Linux is running on APPLE TV

kernelbit · 04-01-2007, 06:23 PM

Hello guys,

I've got the linux kernel booting on my Apple TV. It was not easy, but after reading over the information on how they got it workin on the mac mini, I was finally able to figure out how to make it work on the ATV also.

There are sevral changes that need to be made to the lilo bootloader just to get it to boot the kernel. It does not boot fully into linux yet, but it gets pretty far before giving a kernel panic. There are still a lot of drivers missing that will need to be compiled in to get it to boot up all the way, but this is a start.

I will write up a full tutorial on how I got it working later, then hopefully others will get involved and we can create a special distro for the Apple TV.

-kb

kad77 · 04-01-2007, 10:41 PM

I've heard a few claims this week to that effect, and sincerely hope you are not making a "drive-by" claim like others have!

We've done extensive work documenting information necessary for modifying elilo on the linux page at the awkwardTV wiki: http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/Linux_on_Apple_TV

Please join in, and document your steps there for everyone to benefit. We've also posted links to linux build environments that people can use, as well as existing distributions that are primarily Media OS environments (GeexBox, etc).

Feel free to add a whole new section. ;-)

boske · 04-02-2007, 10:13 AM

kb,

please expand your knowledge of putting Linux on the Apple TV. Obvious you posted this on the first of april so I am kind of skeptical.

We look forward to your response and replies.

cyphilxpop · 04-03-2007, 04:06 PM

kb,

Any updates on this?

LiquidIce_ATV · 04-07-2007, 10:50 AM

Looks like someone has it working now:
http://www.mactel-linux.org/wiki/AppleTV

kluyter · 04-11-2007, 10:13 AM

Found some screenshots:

http://www.tuaw.com/photos/linux-on-appletv/

evox · 04-20-2007, 12:19 PM

Latest Update from IRC:

Quote:

[2007-04-19 22:07:01] <rcfa> My linux distribution (Trixbox/CentOS) is now mostly booting, i.e. it gets through large parts of the boot incl. launching mySQL, etc. but then bombs with a "Bad EIP value" error. The stack trace, as far as I can see it, contains calls that seem to be related to interrupts and the real time clock (RTC) and timer or something and EFI. I tried a variety of kernel config permutation that disable EFI, RTC, HPET, but so far I haven't figured it out yet.

evox · 04-20-2007, 12:19 PM

Also, a precompiled mach_kernel binary can be obtained from:
http://spam.workaround.ch/atv/mach_kernel
and modules:
http://spam.workaround.ch/atv/2.6.20...tv.modules.tgz

This linux 2.6.20.6 kernel was compiled on a Slackware 11.0 system. The kernel has built-in ext3 support. For more information on the kernel and instruction on how to use this kernel to build your own linux distro visit:
http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/Linux_on_Apple_TV
http://www.mactel-linux.org/wiki/AppleTV

04-01-2007, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
kernelbit Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1	Linux is running on APPLE TV Hello guys, I've got the linux kernel booting on my Apple TV. It was not easy, but after reading over the information on how they got it workin on the mac mini, I was finally able to figure out how to make it work on the ATV also. There are sevral changes that need to be made to the lilo bootloader just to get it to boot the kernel. It does not boot fully into linux yet, but it gets pretty far before giving a kernel panic. There are still a lot of drivers missing that will need to be compiled in to get it to boot up all the way, but this is a start. I will write up a full tutorial on how I got it working later, then hopefully others will get involved and we can create a special distro for the Apple TV. -kb

04-01-2007, 10:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
kad77 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1	Trust through verification I've heard a few claims this week to that effect, and sincerely hope you are not making a "drive-by" claim like others have! We've done extensive work documenting information necessary for modifying elilo on the linux page at the awkwardTV wiki: http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/Linux_on_Apple_TV Please join in, and document your steps there for everyone to benefit. We've also posted links to linux build environments that people can use, as well as existing distributions that are primarily Media OS environments (GeexBox, etc). Feel free to add a whole new section. ;-) Last edited by kad77 : 04-02-2007 at 12:16 AM.

04-03-2007, 04:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
cyphilxpop Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7	kb, Any updates on this? __________________ AppleTV media.

04-07-2007, 10:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
LiquidIce_ATV Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 26	Looks like someone has it working now: http://www.mactel-linux.org/wiki/AppleTV __________________ -LiquidIce LiquidIce's Apple TV Hacks http://appletvhacks.blogspot.com

04-11-2007, 10:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
kluyter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2	Gentoo Installed - Apple TV Found some screenshots: http://www.tuaw.com/photos/linux-on-appletv/

04-02-2007, 10:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
boske Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 112	kb, please expand your knowledge of putting Linux on the Apple TV. Obvious you posted this on the first of april so I am kind of skeptical. We look forward to your response and replies.

04-20-2007, 12:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
evox Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 61	Also, a precompiled mach_kernel binary can be obtained from: http://spam.workaround.ch/atv/mach_kernel and modules: http://spam.workaround.ch/atv/2.6.20...tv.modules.tgz This linux 2.6.20.6 kernel was compiled on a Slackware 11.0 system. The kernel has built-in ext3 support. For more information on the kernel and instruction on how to use this kernel to build your own linux distro visit: http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/Linux_on_Apple_TV http://www.mactel-linux.org/wiki/AppleTV

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