Bug 233093 – kernels newer than 2.6.20-gentoo-r10 crashes on PowerMac G5

• Product: Gentoo Linux
• Status: RESOLVED TEST-REQUEST

[Description Paul Osmialowski 2008-07-27 10:07:28 UTC]

I have the same issue as described two years ago in this link: http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0607.3/2032.html
I've installed gentoo using 2007.0 PPC64 installer, which uses 2.6.19 kernel. After emerge --sync, new kernel, 2.6.24-gentoo-r3 was proposed. I've compiled that and after reboot I've experience kernel panic as described by someone else in mentioned link (see logs starting from:
windfarm: CPUs control loops started.
Unable to handle kernel paging request for data at address 0x00000008
(my failure message starts and later goes on exactly the same way).
I've tried also linux-2.6.22-gentoo-r10 with the same result. Finally, I've tried linux-2.6.20-gentoo-r10, configured as much as possible the same way and was able to boot properly (there's no 2.6.19 in portage tree, so I didn't use the same kernel as gentoo installer). Also I've tried 2.6.26 - the bug still crashes the system.
I don't have any ideas where the error comes from. I've tried to compare windfarm modules source code between 2.6.20 and 2.6.26 and see no big differences, so I guess drivers didn't change much but API did, as a result the things don't fit to each other anymore. Someone experienced with mac devices should rewrite them.


Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. install gentoo on PowerMac G5 using gentoo 2007.0 installer
2. sync portage tree
3. upgrade kernel

Actual Results:  
kernel crash

Expected Results:  
no kernel crash

I wonder what would happend if I start 2008.0 installer, which I guess uses newer kernel. Unfortunately, I didn't have any free empty CD with me to burn it.

[Comment 1 Carsten Lohrke (RETIRED) 2008-07-27 14:14:43 UTC]

The 2007.0 snapshot is seriously outdated. Please give 2008.0 a try.