Linux on Apple!!!???

[jacobhb]

You are specifically talking about Yellow Dog:

http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/

I have heard nothing but good things about them. I hope somone who uses it can give us some info on it.

[IRONIC3D]

Yes Jacob, It's Yellow Dog.

I hope some one can have an answer soon :)

Cheers

[ktamiola]

Hi...

Yellow Dog is ok, but if You want to run commercial software You will need many additional packages - rpms with additional libraries and related stuff... The problem starts at this point...
If You buy software dedicated to linux there shouldn't be a problem since almost every company provides their own packages. The trick is their compatibility with PowerPC architecture. Most of them (if we are talking about Linux oriented software for CG) are dedicated for AMD64 or x86. It means in practice You are given packages which are precompiled libriaries and use advantages of x86 or AMD64 procesors. I doubt You can find software that runs under linux and is provided with open source rpms that allow end user to compile them for Your own architecture... Another thing is software itself - You have take into account that it will be also compiled version - a binary file that is translated by compilers and also coded to support futures mainly offered by x86 and AMD64 processors.

I do not want to play mr wise guy, but I have got some experience with scientific software and its PowerPC conversions and it is tricky, especially if we consider Linux PowerPC support. The original OSX packages are definately more stable and run without problems...

Good luck...

Camil

[JDex]

As heresay to other conversations on this topic in the XSI communities, XSI will not run on Yellow Dog. You can search about the XSI communities (xsibase.com, the SI mailing list archive, here at cgtalk etc) for topics that discuss it.

[i601254]

I've used Linux for the past eight years and although that's always been on a x86 architecture, I've never heard anything but good things about Yellow Dog Linux. I can tell you that they've been around for some time so have a lot of Linux/PowerPC experience.

I would suggest doing a Google search for Yellow Dog Linux forums. I'm sure that you'll be able to find more than enough information and help.

Although I am a diehard Linux advocate and would love to see another convert, I am wondering what specific "tools" you're looking for that would justify a dual boot system? Linux has gotten much easier to install and use but, depending on what you're trying to do, it can get rather time consuming and frustrating for the newcomer.

[imashination]

So I had this idea. what if there was a Linux OS on Apple!

OSX *IS* Linux :thumbsup:

[tharrell]

Yellow Dog works rather nicely to give older Macs a boost to run modern software.

However, you won't be able to run most commercial Linux software on it, as most of it is compiled for x86.

The majority of other unix/linux software, will work under Yellow Dog as long as you compile it yourself.

I'm not sure the point, though. Most everything will also compile under OS X, which also has *nix-like foundations, and the majority of pro graphics software is available on the Mac platform without the additional headaches involved with running Linux.

I don't know why anyone would buy a seriously sexy dual G5 and then cut off access to the OS and software base that makes the platform so special. It seems to me, you'd be shooting yourself in the foot.

Yeah, you can do it -- but I really wouldn't recommend it if you're planning on getting any real work done in a reasonable amount of time without a ton of headaches. Particularly if you're not *intimately* familiar with the innermost workings of Linux.

If you're curious about Linux, I'd really recommend borrowing/repurposing an old PC and setting it up as a second workstation. I like SuSe and Mandrake, personally, while Red Hat and Debian aren't to my taste. I keep a dual-boot PC for running Linux apps -- but most of them I can get working inside of XWindows or the terminal under Tiger with a lot less trouble.

[Beamtracer]

OSX *IS* Linux :thumbsup:

Hehehe. If only. Both OS X and Linux are based on UNIX, but different flavors of UNIX. OS X is based on the BSD UNIX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSD_UNIX) kernel.

There are a lot of similarities between Linux and OS X. The file structure is quite similar. If you use the OS X command line ('The Terminal') most of the commands are the same for both OS X and Linux. I like that.

Yellow Dog may be the one to go for, as they have been working on a 64-bit version for the G5, but Yellow Dog isn't the only one. Many flavors of Linux run on new Macs. Also check out Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntulinux.org/).

I don't know why anyone would buy a seriously sexy dual G5 and then cut off access to the OS and software base that makes the platform so special. It seems to me, you'd be shooting yourself in the foot.
That's not correct. If someone has a G5 Mac they bought to use OS X, they are not cutting themselves off from anything if they install Linux on it.

You can have your cake and eat it. Install both Linux and OS X on the same machine. You can do it on a single drive, though the set-up is slightly tricky as the partition regime is a bit complex (you have to set up both Linux and OS X partitions, some of which are invisible to the normal desktop user).

Instead, I'd recommend installing 2 hard drives on the G5. Use one for OS X, the other for Linux. It's much easier to do it this way.

RISC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risc) machines and PowerPC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC) are very much involved in Linux.

[Chaz]

As heresay to other conversations on this topic in the XSI communities, XSI will not run on Yellow Dog.

