
gpart add -s 800K -t '!Apple_Bootstrap' ad<disk number>
gpart add -s <size> -t freebsd-ufs ad<disk number>
gpart add -s <size> -t freebsd-swap ad<disk number>
gpart add -s <size> -t freebsd-ufs ad<disk number>
<etc>
You will need a minimum of three partitons: appleboot, freebsd-ufs, and swap.
Exit and CTRL+ALT+F1
Installing.
Use X and enter to return to the main menu. Choose standard.
Select the created partitions with C. For the first: filesystem, / as mountpoint.
For the second: swap. The remaining partitions- if any- can be labeled accordingly.
Hit Q. Select the minimal installation. Hit X and enter.
Media type is CD/DVD.
Hit enter. When prompted for a new shell, enter yes.
Post Installation.
After the congratulations, select yes for configuration.
I chose no for everything except ssh.
Set the time zone.
Setup the user accounts. Be sure to add "wheel" to the group membership of the default user.
Setup root password.
No, do not add ports.
Setup networking by returning to the main screen.
Select post configuration. Select networking. Select devices.
If you have a router, just make up a name. A direct connection should have all defaults filled.
Return to the main menu.
Select fixit. Select shell. CTRL+ALT+F4
Code:
dd if=/boot/boot1.hfs of=/dev/ad<disk number>s2
CTRL+ALT+F1
Exit install and reboot.
Follow the rest of the howto.
If you have trouble using gpart for deleting partitions, use the method listed below.
