After much effort I've finally got linux up and running in full glory on the Titanium G4 PowerBook (24-bit XFree86, sound, etc.).

It's not really hard, you need the 2.4.1 kernel and the XFree86 4.0.2 release with a little patching.

So here are some pointers a long the way, this seems to have worked for me, YMMV.

To start off I installed the Yellow Dog Linux Champion Server 1.2.1. This works if you use the novideo option in yaboot (other wise you'll get no console display). Next I got the 2.4.1 ppc kernel from: http://ftp.linuxppc.org/users/kfukui/kernel-2.4.1/kernel-singleCPU/

Change yaboot to use this kernel, now we drop the novideo options and add "video=aty128fb:vmode:14,cmode:32".

Now for X. I grabbed the XFree86 4.0.2 out of the cvs tree (tag xf-4_0_2) at xfree86.org then applied a patch you can find here: http://penguinppc.org/~olaf/xc-402-ppc.dif

Configuring X shouldn't be too hard, remember you need to be using 1152x864. When it comes to configuring the mouse look here for help: http://imaclinux.net/php/imaclinux_faq.php3?single=159 and to configure your keyboard to be mapped correctly I used:

XkbRules macintosh
XkbModel macintosh

And that should be it. Did it work for you?

Heat is still a problem, the 2.4.1 kernel can shut off the display after x minutes, but the underside still get really hot, anybody know of ppc speed step patch??

Ian.

Configuring X shouldn't be too hard, remember you need to be using 1152x864. When it comes to

DUH!... This one tripped me up for a couple of days. For those who like to see the botton of the display, please use the correct resolution of "1152x768"".

Ian.

P.S.: Browser problems, sorry if I've sent this twice.

- caps lock

I heard strange stories that you couldn't make caps lock an additional control (the key to the left of the 'a') this is a must for me. It doesn't sound right though, since you have X, you should be able to do this easily.

JUST SAY NO TO UPPER CASE LETTERS!!! I had no problems with the caps lock.

- ATI Mobility 128 Rage.

There is an r128 XFree86 4.0.2 driver, but it doesn't specifically mention this video chipset (the mobility) do you know if hardware acceleration, etc will work with it?

Yes it does. I spent some time looking at the r128 driver before working out that the problems was in the kernel. Use the kernel I pointed to in the orginal post.

- Firewire/USB Support

I think linux supports this at the moment, but I'm not sure if the g4's hardware is.

Firewire didn't work in the kernel I built (from the sources of the same location I point to), I'm not sure why it didn't work, however, I do think this maybe due to my compiler. USB works fine.

- DVD Drive

I'm pretty sure this should be ok, if the kernel can use the dvd drive, then xine (http://xine.sourceforge.net) should be able to play dvds off it.

I don't use Xine, but DVD support seems to work fine. There is no problem playing VCDs or DVDs on the Titanium (using the correct tools)***.

- sound support

is this ok?

Yes. Although I need to find a new mixer, Xmixer doesn't work so well.

Ian.

*** If you try to read DVDs or CD-XA (VCDs) without using the correct tools then the kernel will hang!

penguinppc.org have link to this article, which is cool and all, but:

he Titanium Powerbook works with _any_ distribution. Sound and network do not yet work.

Sound and networking work fine. I've no problems playing mp3s with XMMS. I've also used SMPEG to watch VCDs, this worked really well.

The only problem I've had with sound has been a software one when trying to play DVDs under OMS (www.linuxvideo.org). It was a sink problem, without sound DVD play fine (kung fu movie + some good House or techno mp3s).

Remember to un-mute all your chanels and turn the volume up. Xmixer works for this, but it has some gui problems.

Ian.

Some people are asking about XF86Config, so here are some bits of mine.

Section "Monitor"

Identifier "lcd0"

HorizSync 30-64
VertRefresh 40-150

Modeline "1152x768" 89.9 1152 1216 1472 1680 768 868 876 892 -HSync -VSync

EndSection

My device section looks like this:

Section "Device"

Identifier "ati0"
Driver "r128"
VideoRam 8192
BusID "PCI:0:16:0"
Option "UseFBDev"

EndSection

My screen section looks like this:

Section "Screen"

Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "ati0"
Monitor "lcd0"
DefaultDepth 24

Subsection "Display"

Depth 24
Modes "1152x768"
ViewPort 0 0

EndSubsection

EndSection

OK, if you really need any more X configuration info, then you can grab my for yourself (it's messy).

Ian

Caps-lock can't be remapped properly on ADB keyboards (including the built-in keyboards on PowerBooks) because the actual key sends a key-down message but no key-up message. This is a limitation of the hardware, and can't be fixed in software.

With an external USB keyboard, it is possible to remap caps-lock to control.

Caps-lock can't be remapped properly on ADB keyboards (including the built-in keyboards on PowerBooks) because the actual key sends a key-down message but no key-up message. This is a limitation of the hardware, and can't be fixed in software.

I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU MEAN. IT WORKS FINE UNDER X AND IN THE CONSOLE. I'M POSTING THIS FROM MY Titanium G4 PowerBook AND I'M NOT USING THE SHIFT KEY TO WRITE THIS (AND I DON'T HAVE AN EXTERNAL K/B).

Using caps lock all the time makes my tired. ;-)

I've not hacked on non Titanium PowerBooks. What is your set up to get this problem (kernel, h/w, etc.)

They are two things I've not gotten to work:

• The breathing sleep light.
  
• Firewire

• As for FireWire, this is an Endian bug in the firewire driver of the 2.4.x kernels - I've heard heard somebody had started this. If they don't finish it I will (it has been a while since I've hacked on endian problems - I'd prefer not to).

Caps-lock can't be remapped properly on ADB keyboards (including the built-in keyboards on PowerBooks) because the actual key sends a key-down message but no key-up message. This is a limitation of the hardware, and can't be fixed in software.

Ignore my previous post on this subject. I was getting this problem confused with the general keyboard mapping problems (the "XkbRules macintosh, XkbModel macintosh " fixes it).

Thanks for the information on it being a hardware limitation.

I'll stop jumping the gun now.

Ian.

The information above seems to apply to the old version Titanium Powerbooks only. Does anyone have any info on getting video right on the new ones? Specifically, I have a 667 Ti Powerbooks with ATI video. Apple System Profiler reports the card name: ATY, RageM6. Anyone with info, please respond to the (munged) email address above. Thanks in advance!