OK,
So I downloaded and burned the NETINST 20190127 CD, and used it to install the
powerpc (32 bit) port on my Mac mini G4.
All went well as I followed the “install” (not “expert”) script. I manually
entered the mirror as “ftp.ports.debian.org” and the directory as
“/debian-ports/“. It accepted that and continued as expected.{1} When it got
to “running tasksel”, I chose a bare minimum installation with “SSH server” and
“standard system utilities” — nothing else. It had no trouble installing those
tasks.
When it got to trying to install grub, that failed (as expected). I chose to
“continue without boot loader”. It wrapped up and ejected the CD then paused
before trying to reboot. While it was paused I switched to the alt-<f2>
console and did the following{2}:
chroot /target
mount -t sysfs none /sys
apt install hfsutils
yabootconfig -b /dev/sda2
ybin
exit
This created a rudimentary yaboot.conf file and install the yaboot bootloader.
If I had switched to the alt-<f2> console earlier — say while the “installing
grub failed” message was still displayed — I suspect that I would not have
needed to mount the /sys filesystem. Though all the rest would still have been
necessary.
Then I allowed it to reboot into the installed system, which it did with no
problems.
let me know if you would like a tar file with the stuff from
/var/log/installer… Or if there’s anything else I can do to help.
Notes:
{1} It would be nice (“wishlist” level) if somehow that part were automatic.
For example, have it be an option on the list of available mirrors?
{2} Would it be possible to have “install yaboot boot loader” be an option on
the main menu — parallel to “install grub bootloader”? That would be less
daunting for beginners who don’t have our level of initiation into the Debian
arcana.
Thanks!
Rick
