Running Mac OS X Natively on Pegasos 151
Peter writes "The Pegasos is an interesting new platform, being one of the very few affordable non-Apple PowerPC systems. But to be a real alternative for me, I want it to run Mac OS X directly (without the need to use Mac-on-Linux or such). Have any of you Slashdot readers done this, and how much hacking did it take?" The Pegasos currently uses a G3/600, and ships with Debian Linux for PowerPC and MorphOS.
Doesn't seem likely (Score:1)
Of course, Darwin is another story. It should be a piece of cake to get it going.
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:4, Informative)
Whether or not it's technically possible to find a workaround to boot it without an Apple BIOS is another matter. I'm sure it will be possible though somehow
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:4, Informative)
None of which are in OSX
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:1, Insightful)
run the following command:
strings
Interesting. Support for M68K, M88K, HP-PA, Sparc, PPC, i386, I860, M88110...
Just what else do you want? Apple have OSX ready for FAR more than just the PPC boxes they're shooting with now.
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:4, Informative)
There's a difference between "there's a list of strings in the kernel that bears a startling resemblance to the list of processors that NeXT and Apple have ever ported to" and "Apple has Mac OS X ready for that list of processors".
Let's look at the list:
The only surprise to me in that list is i860.
(Yes, I know, that posting, especially with the "Apple have OSX ready for FAR more than just the PPC boxes they're shooting with now." statement - right, Apple's got Mac OS X ready to run on shiny new Motorola 88K workstations - is so silly it was probably a troll, and I bit. Oh, well....)
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:2)
The NeXTdimension grapics board available for NeXT Cube systems used an i860.
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Doesn't seem likely (Score:1)
Totally. Not only that, but I believe this is even against the license that Apple has for Mac OS X. I don't think you're legally allowed to run it on non-Apple hardward. (Someone do correct me if I'm wrong, though, as I'm too lazy to dig up my license.)
You do realize ... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:You do realize ... (Score:4, Informative)
A Mac's as open as any other computer. It's just that the parts are relatively rare. And also, of course, that you cannot legally run Mac OS X on anything other than Apple hardware. It's in the license agreement.
Silly rabbit.
Re:uh (Score:2)
Re:uh (Score:2)
Re:uh (Score:2)
So once again, what is it you are talking about? May
Re:uh (Score:1)
Re:uh (Score:1)
Re:uh (Score:2, Informative)
Re:uh (Score:1)
Re:uh (Score:2)
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
What is proprietary/closed about PowerPC? Compared to x86?
Proprietary does not mean less common.
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
What I said was that there was more to the proprietary/closed nature of the platform than just the processor. This does not mean that the processor is proprietary - though by a strict definition, it is proprietary, to the PowerPC group of IBM, Moto, and Apple, though it may be available as a COTS part - if Intel tried to set up their own PPC fab plant, they'd be sued, no? What I was saying, though, is that the PLATFORM cannot be replicated using entirely Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Parts, the way that
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
The hardware implementation is partially proprietary in that it is backed by patents which IBM and Moto enforce. The same is true of P4
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
The hardware implementation is partially proprietary in that it is backed by patents which IBM and Moto enforce. The same is true of P4. However the specs and ISA are published standards.
"Proprietary" and "published" are not mutually exclusive.
XServe? Are you kidding? For our purposes it is a toy.
So you should be calling up Apple and telling them you'd like to buy a more robust server with OS X. Remember, APPLE IS A HARDWARE COMPANY. They do not make OS X just to make your experience with IBM server
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
Asolutely correct. Proprietary means either held as a trade secret or exclusive by patent or copyright enforcement. I should have been more clear and said published standards not held proprietary via patent and copyright enforcement.
Re:You do realize ... (Score:2)
Now THAT'S a good argument. Only problem with this format is that it often takes three or four rounds of miscommunication to get to the meat of the issue.
Apple ROM (Score:1, Redundant)
This computer probably doesn't have the licensed Apple ROM and therefore will not boot any Mac OS without some serious hardware mods.
ChiefArcher
Re:Apple ROM (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Apple ROM (Score:5, Informative)
Wow... let's get up to date.
