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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: hbarcellos on December 09, 2008, 07:45:29 PM

Title: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 09, 2008, 07:45:29 PM: Just found this on the net:

"OS X aside, the EFiX is definitely not an OS X install device. It’s designed to allow easily installation of almost any operating system. From legacy BIOS operating systems like Windows XP to EFI-based setups like Leopard, the EFiX module handles them all. The process is seamless and non-intrusive. This means there’s no emulation layer of any kind, and the host operating system interacts with your hardware directly."

Don't have a clue about how exactly that works, but maybe something similar with U-Boot on it could be used on PPC macs to allow installation of Amiga OS4 and/or MorphOS.

*PS* I know MorphOS MacMini port is ongoing! :D
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: bloodline on December 09, 2008, 07:48:34 PM: Quote

hbarcellos wrote:
Just found this on the net:

"OS X aside, the EFiX is definitely not an OS X install device. It’s designed to allow easily installation of almost any operating system. From legacy BIOS operating systems like Windows XP to EFI-based setups like Leopard, the EFiX module handles them all. The process is seamless and non-intrusive. This means there’s no emulation layer of any kind, and the host operating system interacts with your hardware directly."

Don't have a clue about how exactly that works, but maybe something similar with U-Boot on it could be used on PPC macs to allow installation of Amiga OS4 and/or MorphOS.

*PS* I know MorphOS MacMini port is ongoing! :D

Keywords: BIOS, EFI, WindowsXP, Leopard... this is x86 :-)
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 09, 2008, 07:52:46 PM: I know what Efi-X is for...
But, the idea is: It's maybe possible to create a "DAS U-Boot" USB device to allow installation of OS4 for example on a PPC Mac G4, like the mac mini..
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: sbeehre on December 09, 2008, 07:53:14 PM: yes but doesnt he just mean developing something along the same lines? obviously efix is not intended to be able to boot amiga os on mac hardware.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Golem!dk on December 09, 2008, 07:54:41 PM: Ok, be sure to keep us updated on your progress.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 09, 2008, 07:59:41 PM: I'm accepting orders:

U$ 800 (special offer for pre-orders)

Here's my PayPal ID:

oieuwoiewquewqo@aksjdkdasj.com

*PS* Can't we have a theoretical/hypothetical discussion anymore?
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Piru on December 09, 2008, 08:27:40 PM: @hbarcellos
Quote
maybe something similar with U-Boot on it could be used on PPC macs to allow installation of Amiga OS4

This doesn't magically give the required drivers, so no.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Trev on December 09, 2008, 09:04:57 PM: Another crazy idea: a Mac OS 9 compatibility layer to allow use of the drivers that may or may not have been embedded in the firmware of some Mac hardware.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 10, 2008, 12:50:04 PM: That Efi-X device looks like a bootable pen-drive.
Open firmware can boot through USB?
So, open firmware would boot to the Pen Drive, Pen drive would load DAS U-Boot that could be used to load OS4... maybe.

DAS U-Boot could even be based on one of the SAM440 firmware updates...

Am I getting close? :)
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Golem!dk on December 10, 2008, 12:53:02 PM: I don't think open firmware will boot from usb (not that it really matters) and you'd still need drivers. I think you still have some way to go.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 10, 2008, 12:54:27 PM: Drivers = Second part of the quest!

MacMini, for example is partially supported...
Title: /
Post by: Lorraine on December 10, 2008, 12:58:11 PM: /
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 10, 2008, 01:09:19 PM: Hardware (proc, video,...) is partially supported

MOANA code would not be needed on this case, because the original U-Boot loader would be used.

And again, this is hypothetical discussion...
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Piru on December 10, 2008, 01:23:43 PM: @hbarcellos
Let me try again.

Spoofing U-boot isn't enough to get the OS running. The firmware is basically used for two things:

1. load the boot image off some media and launch it.
2. provide services to query the hw device tree (well at least this is how it works with OF).

Providing these is not enough to get some OS running on some alien HW.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 10, 2008, 05:30:13 PM: define alien hw.

Im not suggesting it could be used to run aos 4 on a sun sparc or x86.

what about mac mini?

Moana should be something similar with my proposal. as far as I know complains related to it were because ppl could not eject the moana cd... using the moana, btw, on an usb pen drive could maybe solve that...

For mac mini its probably possible, altough illegal to create this efi-x like solution... From SCRATCH not using stolen code...
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Piru on December 10, 2008, 05:37:06 PM: @hbarcellos
Quote
what about mac mini?

No

The OS must support the specific HW or it will not work.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: hbarcellos on December 10, 2008, 11:54:39 PM: Fact: Moana does not add new "drivers" to OS4.

Conclusion: Mac Mini HW is supported by OS4 (at least enough to boot to the desktop with basic functions), and of course, not officially.
Title: Re: EFiX and Other Operating Systems
Post by: Golem!dk on December 11, 2008, 12:08:34 AM: Fact? You might want to check that again.... see if you reach another conclusion.