init error on a 720

Hello Guru's,

as you guess, i like to install Linux on a HP Workstation. It is an hp9000 model 720.
And here the problem starts - on some websites is stated that pa-risc linux will never work on 720's on some other sites i can read it does ! Maybe it depends - but on what ?

So i took the 0.9.2 iso-image from www.parisc-linux.org and tried an installation. After switching to serial console i could see the kernel coming up until it has to start "init" - than it loops forever with

handle_interruption() pid=1 command='init'

On the list archive i found, that some other people had the same problem, even with 720 models. But i could not find a solution which works for me. If there is one , could you please tell me where to RTFM ?

Here are some hardware infos :

Found devices:
1. Coral SGC Graphics (10) at 0xf8000000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x77, 0x0, 0x0
2. Cobra Core BA (11) at 0xf082f000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x70, 0x0, 0x0
3. Cobra Core SCSI (10) at 0xf0825000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x71, 0x0, 0x0
4. Cobra Core LAN (802.3) (10) at 0xf0826000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x72, 0x0, 0x0
5. Cobra Core HIL (10) at 0xf0821000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x73, 0x0, 0x0
6. Cobra Core RS-232 (10) at 0xf0823000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x75, 0x0, 0x0
7. Cobra Core RS-232 (10) at 0xf0822000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x75, 0x0, 0x0
8. Cobra Core Centronics (10) at 0xf0824000, versions 0x4, 0x0, 0x74, 0x0, 0x0
9. Cobra (720) (0) at 0xfffbe000, versions 0x200, 0x0, 0x4, 0x0, 0x81
10. Cobra (1) at 0xfffbf000, versions 0x13, 0x0, 0x9, 0x0, 0x0 That's a total of 10 devices.
CPU(s): 1 x PA7000 (PCX-S) at 50.000000 MHz

And there is a second problem with the scsi bus :

sim700: Configuring 53c700 (SCSI-ID 7) at f0825100, IRQ 86, options 1
scsi0: Revision 0x0
scsi0: test 1 completed ok.
scsi0 : LASI/Simple 53c7xx
scsi0: Unable to abort command for target 0
scsi0: Unable to send Bus Device Reset for target 0
scsi0: Unable to do SCSI bus reset
scsi0: >>>>>>>>>>>> Host reset <<<<<<<<<<<<
scsi0: istat = 0c, sstat0 = 00, sstat1 = 00, dstat = 00
scsi0: dsp = 0b8f8058 (script[0x0016]), dsps = 0b8f8cee, target = 0
scsi0: Failing command for ID0
scsi0: Unable to abort command for target 0
scsi0: Unable to abort command for target 1
scsi0: Unable to send Bus Device Reset for target 1
scsi0: Unable to do SCSI bus reset
scsi0: >>>>>>>>>>>> Host reset <<<<<<<<<<<<
scsi0: istat = 0c, sstat0 = 00, sstat1 = 00, dstat = 00
scsi0: dsp = 0b8f8058 (script[0x0016]), dsps = 0b8f8cee, target = 0
scsi0: Failing command for ID0

  Vendor: IBM       Model: CDRM00203     !K  Rev: BZ33
  Type:   CD-ROM                             ANSI SCSI revision: 02
  Vendor: HP        Model: HP35480A          Rev: TI00
  Type:   Sequential-Access                  ANSI SCSI revision: 02
  Vendor: HP        Model: 97560             Rev: 0BW2
  Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 02

Detected scsi disk sda at scsi0, channel 0, id 5, lun 0 SCSI device sda: 2647080 512-byte hdwr sectors (1355 MB) Partition check:
sda: unknown partition table

I realy hope you can point me to the right direction.
If i can not get linux up and running on that box, this computer will be put in the waste basket :-(

regards
Jörg Hartmann

Joerg Hartmann
[email protected]

HI Joerg,

As you'll see, you have the answer hidden in your mail :)
In fact, the official website stated upon the latest ISO released and our website
( http://mkhppa1.esiee.fr/list.html ) is based on the latest CVS. It is a great difference. Some drivers have been rewritten or patched and some CPU support has been added!

This has been solved. You need a new boot-fllopy

Try the CVS mailing list search @
http://www.parisc-linux.org/mailing-lists/index.html ! With PCXS and init, you have this:
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/pipermail/parisc-linux-cvs/2001-October/029699.html

Richard Hirst has modified the code of the driver to make it work. Try to pass this in the kernel parameter at boot time:
sim700=nodisc:0xff
Anyway, more info on that here ->
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/pipermail/parisc-linux/2001-October/014116.html

No, don't do that! :-)

Thomas.
ESIEE Team

Hello Joerg,

I got my 720/50 up and running with 2.4.9-pa70 or thereabouts. 2.4.14-pa2 also worked fine. Haven't had time to test the newest kernel yet. I suggest you check the parisc-linux archives. I was quite verbal in my quest to get my 720/50 going. :-)

Basically, I did the following:

1. Enable the serial console
2. Create a new nfsroot by hacking the debootstrap scripts on my i386. I had to use some special debs here, but I believe they are now in unstable.
3. Cross-compile the latest kernel using xc-latest, and make a lifimage with palo.
4. Netboot the lifimage with bootpd/rbootd and mount the nfsroot created in step 2 read-write.
5. fdisk and mke2fs the partitions (remember the partition for palo!) I wanted to install on.
6. Manually walk through the debootstrap and install all the packages I required on the new mounted partition (you use a chroot sometimes).
7. Install palo.
8. Reboot. apt-get update. apt-get upgrade.

Or you could just wait for the 0.9.3 ISO which is out/will be out shortly.

Regards,

Albert