Well yeah, when has XSI ever run on PowerPC?

[UrbanFuturistic]

Well yeah, when has XSI ever run on PowerPC?

Pretty much never, that's not an OS issue, it won't run on a Mac no matter what OS it's running... Mind, XSI won't run on SuSE 9.2 too well either (File >> Open >> wherethehell'ditgo?), finally got the demo running, got entirely freaked out by the Windows help system popping up in FC3, found out it's £100+VAT more than the Windows version... WTFs with that?

Anyway, there's a whole load of Linux software that runs on OSX with a little help from X11 (http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/x11/), there's a compatability project somewhere the name of which I can't remember but unless you're really in desperate need of running a program that you can't get on OSX then I honestly don't see the point (unless you just find the dominant OS a PITA).

regards, Paul

[JDex]

Well yeah, when has XSI ever run on PowerPC?

I only brought it up because of this in the original poster's statement:

Well I have to say also that the decision to buy an apple also comes from that fact that I want a stable machine that can run Shake, Also I feel that having a solid Editing solution like Final Cut Pro that supports HD out of the box is a big gain. my only problems is with XSI and Houdini :)

Obviously he was/is unaware that Yellow Dog won't help him run XSI on a Mac.

[IRONIC3D]

Well, Good morning to you guys and thanks you all for the replys :D

Ok, the buttom line is, XSI wont be able to run on a mac, sweet.

As for they "Why" most of you has asked me. I use mainly XSI, been using it for some years now proffesionally. I also use Lightwave3D for a decade now and that is available on MAC, but bieng ancient and not updated I havn't touched Layout for years now, only modeler, and that is changing since I baught modo which is available on mac also. As for houdini, We're seriously thinking about incroporating it in the production PipeLine, I'm trying actually, just have to find some time to learn the Apperantice eddition with all this work, I have a minor experience with Houdini when it was in Ver4, and It does provide a great tools for Vidual Effects.

Now the Apple will be for personnel use at home, I do R&D in my spare time, teasting and learning most of the time. So buying it would cut me off from XSI and Houdini for good. other than that every other choice is out there on Apple. True I would have to trade XSI for Maya, but the rest is the same, but that's how much I'm pissed off from PCs and I'm willing to give it a go. Where I work now (The country) the PC market has what I call a shitty support. they know nothing about what they're seeling you. I used to fix Pc and assemble them, but I don't have the stomech now for it, nor the time since I'm in charge of the 3D department and I need to be focused so I'll be able to leave at 2 in the morning instead of 6 in the morning :D so yelling at the PC dude every hour of the day is pointless, home is supposed to be a safe haven so I'm buying a mac, screw Microsoft and Avid.

Anyway, thanks again guys for your reply.

Cheers

I3D

[Sieb]

Hehehe. If only. Both OS X and Linux are based on UNIX, but different flavors of UNIX. OS X is based on the BSD UNIX kernel.

OSX Uses the Mach kernel from NeXT (built of BSD parts), and uses the FreeBSD subsystem, also known as Darwin (which is OSS).

[Novakog]

I'm not sure, but I think actually recall hearing that Linus Torvalds (creator of Linux, in an arguable way) actually runs a Linux Mac as his main machine, but I could be wrong.

[ktamiola]

hey Novakog....

You aren't wrong... Few months ago I red an article about Linus... He is running powermac g5 (at least he suggested it in the review) and said he would like to build some nice implementation for PowerPC... Even if You had a linux running on Apple You would have to find a software is ready for Linux/PowerPC :) This is a limiting step ... :shrug:

Camil

[lots]

I'm not sure, but I think actually recall hearing that Linus Torvalds (creator of Linux, in an arguable way) actually runs a Linux Mac as his main machine, but I could be wrong.

You're right. And he does it because there are fewer developers on the Mac side of the line. Plus its something different ;)

[Beamtracer]

Anyone with an old model Mac hanging around gathering dust should make it their Linux guinea pig, and give it a new lease of life.

[imashination]

You're right. And he does it because there are fewer developers on the Mac side of the line. Plus its something different ;)

Apple gave him a G5 as a freebie.

[maxx10]

Yes you can run linux on apple hardware... the question would be why... linus thorvald does but he's highly proficient with the enviroment :) so he wouldn't be a good example, most linux commercial apps won't work though (even apple's own shake for linux) ... and as for the open source apps most of them have been ported over (check fink project) due to common grounds, small stuff you can even bring over by yourself or find some native equivalent... bottom line if you want to use linux go x86 or AMD... apple is osx-land

[UrbanFuturistic]

...and as for the open source apps most of them have been ported over (check fink project) due to common grounds...Ah-haaa! I knew it started with an F! Curse my wretched memory :p

regards, Paul

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