Run Linux directly on a Mac

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Since Linux is based on Unix & OS X is based on Unix, I wonder if it is possible to directly run Linux, or any Unix-based OS, on a Mac instead of thru VMWare or some such virtualization software.

I wonder if anyone has tried to do it.
 
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chas_m

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I haven't tried it in a few years, but the answer is yes, you can if you like. You can run Linux either in virtualization (using a program like Parallels, et al) or directly by erasing the hard drive (or partitioning it) and installing Linux. As far as I know, it supports ever flavour of Linux (I've only ever used Ubuntu, and wasn't impressed enough to stick with it).
 
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People have been doing it for years. I used to run Yellow Dog linux on my PPC Blue&White.
People run Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat etc.
Even......Windows.
Oh, and it's actually based on BSD, not Unix.
 

vansmith

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Since Linux is based on Unix
It was designed to work like Unix and isn't based on it. ;)

Oh, and it's actually based on BSD, not Unix.
BSD is Unix. ;)

...and that's enough pedantic van today.


One thing to keep an eye out for are Mac specific instructions. For example, here's an Ubuntu doc for MacBook Pros.
 

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Wow, a Thanksgiving rumble to provide pre football entertainment. Texan vs. Canadian. OK gents lets keep things fair. Come out swinging at the sound of the system bong.:D

Van put away the hockey stick.
 

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Wow, a Thanksgiving rumble to provide pre football entertainment. Texan vs. Canadian. OK gents lets keep things fair. Come out swinging at the sound of the system bong.:D

Van put away the hockey stick.

He has had his so called thanksgiving a month ago so he is throwing his Knowledge of Linux at us! :Angry-Tongue:


Happy Thanksgiving anyway Van! Go eat some Poutine! :D
 
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I got my Stetson on, bring on the hockey stick! :)
Happy Thanksgiving all! Pig out on that turkey an stuff. Me, I got roast, Mmmm Mmmm.
Also at work til 1:00 so bah humbug and all that.
 

vansmith

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Hey! Go pick your nits somewhere else! :p
Berkeley Software Distribution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See there where it says "Unix-like"? (walks away flipping a quarter and whistling) :)
OS X:
OS X /ˌoʊ ɛs ˈtɛn/, formerly known as Mac OS X, is a series of Unix-based graphical interface operating systems developed and marketed by Apple Inc.

Apparently, all the BSD variants are Unix-like except for OS X (see here). So, the BSD at the core of OS X is Unix. I'll just take that quarter from you now and start my own whistling. :p

He has had his so called thanksgiving a month ago so he is throwing his Knowledge of Linux at us! :Angry-Tongue:
So called? Pfft, not my fault you're celebrating late. ;)
 
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MacInWin

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Somebody make a video! Stetsons, hockey sticks, turkey and Poutine! What a visual spectacle that will make!
 
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honestly you can install linux the question is are you going to keep mac os x as well if so you will constantly get a error that the linux partition cannot be read by mac os x do you want to ignore or erase this is the only problem with running linux
 

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Somebody make a video! Stetsons, hockey sticks, turkey and Poutine! What a visual spectacle that will make!

ROTFL If we're taking bets my money is on the Texan. Probably got something a little stronger than a hockey stick under that Stetson. :D

BTW Craig since I'm getting the big head that Stetson probably wouldn't fit would it? :D
 
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BTW Craig since I'm getting the big head that Stetson probably wouldn't fit would it? :D
Do you know how big ten gallons is? Course you might punch the crease out a lil bit...:Smirk:
 

vansmith

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ROTFL If we're taking bets my money is on the Texan. Probably got something a little stronger than a hockey stick under that Stetson. :D
You do know that, despite our peaceful demeanour (very much a stereotype - there are quite a few jerks from St. John's to Victoria), we live and breathe one of the most violent sports? You don't want an angry Canadian. ;)

But yes, back to the question. Underneath it all, a Mac is mostly commodity hardware with some proprietary bits thrown in. Thus, the need to find instructions to account for the minor nuances that might complicate things.

Is there a particular distro that you prefer?
 
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we live and breath one of the most violent
breath? I think you meant breathe. Gonna make a redneck outta you yet.

OP, your best bet will probably be Ubuntu.
 

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Indeed I did mean breathe. But, for the sake of not admitting fault, I absolutely meant breath. ;)
 
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I haven't tried it in a few years, but the answer is yes, you can if you like. You can run Linux either in virtualization (using a program like Parallels, et al) or directly by erasing the hard drive (or partitioning it) and installing Linux. As far as I know, it supports every flavour of Linux (I've only ever used Ubuntu, and wasn't impressed enough to stick with it).

OK, I have another question. One can build a PC & install Linux directly on it. Apparently, one can also install Linux directly on a Mac. I've seen YouTube videos about building a Hackintosh & installing OS X on it. Isn't that a violation of the license agreement that one clicks "Agree" on when installing OS X?
 
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And that is the reason you wont find any threads, posts, conversations about it on these forums.
 

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