Linux on an IBM 560z

On Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:52:27 -0800, tomcee wrote:

I would like to install (Redhat) Linux on my IBM 560z.

As you may be aware, the 560z requires the PCMCIA drivers so that it can
communicate with the CD drive.

Are these (PCMCIA) files available?

You're going to have to create a boot floppy. I had to when I installed
Debian Sarge on my Thinkpad 240X which will only boot off the floppy or
hard drive. (The external CD drive that came with it is USB.) In lieu
of that, some people remove the hard drive, connect it to another
computer that can boot off a CD, do a "base" install--just enough to
boot--reinstall the hard drive and complete the installation.

Maybe, this link will help:

http://www.ima.umn.edu/~arnold/tp560z-linux.html

Stef

On Mar 3, 12:17 pm, Stefan Patric wrote:

On Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:52:27 -0800, tomcee wrote:
> I would like to install (Redhat) Linux on my IBM 560z.

> As you may be aware, the 560z requires the PCMCIA drivers so that it can
> communicate with the CD drive.

> Are these (PCMCIA) files available?

You're going to have to create a boot floppy.  I had to when I installed
Debian Sarge on my Thinkpad 240X which will only boot off the floppy or
hard drive.  (The external CD drive that came with it is USB.)  In lieu
of that, some people remove the hard drive, connect it to another
computer that can boot off a CD, do a "base" install--just enough to
boot--reinstall the hard drive and complete the installatio
Maybe, this link will help:

   http://www.ima.umn.edu/~arnold/tp560z-linux.html

Stef

Thank you for the reply. However, I need the PCMCIA drivers.

Creating a boot disk does not provide the PCMCIA drivers.

The example on the link had already started with a machine that has a
partitioned HD.

I am starting with a bare / raw machine.

Any other help would be appreciated.

TomC

On Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:06:35 -0800, tomcee wrote:

On Mar 3, 12:17 pm, Stefan Patric wrote:

On Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:52:27 -0800, tomcee wrote:
> I would like to install (Redhat) Linux on my IBM 560z.

> As you may be aware, the 560z requires the PCMCIA drivers so that it
> can communicate with the CD drive.

> Are these (PCMCIA) files available?

You're going to have to create a boot floppy.  I had to when I
installed Debian Sarge on my Thinkpad 240X which will only boot off the
floppy or hard drive.  (The external CD drive that came with it is
USB.)  In lieu of that, some people remove the hard drive, connect it
to another computer that can boot off a CD, do a "base" install--just
enough to boot--reinstall the hard drive and complete the installatio
Maybe, this link will help:

   http://www.ima.umn.edu/~arnold/tp560z-linux.html

Stef

Thank you for the reply. However, I need the PCMCIA drivers.

Creating a boot disk does not provide the PCMCIA drivers.

The example on the link had already started with a machine that has a
partitioned HD.

I am starting with a bare / raw machine.

Any other help would be appreciated.

I'm in somewhat the same predicament with my Thinkpad 240X, since Debian
no longer has boot floppy sets that have drivers, etc. for machines that
won't boot off anything but floppy or hard drive. There are two options
I'm investigating: One, make a minimal boot floppy (or floppies) that
will do a chroot to an install CD or USB drive or PCMCIA drive, or, two,
just pull the hard drive, hook it to another computer that will boot off
a CD, etc., do enough of a net install on it to boot, and finish the
install via the Internet. I think the second option to be far easier.

Let me know here, if you find a better solution.

Stef