Grex Micros Conference

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Grex Micros Item 178: Linux for the Mac
Entered by omni on Thu Nov 6 06:27:08 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.

#1 of 17 by larsn on Thu Nov 6 14:41:31 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.

#2 of 17 by scg on Thu Nov 6 23:54:39 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.

#3 of 17 by omni on Fri Nov 7 05:23:03 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.

#4 of 17 by oddie on Wed Nov 19 03:40:08 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.

#5 of 17 by omni on Wed Nov 19 06:53:19 1997:

 Thanks

#6 of 17 by n8nxf on Wed Nov 19 12:53:44 1997:

(Isn't HVCN running some variant of Unix on a Mac IIci?)

#7 of 17 by omni on Wed Nov 19 17:05:14 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.

#8 of 17 by n8nxf on Thu Nov 20 11:22:56 1997:

Don't dispare.  I got my SE/30 from PD for $10 this spring.

#9 of 17 by srw on Wed Dec 24 09:03:28 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.

#10 of 17 by arthurp on Mon Dec 29 03:07:30 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.

#11 of 17 by omni on Mon Dec 29 20:55:09 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.

#12 of 17 by srw on Tue Dec 30 07:18:11 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.

#13 of 17 by omni on Tue Dec 30 07:25:58 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.

#14 of 17 by arthurp on Wed Dec 31 01:02:22 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.

#15 of 17 by kentn on Wed Dec 31 20:07:07 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...

#16 of 17 by arthurp on Sat Jan 24 07:44:03 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.

#17 of 17 by orinoco on Sun Apr 2 20:22:50 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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