Apple's New World ROM based machines which have been shipping for quite some time now (think B&W G3 and the original iMac) are closer to CHRP type systems. A basic OpenFirmware ROM is what is on the motherboard. The rest of the old "Macintosh ROM" is loaded from disk for Mac OS
For more information, see: Apple Technical Note TN1167, The Mac ROM Enters a New World [apple.com].
Darwin is roughly equivalent to the Mac OS X CoreOS and one would have to write a new platform support code and relevant drivers. One could copy over the parts from a Mac OS X CD after getting Darwin to work. However, to be legal, one would have to obtain a license from Apple that is different from the license that is on the current retail product. But it's not the ROM.
Re:Apple ROM (Score:2)
Re:Apple ROM (Score:3, Insightful)
MorphOS on Apple hardware (like iBook2) (Score:5, Interesting)
OpenDarwin is being ported... (Score:5, Interesting)
When the OpenDarwin port is complete, you *may* be able to install MacOS X on a drive then overlay OpenDarwin on top of that and then be able to boot it onto the clone.
Remember that Macs use Open Firmware to boot, so this clone would need either Open Firmware, something compliant to the spec, or hooks to make it work (or some combination of all three).
Considering the cheapest 12" PowerBooks start at around $1200, I'd say the Apple premium isn't too bad. Granted, that's WAY more than these clones, but then you don't have to deal with the fuss of trying to shim MacOS X onto a non-native platform.
Re:OpenDarwin is being ported... (Score:1)
you can buy refurbished ones from 3rd parties for less than that.
Re:OpenDarwin is being ported... (Score:2)
Re:OpenDarwin is being ported... (Score:5, Interesting)
The Pegasos comes with Open Firmware, yes.
Pegasos - the ultimate geek machine (Score:5, Informative)
from www.pegasosppc.com/operating_systems.php [pegasosppc.com]
"The following Operating Systems are in final stages of being ported to the Pegasos Platform and should be completed soon: AROS, Gentoo, Knoppix, NewOS, OpenBSD, QNX
The following Operating Systems are in the early stages of being ported to the Pegasos Platform: AmigaDE, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBeOS, OpenDarwin, Zynot
The following Operating Systems can be run on the Pegasos through emulation: Amiga OS 3.x, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X"
Personally speaking, as a fan of silent machines and a user of a PC that exclusively runs Linux, I am very tempted by this machine. I don't have to worry about the company going bust because by running Linux, I can easily switch hardware platforms should I need to, and I can play with Morphos and all this Mac stuff too.
Re:Pegasos - the ultimate geek machine (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Pegasos - the ultimate geek machine (Score:1)
Re:Pegasos - the ultimate geek machine (Score:2)
Re:Pegasos - the ultimate geek machine (Score:2)
try Iyonix [iyonix.com] complete with RiscOS
Re:Pegasos - the ultimate geek machine (Score:2)
"Partial/Unsupported:
* Audio (Has stopped working in this release)
* Floppy
* Real Time Clock
* Podules
Kernel issues:
The ethernet driver needs modification to read ts MAC address from eeprom and has instead been modified to read it from its PCI memory as a temporary measure.
Because the real time clock is currently unsupported (boiler plate code only currently), it is recommenend you install the Debian "ntpdate" package if you are on a perme
Theoretically speaking... (Score:4, Interesting)
The problem is, that would probably take a serious amount of work, not to mention the possible legal snares with Apple - I don't know what the terming of the APSL is, but it may not allow such modifications. But I don't see it as being an impossible task.
Re:Theoretically speaking... (Score:4, Informative)
Frankly, I don't see such possibility. APSL [apple.com] allows you to modify Darwin code in a manner quite similar to the GPL - you can modify all you want, provided that you will distribute the modified code with all due copyright notices and disclamiers and will clearly mark all your amendments.
The important parts of the APSL are:
You may modify Covered Code and use, reproduce, display, perform, internally distribute within Your organization, and Externally Deploy Your Modifications and Covered Code, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, provided that in each instance. You also meet all of these conditions: (...) cause the modified files to carry prominent notices stating that You changed the files and the date of any change (...) You must make Source Code of all Your Externally Deployed Modifications either available to those to whom You have Externally Deployed Your Modifications, or publicly available.
