CRUX PPC

Ok, here's my dream for a possible improvement concerning Apple PPC hardware and installation. - which to date no distro has tackled, so it isn't really Crux-ppc specific.

We know that due to the hardware, in many cases no amount of probing during installation will retrieve the right values for xorg.conf, sound, etc and it leaves one to do it by hand. For example, ALL G3 iMacs need a horizontal frequency value of 58-62, and a vertical value of 75-117. Yet xorg is virtually guaranteed to get this wrong, mandating a manual edit. G4 eMacs need similar attention with different values. Again, it isn't a probing issue, but it lays with the Apple hardware not being accurate during probing.

Ok, I have no problem going back into the system and reconfiguring this file, or helping others who don't know this requirement to edit their own file(s).

But here is the dream - for any Apple that is self-contained, that is it has a set of non-replaceable video cards and monitor that need known values, I have always desired to write a post-installation script to take care of these issues to at least get someone up and running with the minimum of prior-knowledge. At least just a usable X with TWM!

I know that this is kind of beyond the scope of Crux-ppc, where obtaining prior-knowledge is part of the process. Although I relish that now, I always felt it unfair to let a good Apple sit unused when the first hurdle is so large for a newcomer who would be delighted to use nothing but TWM and an xterm to get started learning *nix with on their unused Apple box.

What I need to do is write a post-installation script that prompts the user for his model, or perhaps interpret cat /proc/cpuinfo, and add some of the model-specific values obtained by prior-knowledge to get them over this hump - not to do it all for them, but at least get a minimal X running without running into Apple's catch-22's. :)

Obtaining prior-knowledge about these "gotcha's" may be a sign of dedication, but all I know is that for the most part, many of these boxes end up in the dump faster than they should.

Then again, maybe I'm just dreaming...

ok, this one really helps.. from man radeon:


there are some scripts in gentoo portage:
x11-misc/Xorgautoconfig
x11-misc/xac/

Nice! Makes me want to get hold of an ati driven mac and go to town.

Unfortunately, all I have these days is my nvidia-driven G5 iMac, and about the only option I manually configure is

in my Device section, since the display isn't a high-quality Cinema display. :) I can see the difference at least on this box.

I'll take a look at the Gentoo portage autoconfigs and see if that gets me inspired..