[wplug] linux on a Mac Mini without OSX

[John Lewis]

I think this  depends on how deep you want to go with this. I you are
dead set on getting the Mac Mini to work. Keep hacking away at it.

If you just want something comparable to work, you can buy a pogoplug
http://www.amazon.com/Pogoplug-Backup-and-Sharing-Device/dp/B005GM1Q1O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418288923&sr=8-2&keywords=pogoplug

for 15 USD and re-flash it.

On 12/10/2014 11:15 PM, Brian Sammon wrote:
> As a followup, I now have Linux on this.  I tried a few versions of the latest stable release of Debian--one wouldn't boot, two others (seemingly) installed Linux successfully, but the grub they installed didn't boot.
> I tried Ubuntu Trusty amd64 (from a "+mac" installer ISO) and it installed Linux and grub successfully.
> 
> Some details:
> 
> On Thu, 20 Nov 2014 20:30:07 -0500
> Brian Sammon <wplug-list at brisammon.fastmail.fm> wrote:
> 
>> Is it easier if I just install linux to a thumbdrive and boot from USB every
>> time?
> 
> I had absolutely no luck with a thumbdrive.
> 
>>   Checking/upgrading my firmware version
> 
> The Boot CD for rEFInd (http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/) reported a firmware version number, but it was a very different format from the firmware versions on Apple's site.
> For upgrading firmware without MacOSX, the "Firmware Restoration CD" might be the thing: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518
> This was apparently moot for my Mac Mini, as Apple's website doesn't list any available firmware updates for my model.
> 
>>   "Blessing" a partition
> 
> Recent versions of GRUB come with a "grub_macbless" command, but I haven't tested it.
> 
>>   Installing rEFIt or rEFInd
> 
> Both of these provide CD ISOs, but it was unclear how to install from the CD.  Currently the Mac Mini boots directly from Apple's firmware to GRUB-- I'm not sure whether I'll use rEFIt/rEFInd
> 
>> I'm looking into http://www.puredarwin.org/
> 
> I downloaded an ISO, but I haven't burned it yet.  I'm still curious about this, even though I solved my problem without it.
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