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omni
Linux for the Mac Mark Unseen   Nov 6 06:27 UTC 1997

  

    I heard something rather bizarre, or maybe it's not. 

  I understand that there is a version of Linux for the Mac. I for one would
be interested in putzing around with it on the other Mac that I have. Maybe
I'll learn something. So is this true? What kind oif environment does it need
to run? 

 Thanks
17 responses total.
larsn
response 1 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 6 14:41 UTC 1997

Try looking MkLinux on the web, a good starting point may be
http://www.linux.org.
Go to the projects page and you'll find a couple of links.
scg
response 2 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 6 23:54 UTC 1997

Linux for the PowerMac exists.  Somebody I work with had it running for a
while.  I don't believe Linux exists for the 68K Macs, but I could be wrong
about that.
omni
response 3 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 7 05:23 UTC 1997

 I visited the linux site and found a 68k project, so I'm encouraged, but I
was unable to connect to the maclinux.org web server. I'll keep trying. I'd
also like to try it on the 386 once I punch up the memory. I would like to
be more fluent in Unix, and this looks like a good start.
oddie
response 4 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 19 03:40 UTC 1997

 Yes, they are porting Linux to mac68k. HOwever, it doesn't run on many Macs
yet. I think a bunch of MacIIs are working.
 YOu might also try http://www.espy.org/apple-flavored-unix/ It has links
 to
a bunch of free unixes for mac.
omni
response 5 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 19 06:53 UTC 1997

 Thanks
n8nxf
response 6 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 19 12:53 UTC 1997

(Isn't HVCN running some variant of Unix on a Mac IIci?)
omni
response 7 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 19 17:05 UTC 1997

  I looked at the site last nite and found out that in order to use Linux,
I'm going to need at least an SE/30. Oh well.
n8nxf
response 8 of 17: Mark Unseen   Nov 20 11:22 UTC 1997

Don't dispare.  I got my SE/30 from PD for $10 this spring.
srw
response 9 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 24 09:03 UTC 1997

Yes. HVCN is running unix on a IIci. It is not linux. it is NetBSD.
That is ported to the Mac platform and will run on many 68030 and 68040
macs. No unix of any kind can run on the 68000 macs because the chip
doesn't support memory managemen.

I did get it to run on a 68020 Mac II (no letters) by installing the 68851
MMU chip, though. That's the only platform you can do it on.

Yes, you will need at least an SE/030 or a Mac II.
arthurp
response 10 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 29 03:07 UTC 1997

Maybe the Linux port for embedded systems will run on those older Macs. 
It is supposed to run on 8086/88 chips.  I haven't checked it outyet,
but I do have copies of the stuff on my drive waiting their turn.
omni
response 11 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 29 20:55 UTC 1997

  I'd be interested in experimenting with linux on a 8088. I happen to have
one that isn't doing anything productive. Give me a call or e-mail, charles.
srw
response 12 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 30 07:18 UTC 1997

There's no way any unix will be able to run on an 8088. They're all 
going to require an 80386 or better, because the older processors do not 
support the memory management needed to run unix.
omni
response 13 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 30 07:25 UTC 1997

  I do have a 386, but I think I need more memory. I only have 1.5 Megs
and no plans to go higher. I'm using my 386 for doing mundane things such as
internet, and writing pulp fiction that no one is his right mind would buy.
;)

 It would be cool to have linux on that box.
arthurp
response 14 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 31 01:02 UTC 1997

The Linux is called ELKS for embedded linux kernel subset.  It's not
going to have process protection, or virtual memory hardware.  I don't
know exactly where they plan to go with it other than making it as easy
as they can to port linux/unix stuff to run on those processors.  Partly
they just want to have something out there that is complete, free, and
able to run on those chips.  Minix not being free enough, and there
being nothing else of consequence.
kentn
response 15 of 17: Mark Unseen   Dec 31 20:07 UTC 1997

ELKS info can be found at: http://www.uk.linux.org/ELKS-Home/index.html
A mirror in the US is: http://www.croftj.net/~elks/
 
The ELKS faq says:
"It is in the very early stages of development, and big chunks are
missing, such as swapping, shared libraries, parallel and serial I/O,
and networking. Having said that, it is already able to boot, provide
virtual consoles, mount a root minix filesystems floppy, and start
various small programs."  So, looks like they have a ways to go.

It would be nice to have a decent system to run on ol' 286...
arthurp
response 16 of 17: Mark Unseen   Jan 24 07:44 UTC 1998

Also note that the FAQ and other docs on the site a badly out of date. 
They mention all kinds of bugs for all kinds of versions that are not on
the site since they are so many revisions back.  I think they are on
version 0.0.67 now.  That's pretty alpha alright.  Nothing to do but
follow along and wait.
orinoco
response 17 of 17: Mark Unseen   Apr 2 20:22 UTC 2000

Well, to get back to your question (only a few years late) I'm as we speak
downloading the latest release of MkLinux.  I'll keep y'all posted....
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