Please don't confuse Darwin with MacOS X. Darwin is free (as in beer and actually as in GPL) but Darwin itself is nothing but Yet Another Un*x Clone. MacOS X is proprietary and that's the one with all that eye-candy and iApps
Re:Theoretically speaking... (Score:2)
Yes.
I'm not sure how much of the proprietary code loads outside darwin...
Enough. MacOS X uses proprietary graphics layer called Quartz [apple.com] (long descendant of the NeXT/OpenStep Display Postscript). So if you have pure Darwin with no Quartz, you can run only CLI tools. You can also run XFree and place some Aqua-like window manager on it, but no MacOS X application will run in this environment (no Photoshop, no MS Office, no Max Payne, no Starcraft
One big problem... (Score:2)
Re:One big problem... (Score:4, Interesting)
The G3s can still hold their own with OSX very well, as long as the surrounding architecture is up to snuff.
Re:One big problem... (Score:2)
Wouldn't give up my 600Mhz iBook for love nor money though.
It's the graphics card, dude (Score:3, Informative)
Pegasos Motherboard Cost = $500 !!! (Score:5, Informative)
From the UK Pegasos site [1] the bare motherboard appears to be $500 which seems somewhat high for a 600MHz G3 - adding disc/memory/peripherals + operating system this doesnt look like a very good deal given that I can by an 800MHz G4 eMac complete with OS-X for $799.
[1] http://www.pegasos-uk.com/english/products_pegaso
Re:Pegasos Motherboard Cost = $500 !!! (Score:5, Informative)
Or a used iBook from PowerMax [powermax.com]: a white G3/500 is about about $839.
If you are a student, you can get the eMac for $749. Or checking Apple's refurbished deals [apple.com] there is a refurbished G3/700 iBook for $799 (non-educational price).
Re:Pegasos Motherboard Cost = $500 !!! (Score:2)
That's a bunch for an iBook. I don't work for any of the following companies but I do keep an eye on the used Mac marketplace. Ebay is not a buyers market btw.
As of this writing Smalldog [smalldog.com] has an 800MHz iBook for $899.
Macofalltrades [macofalltrades.com] usually has good deals on portables and desktop Macs.
MacResQ [macresq.com] has good deals occasionally(sp?).
I would certainly put PowerMax [powermax.com] at the bottom of the list pricewise. They want $729.00 for a G4 400 desktop [powermax.com]!!
Macofalltrades wants $500 for a better equipped G4 450 [macofalltrades.com]
Note: direc
Re:Pegasos Motherboard Cost = $500 !!! (Score:2)
Thanks for the links... I'll have to watch for a good deal for my home server (will be a FW iBook w/combo drive).
I suppose, if you wanted to experiment, and possibly upgrade later, the Pegasos board could be good. But if you wanted to run MacOS X inexpensively, the point of these comments is that's probably not the most cost effective way to do it. And, in fact, you could get a whole lot of mobility in comparison for a similar price.
Re:Pegasos Motherboard Cost = $500 !!! (Score:1)
Re:Pegasos Motherboard Cost = $500 !!! (Score:1)
Ever shop for BeBox's [ebay.com] on eBay?
not completely true (Score:2, Informative)
The old pegasos computer isn't produced longer and probably out of stock everythere. But the pegasos2 is supposed to get released during september and will future a much better price/performance ratio since it will be sold for the same price ($499) but are very likely to have three gigabit ethernet ports, PCI-X, 1-1.4GHz G4 and so o
Just Don't Get It (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple loses money spent on unsupported hardware. Linux loses the time that would otherwise be invested making Linux run better on PPC, and the buyer loses the support, service and integration that Apple and Linuxprovide.
I guess maybe it's that some people are somehow angry with Apple for not providing the kind of craphouse of componentry that the x86 world has been for the last seven years.
And I guess when you approach a computer as a bundle of hardware components, then all it's ever going to be is a bundle of hardware that does stuff. When you look as a computer as the amalgamation of hardware, software, support and service, then you start seeing exactly what I don't get.
