Linux on a MAC?
2007-12-25 11:42:00
This is the summary regarding running x-windows from a MAC to a SUN...
FREE PRODUCT:
Mklinux is available on macs with the nu-bus architecture (powermacs) and
not the later PCI powermacs. Judging from the mailing lists mklinux is not
too stable on those either. The site is: http://mklinux.apple.com
OTHER X-windowing products ( these cost!) include:
macx
eXodus
X-ten
Xoftware
NOTE: For ac.uk site managers, a CHEST agreement is forthcoming for
X-ware: X-Ten / eXodus
I have included the responses received below...
Sajjad Ahmed
Sys. Admin.
------------------------------
From: Nicholas R LeRoy <nleroy@norland.com>
I haven't tried it, but look into the MkLinux project (Linux on Power Mac's).
(www.mklinux.apple.com).
-------------------------------------
From: Alex Finkel <afinkel@pfn.com>
I have not done this, and since MkLinux is still lacking PCI support, I
can't run it on my 7200. I have used Linux on PCs and it should work well,
but MkLinux is still beta.
You might want to look into eXodus from White Pine. http://www.wpine.com/
It is an excellent X server for Macintosh, PowerPC native and good performance.
It will run just under $300 USD for single copies. If you have ever used
Hummingbird's eXceed for Windows, it is comparable. Can run in single
window (rooted) mode or rootless using the Mac window manager or a neat
implementation of Motif mwm. You have the advantage of having the Mac OS
available at the same time.
From: Herbert Wengatz <hwe@uebemc.siemens.de>
As far as I know, there exists a "Linux-Personality" for the Mach-Kernel, which
is running on Macs. - I haven't worked with that yet, so I assume, it will
work.
But I assume also, that any X11-Emulation on a Mac will be better in that
case. :-(
------------------------------
From: Bill Reed <reedwv@stp.xfi.bp.com>
Not using linux but Exceed or MacX
From: Dan Pritts <danno@fv.com>
you mean using MkLinux on the powermac?
My understanding is that there is no x server for that platform.
I may be wrong, though...
------------------------------
From: Roberts, Mike <cmrobert@tva.gov>
Hello,
I'm forwarding you the same answer I sent to Colin Wynne on his question
about the Linux PC. I didn't know that Linux had been ported to the Mac
but if it has, I would hope that XFree86 has been also. In native Mac,
Apple does have a very good X server/emulator called MacX that seems to
be the equal of the PC products I mentioned.
>----------
>From: Roberts, Mike
>
>First of all, if the Linux PC also has XFree86 loaded and running, you don't
>need the X terminal software. You can issue remote shell commands (rsh or
>remsh) to start applications on the UNIX server and display back to the X
>session on your PC. This is the same as if you were running on a Sun or HP
>UNIX desktop or from an X terminal connected to one server and wanted to run
>an application from another server. There are lots of good X server products
>on the market for the Windows, Win95, and NT operating systems (we use
>Hummingbird's eXceed but NCD, FTP, and several others have good products). I
>don't know of any for Linux because XFree86 pretty well makes it unnecessary.
------------------------------
From: Kevin Davidson <tkld@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
We don't run Linux. I don't think the mac port is really stable
enough yet, and in any case does not support the video cards we have
in any of our 6100s (PCI macs are not yet supported).
We *do* run X on all our macs, though. We have MacX - a Claris
product, bought in from AGE Inc. It's X11r5 and works with our 3
button mice (Logitech MouseMan, now discontinued :-( ). It's slow, but
it's PPC nativen and works on all macs, including Open Transport 1.1
or greater.
I cannot recommend MacX. The current developers also sell a slightly
better version as Xoftware (see www.age.com or
www.netmanage.com). There's a demo version you can download.
I've heard that eXodus is streets ahead of either of these versions,
and there's also a product called X Ten that is claimed to be 2.5
times faster again and supports local Motif or Open Look window
managers.
As you're at a UK university, you should know that there is soon to
be a CHEST agreement covering X servers for Macs. It's likely to
include eXodus, and may include X Ten as well.
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