PowerPC build (COBOS)

Question about which tools to use, bugs, the best way to implement a function, etc should go here. Don't forget to see if your question is answered in the wiki first! When in doubt post here.
Post Reply
RetainSoftware

PowerPC build (COBOS)

Post by RetainSoftware »

Hi all,

I'm trying to make my OS for the following targets: x86-32, x86-64, ppc-32 & ppc-64. I've already build the cross compilers and i'm stuck at the PowerPC side. Does anyone know how to boot a PPC? Is there code available or documents?

x86-32 & x86-64 are booting already and i like to add the PPC builds. This enables me to seperate architecture, kernel and application from each other. (more or less ;D)

Tanks in advance,

Greets,

Rene
User avatar
Solar
Member
Member
Posts: 7615
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:01 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re:PowerPC build (COBOS)

Post by Solar »

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as "a PPC PC". There's Apple and - somewhat older - its compatibles, and there is... erm... oh yes, the Amiga One and the Pegasos... IBM once intended to build a "reference platform" (POP), but that failed to materialize...

Apple is notorious for not documenting their machines. There is UBOOT and OpenFirmware, but I know little more than those monikers. I also saw references to "Old World" and "New World", but that might be totally different things.

Sorry to be so fuzzy, but as I said, it's not as if there's one well-documented standard for PPC booting...
Every good solution is obvious once you've found it.
AxelDominatoR

Re:PowerPC build (COBOS)

Post by AxelDominatoR »

I once installed Gentoo on a eMac PPC. Difference is between New World machines ( that uses yaboot to start ) and Old World ( that uses BootX ).

http://penguinppc.org/bootloaders/yaboot/
http://penguinppc.org/~benh/

Anything later than the Mac G3 Blue&White MUST use Yaboot to start.
You can have a look at these bootloaders to extract some useful info.

Axel
User avatar
Solar
Member
Member
Posts: 7615
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:01 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re:PowerPC build (COBOS)

Post by Solar »

So you have...
  • OpenFirmware
  • UBOOT
  • yaboot
  • BootX
...depending on the system used. And there the PPC enthusiasts wonder why their pet platforms aren't as widely supported. ;)
Every good solution is obvious once you've found it.
RetainSoftware

Re:PowerPC build (COBOS)

Post by RetainSoftware »

Thanks for the information. Something tells me that i only have to focus on the 'New World' machines so yaboot it is.

Anyone knows if PearPC supports 64-bit PPC? Couldn't be clearly found on their website and i don't know all to PPC processors yet.

Greets,

Rene
Post Reply