[PLUG] Can't install Linux on Alpha...

[Matt McKenzie]

OK re-reading it he mentioned vmlinux.gz, sounds like it is compressed....
so as far as that part I'm not sure, as I said I haven't run an Alpha Linux
before.
Usually by convention, the uncompressed kernel is named just vmlinux, and
the compressed kernel is vmlinuz (or vmlinuz-[version] )

----------
Matt M.
LinuxKnight


On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 11:56 PM, Matt McKenzie <lnxknight at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 11:00 PM, Michael Robinson <
> plug_1 at robinson-west.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> On Fri, 2009-06-19 at 22:35 -0700, drew wymore wrote:
>> > On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 10:30 PM, Michael Robinson <
>> plug_1 at robinson-west.com
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> > > I can't find instructions on how to install CentOS 4.3 Alpha.
>> > >
>> > > I get to MILO and try boot hdc:kernels/vmlinux.gz and I get an
>> > > error in the decompression stage for the kernel.  I'm at a total
>> > > loss, I burned the DVD image on another Linux system where I'm
>> > > noticing that there's no MILO directory and the release notes
>> > > are completely empty.  Under the images directory there is
>> > > boot.iso generic.img netboot.img and ramdisk.img if I'm
>> > > remembering correctly.
>> > >
>> > > I am dumbfounded that there are absolutely no instructions.
>> > >
>> > > My Alpha is a PC164 pre USB pre DIMM system.  It has 64 megs,
>> > > 4 16 meg parity 72 pin simms.  It has a 366 mhz processor, I
>> > > think.  It currently has a Redhat 6.2 installation, but I
>> > > want to upgrade that if possible.
>> > >
>> > > Has anyone on here ever gotten CentOS to install on an Alpha?
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > PLUG mailing list
>> > > PLUG at lists.pdxlinux.org
>> > > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>> >
>> >
>> > What specific error does it give you? I always thought it was called
>> vmlinuz
>> > not vmlinux
>>
>> I get length error - halting
>>
>> There are no instructions, so I have no idea why I can't get it to boot.
>> There are no MILO images, so do I assume that they are expecting SRM
>> console?  My Alpha is ARC based.  The release notes say, "if this
>> doesn't work for you, send me hate mail ;-)"
>>
>> Are Alphas even made anymore?
>>
>>
> I have no experience with Alpha, but that kind of error does sound like it
> is trying to decompress and run the uncompressed kernel (vmlinux), you
> should try to use vmlinuz (which is the compressed kernel).
>
> Alphas were discontinued in 2007.  Originally produced by DEC, which was
> then assimilated by Compaq, then the IP (as in intellectual property, not
> internet protocol ;) ) for Alphas was sold to Intel, then production
> continued by HP/Compaq a little longer.  HP/Compaq will continue to support
> them commercially until 2012 supposedly.  Until looking it up I thought they
> had stopped production earlier than that.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_processor
>
> Here is the Linux Alpha HOWTO.
> http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Alpha-HOWTO.html
>
> 64bit mass production CPU, a bit ahead of its time, kind of a shame
> really.  However the knowledge from its development no doubt helped further
> the development of the current crop of x86_64 type CPUs (even though Alpha
> was RISC).
>
> I have in storage somewhere a bunch of old CDs and DVDs from a few Linux
> events I helped run back when I was in CA, as part of another LUG.  I have
> some retail box copies of SuSE and RedHat for Alpha (v 5.x or 6.x maybe, as
> in about 8 or more years old)...
>
> I may have missed it in an earlier post, what are your plans for this Alpha
> system?  General tinkering, server, ... ?
>
>
>