>Hi there.
>
>I have recently had a 386sx based IBM PS/2 computer donated to me
>which I'd like to set up as a Linux-based print-server. However, the
>said computer is of course MCA-bus based, and I seem to remember that
>Linux had problems with the MCA-bus, so I have a couple of questions
>to ask first:
>
> 1. Can anybody verify the situation here?
>
The new experimental kernels support MCA but your PS/2 may not have enougth
memory to support the new experimental kernels. Check out the MCA Linux
(maybe Linux MCA) project. Their code is the MCA support code in the new
experimental kernels and if you check out their web page you'll find patches
for the 2.0.x kernels. I have tried them out and been using them on some
production PS/2 single service machines. Everything looks good here. Too
bad the code hasn't been included in the 2.0.x source yet.
> 2. If there are problems, is there anything I can do to help to
> resolve them?
>
a. Memory.
- Install on a different machine. Configure the system to minimum
requirements. Then transfer the system to the final production PS/2
machine.
b. Need custom compiled kernel so no easy installation from a distrib.
- Compile the custom kernel on that different machine. The MCA Linux
(Linux MCA?) web site has precompiled kernels. you'll also need to make
sure you make the MCA hard drive devices. (Note: I noticed Slackware 3.5
has them included in their distribution.) You also need an updated version
of fdisk and lilo.
PS
I did the installation by installing and comfiguring on a different
machine (non MCA) and then used the Slackware NFS install disks
(reconfigured with an MCA kernel, availible at the web site) to install
through NFS untarring the system from a pre-made tar file from the original
install system or by using cp -avx (nfs mounted source) /
>Before anybody asks, I don't currently know the full specs for the
Hope you get at least 4 Megs. I got a system up in 2 Megs on a PS/2 but it
was attrociously slow especially with networking enabled. At least it
worked. I had Win 3.1 (maybe 3.11, not sure) in one meg, standard mode on a
286; currently my top record)
>system in question - the hard drive is apparently not formatted, and
>the floppy appears not to be configured into the thing, so I
>definately need some help getting it sorted out. My plans here consist
>of temporarily transferring the hard drive to a 286-based IBM PS/2
>that was also donated to me, formatting it and installing MS-DOS 6.22
>thereon, then transferring it back and booting it off that so I can
>get hold of the system specs...then, when I know enough about it to
>start work, having a go at installing Linux on it...
>
>Best wishes from Riley.
>
>
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