Ubuntu/Kubuntu on Mac G5.

[Larry Grover]

Brian Durant wrote:
> On 22. jan 2006, at 13.44, Eric Dunbar wrote:
> 
>> On 1/21/06, Larry Grover <lgrover at zoominternet.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Brian Durant wrote:
>>>
>>>> BTW, I just joined the YDL-newbie list and they were asking about my
>>>> firmware version. I pointed out that I am running OS X Tiger  (10.4.4)
>>>> but I don't know how to find out how to confirm my firmware  
>>>> version.  It
>>>> would be best if I knew what version I have before I file a bug   
>>>> report,
>>>> right? So, how do I confirm the firmware version that my G5  is  using?
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm not sure what "firmware" is supposed to mean.  If it's the  machine
>>> model, then you can get it in linux by opening a terminal window and
>>> running "cat /proc/cpuinfo"), or in OSX by clicking on the blue apple
>>> (upper left corner), selecting "About this Mac", clicking on the  "More
>>> Info" button and then selecting "Hardware".  My iBook is a  PowerBook4,3
>>> and my iMac is a PowerMac8,1.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Larry
>>
>>
>> Open Firmware is the boot code used by all PowerPC Macs (and some
>> older Macs); it serves the same purpose as BIOS in IBM clones. Open
>> Firmware has been replaced by EFI in the new i86 Core Duo Macs.
>>
>> You can figure it out by following Larry's instructions to get into
>> the System Profiler (About this Mac... More Info).
>>
>> The Open Firmware version is the "Boot ROM Version".
>>
>> Eric.
> 
> 
> Thanks Eric. My "Boot ROM Version" is 5.2.2f2 That should be the  latest 
> version for my machine, yes? If that is the case, then the  problem 
> should be in the two modules  "windfarm_pm91.c" and  
> "windfarm_smu_sensors.c".
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Brian
> 

I'm pretty sure the "windfarm" modules are for thermal/fan control.  So, 
yes, they are probably your problem.  Unfortunately, if your machine is 
quite new, you may have to wait a while for support to make it into a 
stable, distro-released kernel.

If you don't want to wait to install linux on your machine you could go 
ahead and install which ever distro seems to have the best overall 
support currently.  I don't think the lack of fan control will do any 
harm to your system -- as long as the fans are spinning at top speed you 
are getting adequate cooling (but the noise does get irritating).  As 
support for your hardware starts to mature you will have the option of 
patching/compiling a custom kernel, to get thermal management before it 
shows up in a stable distro release.

Regards,
Larry