Has anybody tried Linux on 68k Macs?

Ariii · Nov 25, 2012, 10:19 PM

Hi! I may acquire a classic Macintosh in the future, and would be interested in putting Linux on it? Has anybody here tried Linux on these Macs, such as this:

http://www.mac.linux-m68k.org/

Also, does it take advantage of CISC?

ChrisA · Nov 25, 2012, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariii

Hi! I may acquire a classic Macintosh in the future, and would be interested in putting Linux on it? Has anybody here tried Linux on these Macs, such as this:

http://www.mac.linux-m68k.org/

Also, does it take advantage of CISC?

"CISC" is a description of a class of CPU architectures. By definition any software that runs on a CISC type CPU "takes advantage of it". More technically speaking, Linux is built using the gcc compiler. Gcc is pretty good and will generate pretty good code on the 68K architecture

I wonder what you are going to do with Linux on such a low-end computer. It will run fine but if it will work for your intended use we can't say.

Ariii · 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisA

"CISC" is a description of a class of CPU architectures. By definition any software that runs on a CISC type CPU "takes advantage of it". More technically speaking, Linux is built using the gcc compiler. Gcc is pretty good and will generate pretty good code on the 68K architecture

I wonder what you are going to do with Linux on such a low-end computer. It will run fine but if it will work for your intended use we can't say.

I'm acquiring a 68k Macintosh, I'm unsure of which model, and I don't have access to system floppies, so I was wondering if it was any better than experimental. I was mostly doing it to learn shell scripting and to use gcc and a couple other things that have to do with Linux.

EDIT: I just got an avatar

!

ChristianJapan · Nov 26, 2012, 04:24 AM

Remind me to Minix ... I run that in the old days on an Atari ST, also M68000. Per-Linux.

MultiFinder17 · Nov 29, 2012, 02:02 PM

I had Debian 2.2 going on my Classic II a few years back. 16MHz 68030, 10MB RAM, 160MB HDD. It was a pretty slow, miserable experience. I remember having to leave it on and going overnight while it was installing. There's no way to boot Linux natively on an Old World ROM Macintosh - you need to start up the Mac OS, then start a loader that hands control over to Linux. It was a blast to do, and I'd totally recommend going for it if you want a good side project! Just don't expect to get the latest Ubuntu release going on it

Anonymous Freak · Nov 30, 2012, 08:58 AM

I had NetBSD on my SE/30 a few years ago. 128 MB RAM, 9 GB hard drive. Took forever to get it loaded on, but ran as a great little server for many years.

Ariii · Dec 1, 2012, 04:35 PM

I found out that the 68k I'm getting is a Macintosh Plus, so I'm limited to Minix, or I might look at this:

http://www.mac.linux-m68k.org/devel/plushw.php

Also, I'm about to get a PowerBook 520c, which will probably be able to run an early version of Debian

.

Nov 25, 2012, 10:19 PM	#1
Ariii macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Chicago	Has anybody tried Linux on 68k Macs? Hi! I may acquire a classic Macintosh in the future, and would be interested in putting Linux on it? Has anybody here tried Linux on these Macs, such as this: http://www.mac.linux-m68k.org/ Also, does it take advantage of CISC? __________________ •Indigo iBook Clamshell, MacOS 9; Lime iBook Clamshell, Panther; MacOS 9 users: Use Classilla \| MacOS 9 Lives I'm on IRC at #macrumors on irc.krono.net Tumblr
	1

Nov 26, 2012, 04:24 AM	#4
ChristianJapan macrumors 68030 Join Date: May 2010 Location: 東京	Remind me to Minix ... I run that in the old days on an Atari ST, also M68000. Per-Linux. __________________ I support the MacRumors Blood Drive!
	0

Nov 29, 2012, 02:02 PM	#5
MultiFinder17 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, Florida	I had Debian 2.2 going on my Classic II a few years back. 16MHz 68030, 10MB RAM, 160MB HDD. It was a pretty slow, miserable experience. I remember having to leave it on and going overnight while it was installing. There's no way to boot Linux natively on an Old World ROM Macintosh - you need to start up the Mac OS, then start a loader that hands control over to Linux. It was a blast to do, and I'd totally recommend going for it if you want a good side project! Just don't expect to get the latest Ubuntu release going on it Attached Thumbnails __________________ 2.5GHz 2011 iMac, 1.8GHz Rev.F MacBook Air, 32GB iPad mini, and 32GB iPhone 5 as my main drivers. "One more thing - You've waited for this, so here's your PowerBook G5!" - Steve Jobs @ WWDC 2014
	1

Nov 30, 2012, 08:58 AM	#6
Anonymous Freak macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR	I had NetBSD on my SE/30 a few years ago. 128 MB RAM, 9 GB hard drive. Took forever to get it loaded on, but ran as a great little server for many years. __________________ 20" Aluminum iMac 7,1 (mid-2007, Santa Rosa,) upgraded to 2.6 GHz Penryn, 6 GB RAM, 1 TB HD, 4 TB total external hard drive
	0

Dec 1, 2012, 04:35 PM	#7
Ariii Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Chicago	I found out that the 68k I'm getting is a Macintosh Plus, so I'm limited to Minix, or I might look at this: http://www.mac.linux-m68k.org/devel/plushw.php Also, I'm about to get a PowerBook 520c, which will probably be able to run an early version of Debian . __________________ •Indigo iBook Clamshell, MacOS 9; Lime iBook Clamshell, Panther; MacOS 9 users: Use Classilla \| MacOS 9 Lives I'm on IRC at #macrumors on irc.krono.net Tumblr
	0

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