Apple provides the support, service and integration on Apple hardware. Linux provides support, service and integration on supported hardware. No one provides support, service or integration with OS X on Pegasos. Even those that would try could not publicly support it for fear of legal reprisal.
As more people change their idea of what a computer is--from a bunch of hardware that does stuff, to a sum total of hardware, software support, service and their integration--need for cheap off-the-wall components will die out. Microsoft is going to be at the front of this push, making systems like the X-Box for office workers everywhere.
Re:Just Don't Get It (Score:2, Insightful)
If you fall into that category, nothing you - aptly - stated applies.
And then getting OS X to run on a slow, non-babtized-build-your-own-and-run-whatever-you- l ike-as-long-as-it's-obscure machine suddenly makes sense, kind of, erm...
Know a guy who's always tinkering with everything, his macs and pc's are always in a state of undress, ve
Re:Just Don't Get It (Score:3, Funny)
Because it was there.
mmm troll... (Score:2)
Been using Linux since 1998.
Been using BSD since 1999.
Been using Mac OS X since 2001.
Now who doesn't get it?
Maybe you need to realize that the Mac stereotypes no longer hold true.
Re:mmm troll... (Score:1)
Been using BSD since 1982.
Been using Genera since 1985.
Been using Mac OS since 1988.
Been using Solaris since 1990.
Been using Linux since 1998.
Been using Mac OS X since the public beta.
What Mac stereotypes are you referring to?
Re:mmm troll... (Score:2)
I guess I should have known better... Don't bite and the troll goes away.
My apologies, as my awkward remark regarding Mac OS sounded as if I was also propagating the stereotype of Mac OS users.
My intent was never to declare myself to be more than I am: a guy who has a history using Linux and BSD predating OS X, and continues to use them on a daily basis (you know, use the right tool for the job).
I'm trying to declare myself some kind of authority rega
Re:mmm troll... (Score:2)
Heh, so much for "Preview."
That should read that I'm not trying to declare myself some kind of authority regarding UNIX in general...
Re:translation (Score:2)
Yep, you used to see that happening all the time, didn't you... Them were the heady days, weren't they; people were switching in droves from Windows to Linux in 1998 because it was easier.
Translation:
Was too stupid to make a decent troll.
Switched to Anonymous Coward.
Come on, if you're going to waste my time with trolls, at least use that crap between your ears and think of one that actually has some merit as a troll.
Open Firmware Needed (Score:2)
Re:Open Firmware Needed (Score:5, Interesting)
Hello, if you visit this site [sun.com] you might learn a little bit about Open Firmware... especially the Open part
Re:Open Firmware Needed (Score:3, Informative)
Also, the standards are there as "Open" but Apple's implementation is not for anyone but Apple to use. You can go to their dev site and dig all you want. You will not find Apple's OF for you to use on a Pegasus board. Just because it's Ope
Re:Open Firmware Needed (Score:3, Informative)
While yes, Apple's implimentation of Open Firmware is Apple's and Apple's alone, other versions of Open Firmware do exist, and following the OF spec, an OS that runs on OF runs on all flavors pretty much the same.
The Pegasos comes with it's own OF, called SmartFirmware, and it runs quite nicely.
Re:Open Firmware Needed (Score:2)
Re:Open Firmware Needed (Score:2)
Re:Open Firmware Needed (Score:2)
Why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, I'll admit I'm a mac user and I love my powerbook. I personally find OSX to by the greatest OS ever, with OpenBSD and Linux taking a very close second. And for me this is where the Pegasos fits perfectly, I can now run all my system on PPC. A nice PPC OpenBSD server, serving files, web, and email to my OSX laptop and my PPC Linux desktop (until I can afford my G5).
I personally can't wait for the day when I can add "x86 free" to my "Microsoft free since 1998", tag-line. A perfect world is one where I don't have to use MS and/or x86 for anything!
If you want OSX then help Apple and buy Apple hardware. If Apple can't sell hardware then they don't write software and then we're stuck with that nasty Windows UI (and just for the flame bait I'm lumping Gnome and KDE into this, since they can't seem to come up with an original UI design) And just to piss everyone off I'll even throw Apple under the bus and point out that the "New and Improved" finder under 10.3 really looks like crap.
