ok I decided against AIX as it is closed source software, but I found this:

"i've succesfully tried Gentoo PPC (only with serial console then you need minicom on serial1)
On Gentoo PPC you must choose ibmpower-ttyS0,9600 boot kernel."

from here: Install Fedora Linux on a IBM 9114-275 - Linux Forums

although being new to power pc I am not sure what he means by serial console and minicom? I assume it is not as easy as putting the discs into the drive? Can I learn how to do it?

Regards

"Serial console" means the command prompt and keyboard input will be across a serial cable. Use another computer with a terminal emulator (which is what they mean by "minicom"). It's just like telnet'ing across a network, except that you are directly connected.

So if I only have one stand alone IBM machine, I can't do the install?

Don't you have a laptop with a serial port, or can you borrow one?

perhaps, so you are saying that if I install it on a lappy, then I connect the laptop via serial connection to the 275 and install it that way via console commands?

You insert the installation CDs (DVDs. tapes, whatever) into the 275s respective drives and install from there. You use the laptop with the serial terminal emulator (or your physical serial console if you have one, for instance the IBM 3153 terminal) to control this process. If your system has a graphics card installed and a monitor/keyboard already attached you can use this (in IBM terminology called "lft" - low function terminal) for installation and won't need a serially attached terminal or -emulator.

ttyS0 refers to a tty (short for teletype - another word for serially attached terminal) attached to the "S0" connector on your machine. Have a look, the ports all have labels and one of them (most probably a D-Sub 9 connector) should read "S0".

I hope this helps.

bakunin

That is a very good answer bakunin and it clears up the process for a novice power pc user like me. I think that is the end of the thread as that looks like my solution.

Thanks to all for the good information.