Re: 64-bit Linux on Mac with 32-bit EFI firmware?

On Nov 3, 2011, at 12:20 AM, Sergio Trejo wrote:
> 
> Chris,
> 
> Would any of the above be applicable if I wanted to boot Ubuntu Server (I am fine without a desktop GUI)? My first preference is Ubuntu given the time I've already invested in learning it, but if push comes to shove I'll toggle over to CentOS.
> 
> Thanks for the great tips!

CentOS is nice in that it's basically unbadged Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the goal being binary for binary compatibility.

While each distro's kernel is a derivative of linux, the boot process is virtually identical with all of them. So the original suggestion should be easily adaptable for Ubuntu Server although I haven't actually tried it. The handoffs from EFI to grub-efi to kernel to initrd/initramfs to file system mounting will be the same. Ubuntu may have already gone to Grub2-EFI whereas RedHat is on their own modified Grub Legacy. And if you haven't experienced much of grub, the two grubs are really different. Grub2 is a ground up rewrite. But you could convert a CentOS system from Grub Legacy EFI to Grub2-EFI without much difficulty. (I say that now after having experienced much difficulty - mostly due to attitude as a result of assuming Grub2 was related to Grub "1" but it really isn't, it's different altogether.

Of course you're going to be used to a different package manager, different system services manager, etc. So I can understand why you'd rather stick with Ubuntu Server rather than learn new stuff.


Chris