Re:Why? (Score:2)
I have read that the Finder in 10.3 can be made to look just like the Finder in 10.2, if one desires it. The only difference is that it will be metallic instead of aqua, which should be fixable by editing the application settings with Interface Builder (included free in the Apple developer tools), or using a third-party metal UI removing utility (such as Met [versiontracker.com]
Re:Why? (Score:2)
Re:Why? (Score:2)
Unfortunately, the test mule was the Finder, a bastardization of Carbon and Cocoa that seems to highlight the worst
Re:Why? (Score:1)
I know it is a RISC processor but so are every processor. Todays "x86" are just an IA32 translator around a RISC core. IA64 is the logical next step: drop IA32 and x86, use the die for real calculations and leave the scheduling to the compiler. It doesnt get more RISC than that does it?
The rest of the system has no legacy shit either as I can see. Well BIOS might be a bit stoneage.
So what is this fuss about x86 beeing bad?
Re:Why? (Score:1)
but how do you buy it? (Score:1)
is this vapourware? is there a release date? have I missed something?
I read someone mentioned it was going to be US$500.. that's just way too steep for a board. but if it comes down to PC mobo prices, then it's looking promising.
running OS-X on it is a lame idea because apple's machines do it so well. yes, they're exp
Re:but how do you buy it? (Score:2)
It retails for $299.
Re:but how do you buy it? (Score:1)
I'll have to read up on it. hopefully access to them in NZ will be good.
Re:but how do you buy it? (Score:1)
Re:but how do you buy it? (Score:1)
Is this true? Not $499 longer? awesome in that case.
Re:but how do you buy it? (Score:1)
Re:but how do you buy it? (Score:3, Interesting)
put your hands up
*puts hand up* and I wouldn't go back if you paid me: I've been using OS X (on some excellent Apple hardware) for two years now (which if you do the math, makes me a pretty die-hard Amigan: I suck with it until 2001! upgrading both the hard and software all that time) And while there are a couple of things about the 'mig that I do miss, on ballance OS X and Apple's hardware knock it firmly into the history books from an end user perspectiv
What is MorphOS? (Score:1)
Re:What is MorphOS? (Score:1)
The Pegasos2 (Score:1)
OpenDarwin could do it... (Score:1)
Re:OpenDarwin could do it... (Score:2)
To my knowledge 10.2 kernels don't work on Macs with pre-G3 processors.
Re:OpenDarwin could do it... (Score:2)
BTW this isn't something special OpenDarwin does. Apple's standard 10.1 kernel works on Macs without G3 processors, no thanks at all to OpenDarwin.
Re:OpenDarwin could do it... (Score:2)
But not with the original processor. 10.1 worked with the original processor, with 10.2 you have to upgrade to a G3/G4
probably no (Score:2)
If you can get Darwin to run.... (Score:3, Insightful)
There's no magic Mac ROMs anymore. That's been dead for so long it's ridiculous. I used to work on the OS team at Apple - I _know_.
Nice troll (Score:4, Informative)
- Even if you were mistaken about dual, and it's really a single 1.6GHz G5, the 1.6GHz model does not have PCI-X. Only the 1.8GHz and dual-2.0GHz models feature PCI-X.
- "Trying to install Star Control 2"? You mean, the 11 year old game? How, exactly, are you "trying to install" it? Nice one.
- The rest of your post is laughable, especially the part where you forget you said "dual 1.6GHz" and then say "this G5 dual 2GHz"
- Nice troll, anyway
Re:G5 motherboard pictures shows dual cpu connecto (Score:3, Funny)
Where are you going to get that second processor? G5's-R-us?
Re:G5 motherboard pictures shows dual cpu connecto (Score:2)
Re:Father O'Day? (Score:1)
Trolleriffic! (And plagiaricious, too!) (Score:2)
Re:G5 Problem already (Score:1)
Cool.
Omniweb should be there too IMHO.
Re:G5 Problem already (Score:2)