IMAC G3 (700Mhz) 7.2 & 8.0 install fails with "fatal kernel trap:"

[Nathan Whitehorn]

On Jun 19, 2010, at 9:16 AM, tom armistead wrote:

> Hello,
>
>       I recently received a IMAC G3 (700Mhz, circa 2001) and want to  
> run FreeBSD on it.    I tried 8.0, 7.2 and on both, the install  
> fails very early on with a fata kernel trap message.
>
> I break into the OF prompt then type:
>
> boot cd:,\boot\loader cd:0
>
> It looks like it starts the loader ok and it looks like it does it's  
> thing and starts the kernel but then after just a second or two, the  
> kernel fails with the following messages:
>
> fatal kernel trap:
>     exception = 0x4 (instruction storage trap)
>     virtual address = 0x5121c8
>     srr0 = 0x5121c8
>   .... and so on.
>
> I found a suggestion about pausing in the loader and shutting off  
> fireware (slot 14) using a set command.   I tried doing that but it  
> made no difference.
>
> I tried with both 8.0, 7.2 (and a quick test with 6.2) but none of  
> them worked.
>
> Should FreeBSD install work on an IMAC G3 700Mhz or am I beating a  
> dead horse?

It should work, in fact. Did you see any kernel output before the  
trap? There's also an off-chance that the 8.1 RC1 may give you better  
luck.
-Nathan