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[ #170 ] NetBSD 5.0.1 on Mac Mini G4 (PPC) Permalink

NetBSD, OSX Added less than a year ago and last edited less than a year ago

Here are my notes from installation. I used these resources: NetBSD on a Mac Mini, Notes from installing on a G4 Mac Mini and the INSTALL.html from the ISO.

I will clean these up shortly (hopefully.)

Use the OSX CD to boot the OSX installation program on your Mac Mini hold down C while booting)
Use Disk Utility to create two partitions: HFS named Boot; UFS named BSD
quit Disk Utility
On other computer, copy ofwboot.xcf and netbsd kernels (netbsd-GENERIC.gz) to USB stick
Insert USB stick in Mac Mini
Open Terminal
In shell:
1. cp ofwboot.xcf and netbsd kernels to /Volumes/Boot
Quit Terminal
Reboot Mac Mini
Start up to openfirmware
Eject OSX CD
Insert NetBSD installation CD in Mac Mini
In Open Firmware:
1. boot cd:,ofwboot.xcf netbsd.macppc
Start in shell (not install)
In shell:
1. pdisk /dev/wd0c
  1. leave apple partition map
  2. leave hfs 'boot'
  3. delete ufs 'netbsd'
  4. create new partition as / type (a)
  5. create new partition as swap type (b)
  6. write, exit
In shell:
1. newfs /dev/rwd0a (yes, note the r)
2. mount /dev/wd0a /mnt
3. cd /mnt/
4. mkdir etc
5. cat > etc/fstab
  - /dev/wd0a / ffs rw 1 1
  - /dev/wd0b none swap sw 0 0
  - ^D
6. cd /
7. umount /mnt
8. sysinstall
Select 're-install sets...' from sysinstall menu
Reboot Mac Mini
In Open Firmware:
1. boot hd:,ofwboot.xcf netbsd-GENERIC.gz
In shell: passwd adduser -m you passwd you
Reboot
In Open Firmware:
1. setenv auto-boot? false
2. setenv boot-device hd:,ofwboot.xcf
3. setenv boot-file netbsd-GENERIC.gz
4. reset-all
Now when you start your mac mini you will always go to openfirmware - just type 'boot' to start

This is the blog of Brad Willis, a software engineer living in Brisbane.