It doesn't check anything over the internet. Per Ars Technica:
"The T2 validates the boot loader, which in turn validates the firmware, which in turn validates the kernel, which in turn validates the drivers."
Wow... that’s way to much checking for my taste.
Sounds like a good way to keep us from extending the machine’s useful life with custom modifications once Apple applies the code to prevent newer OS versions from installing. Likewise with any hardware mods we might find to permit it to run the newer OS once Apple discontinues support.
Speaking as someone with El Capitan running on a 2006 Mac Pro, the described checking on the iMac Pro sounds detrimental to future attempts to extend a computer’s life in the way that we have with the old Mac Pro.
I realize it’s an “iMac” Pro. But it’s price tag puts it beyond disposable. I’ve gotten 12 years of productive use and current software out of my $2500 Mac Pro. I’d want the same from a $5000 iMac Pro.
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I was wondering if my original Macintosh 128k really boots faster from a single-sided DD floppy than my iMac Pro from its fancy dual PCIe RAID storage.
And in fact yes, it does
I guess this is mainly due to the new T2 chip and 2 stage boot process which has to call home every time to check that I am allowed to boot the OS installed on my Mac among other things.
Great to see the old classic running.