[plug] Debian on XServe

[Tomasz Grzegurzko]

On Jan 23, 2008 2:40 PM, Patrick Coleman <blinken at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Does anyone know for sure if Debian will run on the latest Apple
> XServes? I know OSX 10.4 won't work (mostly), so I'm wondering if
> whatever changed will affect Linux.
>
> -Patrick
>

I was trying to get Linux to go on an Intel Xserve some time ago, my problem
was in the kernel itself. I could make it boot but the process stalled
somewhere, but the trouble was the console wasn't working problem (fb driver
problem) and I ran out of time, had to return the loaner xserve.

http://www.mactel-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page seems to have some information,
and I posted to a mailing list somewhere too... maybe there's been some
progress now hopefully?

The trick is that the Apples use EFI. So you need an EFI bootloader, EFI
capable kernel. People have had easier success with the Desktop models
because they operate in x86 BIOS compatible mode also, so you can just use
standard grub. Also these machines are cheaper and more easily affordable so
it seems the kernel devs had written the fb drivers for these models and
they are better tested.

Tomasz
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