Fienix: Troubleshooting Open Firmware

How to create a boot disk:
See Imaging Instructions for Open Firmware

The installer gets stuck at "preseeding":
This occurs when re-writable optical media is used. Only install Fienix from DVD-R or DVD+R. Do not attempt to use DVD-RW or DVD+RW.

Fienix starts to boot up, but then the system shows only a black screen, a black screen with a cursor, or a garbled image:
These issues are caused by driver configuration issues. Try entering the below boot parameters when you see the yaboot prompt (when booting up your system).

nvidia GPU

If you have an nvidia GPU, try the following boot parameters (one at a time, must be entered EXACTLY as listed):

"Linux nouveau.modeset=1 video=TV-1:d video=offb:off video=nouveaufb:off"
"Linux nouveau.modeset=1 video=TV-1:d video=offb:off"
"Linux nouveau.modeset=1 video=offb:off video=nouveaufb:off
"Linux video=TV-1:d video=offb:off"

Radeon GPU

If you have a Radeon GPU, try entering the following boot parameters (one at a time, must be entered EXACTLY as listed):

"Linux radeon.modeset=1 video=offb:off nomodeset"
"Linux radeon.agpmode=-1 radeon.modeset=1 video=offb:off nomodeset"

Make Yaboot Parameter Permanent

When you find boot parameters that work, you can make them permanent by editing /etc/yaboot.conf as root:

Open Mate Terminal and enter "su -" and your root password
Enter "nano /etc/yaboot.conf"
Locate the section that begins with "image=/boot/Linux" and edit the "append" line to enter your boot parameter (or add the append line if one does not exist) so it looks similar to the below example (do not include "Linux" in the append line):
```
image=/boot/vmlinux
        label=Linux
        read-only
        initrd=/boot/initrd.img
        append="nouveau.modeset=1 video=TV-1:d video=offb:off video=nouveaufb:off"
```
Press Ctrl + X to exit, and press Y to save when prompted
In Mate Terminal, still as root, enter "ybin -v"

Fienix Installer isn't booting, I see a text error message:
Try resetting your NVRAM

Start with your system powered down
Turn it on, and press and hold COMMAND + OPTION + P + R (SUPER + ALT + P + R)
Keep holding these keys until the system power cycles 3 times
The 4th time the system powers back on release the keys and press COMMAND + OPTION + O + F (SUPER + ALT + O + F) to enter Open Firmware and try the boot command again

This firmware command has been tested on Power Mac G5 11,2 2.0 GHz dual-core, Power Mac G5 11,2 2.5 GHz quad-core, and iMac G5 8,2 (ALS). It is possible that other versions of Open Firmware do not support the command. Please enter a Bug Report including the your specific G5 model.

Fienix installed and boots but my network isn't working:
The easiest way to resolve most network issues is to run Fienix Companion Network Mechanic (Menu > System > Fienix Companion).