Mac-on-Linux

Mac-on- Linux ( MOL short ) is an open -source virtualization software of Samuel Rydh ( Ibrium ), which can virtualize Linux systems that run on the PowerPC architecture, the Apple Mac OS. According to the company, the focus of development by Samuel Rydh, Mac OS on Linux / PPC was to make it usable.

In addition to the PCs of the Apple Power Macintosh series of Mac -on-Linux runs on all other computers with PowerPC architecture ( Common Hardware Reference Platform), including Macintosh clones, such as the Pegasus, but also the AmigaOne.

As the current last version dates from June 2007 Mac-on- Linux, it is not uncommon problematic to use on a recent Linux / PPC system.

Technology

For Mac -on-Linux is not a classic emulator, but a so-called virtual machine (→ virtualization ). There is no ROM image of a Mac computer needed unlike many Mac emulators to install and be able to use Mac OS or Mac OS X in the virtualized environment. Some features require Mac -on-Linux uses parts already existing open source code of Basilisk II (X11 and Ethernet) and QEMU ( qcow format for virtual disks ).

Mac-on- Linux provides the guest with the following components:

  • CPU of the host system; supports the PowerPC processors 603, 604, G3 and G4
  • MMU of the host system
  • AltiVec support (from PowerPC G4)
  • Idle Sleep ( available from Mac OS 8.6 as guest )
  • A separate ROM image is required (pre- Mac OS 8.5 ) only in the " old world " mode.
  • Multi- session support
  • SCSI ( generic)
  • USB ( generic)
  • Audio (with special drivers for Mac OS X 10.2 and later )
  • Network (with special drivers for Mac OS X 10.2 and later )
  • CD burner
  • Physical disk partitions as well as
  • Virtual disks as qcow images ( QEMU Copy- On- Write)

On the host system, the following front-ends are implemented:

  • Full-screen video ( fbdev, xdga )
  • MMU -accelerated X11 video output

In the source package of Mac-on- Linux, the source code for Mac OS X drivers are included, which should be compiled on Mac OS X. However, conditions are Xcode, Mac OS X 10.2.8 SDK and the X11 SDK. This also allows an installation package for Mac OS X to create that should work on Mac OS X 10.2 to 10.4. The installation of the MOL driver is also possible under a natively running Mac OS X, because the drivers are only used when Mac OS X running on Mac -on-Linux. For instance, the Apple operating system can use from the same partition as needed or natively on Mac -on-Linux. On Debian - based Linux / PPC distributions have the package mol -drivers- macosx, with the drivers already in binary form.

A related project is the PearPC emulator, which provides a complete PowerPC emulation on the x86 architecture.

Development

Created by Samuel Rydh was maintained and further developed under the umbrella of the company Ibrium in the open development model Mac-on- Linux. The version history of the development began on 1 June 1997. Seven years later, on 21 March 2004 Samuel Rydh ended with the release of version 0.9.70 its commitment to MOL. Since then the project on SourceForge by Joseph Jezak is maintained, the source was transferred to a SVN repository.

Still has happened since the release of version 0.9.72.1 in June 2007, not much. One of the obvious reasons could be Apple's transition to the x86 architecture, which was completed in 2006. This makes it possible to x86 hardware, Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" to directly use ( Hackintosh ) for Mac OS up to version 9 must be resorted to emulation programs such as SheepShaver.

On 64 -bit PowerPC processors like the G5, as is used in the Power Mac G5, Xserve G5 and iMac G5, Mac -on-Linux is currently (2012 ) not executable ( although initial adjustments were it started in 2007 ).

Compatibility

Mac -on-Linux supports the following guest operating systems:

  • Mac OS 7.5.2 to 9.2.2
  • Mac OS X ( PowerPC) - officially supports versions 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3
  • Linux ( PowerPC)

Mac-on- Linux currently runs only on 32 -bit PowerPC machines. In order for the Power Mac G4 is the fastest Apple computer, can come on the MOL applies insofar as the last and way as quick Power Mac series uses 64 -bit G5 processors.

The current version 0.9.72.1 of Mac -on-Linux were from June 2007 and was then adapted to the kernel 2.6.22. Sporadically for newer kernel patches exist, but these do not follow the current state of kernel development.

While Mac OS X 10.4 no problems makes Mac OS X 10.5 does not work currently (2012 ) under Mac-on- Linux.

Since the Apple EULA prohibits the use of Mac OS on non- Apple PCs, it can legally be used only on Apple Macintosh Linux, unless the EULA on this point has to be valid in the country. In Germany this clause is to be regarded as null and void, it thus can be virtualized with MOL on any other PowerPC machines a legally acquired Mac OS.

Software maintainer Pegasos PowerPC 7xx Memory Management Unit Apache Subversion 64-bit computing System 7 Mac OS 9 Mac OS X v10.1 Mac OS X v10.2 Mac OS X Panther Mac OS X Tiger Mac OS X Leopard
537905
de