When attempting to install Debian Linux 2.0 Hamm (m68k build) on a machine with a m68k (Motorola 68000) processor, I get a Kernel image must be specified
error. Why must a kernel be specified to boot from CD? During this age there were also i386 processors and Linux images build for i386 processors, but they don't require a kernel to be specified. I was able to install Debian Linux 2.0 (i386 build of the OS) on an i386 machine, and it doesn't prompt me for a kernel at boot time. Why is the Motorola 68000 series any different?
1 Answer
Simple answer: Because there is no default kernel defined within the loader.
More in depth answer:
Debian's m68k port is available for at least a dozen different machine (and CPU) architectures. This ranges from Apple, Amiga and Atari to embedded systems and rare workstations.
Linux is a monolithic machine specific system. Unlike the PC, these 68k machines feature a wide variety of hardware structures. In fact, already within just the Apple machines variations are rather huge. It would be a huge effort to build "one" that fits all kernels (if that's possible at all). At the same time, the number of developers working on the m68k port is rather small.
Looks like there are more important areas to work on than luxury functions eliminating a simple single line input occurring only once during installation.
BTW, using a newer distribution might be more apropriate. I think I remember Debian supported 68k until at least 4.0
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2That's really a property of the loader on the install media, not the kernel or the machine. If I want to hand boot the PC-heritage system I'm typing this on, I also have to explicitly specify the kernel I want to use, even though there's only one available on the drive. Apr 2, 2018 at 3:07
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1Sorry, can't resist: "...and rare workstations" but, presumably, not a Rair workstation Feb 12, 2019 at 14:52
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Debian
in my description. Debian 2.0 which is Hamm. Hopefully my added description helps.