[BlueOnyx:05845] Re: BlueOnyx on 2010 model Mac Mini

[Michael Stauber]

Hi Ernie,

> I am trying to install BlueOnlx on the current 2010 version of the Mac Mini
> for a couple of reasons, firstly it is commodity hardware that I can get
> from the local Apple dealer on a Saturday afternoon if I have a server
> blow up, secondly you can fit two of them side by side in a 1RU rack space
> and use far less power than a typical low end 1RU server.
> 
> My progress so far has been halted by the discovery that the current Mac
> Mini needs a linux kernel 2.6.35 or later to be able to detect the internal
> drive controller. Even Centos 6.0 when it comes out will only be 2.6.32 if
> they copy RHEL 6 exactly.

Yeah, I assume that CentOS6 will also have the 2.6.32 kernel.

> It would be good to install BlueOnyx native on the MacMini, but in order
> to do that, somehow I have to boot from a 2.6.35 kernel, install BlueOnyx,
> then replace the BlueOnyx kernel that gets installed witha 2.6.35 kernel.
> 
> Any suggestions how I might go about that?

Phew. This is sort of a "Catch 22" situation.

> Alternately I could install Fedora 14 and see if I can install BlueOnyx
> tarball on top of that. I know the tarball  was written for CentOS 5, but
> would it work on top of a Fedora 14 minimal install?

No, forget it, Ernie. Although I could possibly do it given some time and 
ressources, it would be an effort that's totally out of proportion for a one 
time install on a single box. The 5106R code will not work on Fedora 14. It 
would need to be recompiled from the sources, but even then it will conflict 
with the PHP-5.3 on FC14. The 5107R/5108R sources suiteable for CentOS6 (and 
PHP-5.3!) are still "work in progress" and will not provide you with a working 
box, as there are still some loose ends with some modules (base-email and 
others).


What could be done is this:
===================

One could download the 2.6.35 kernel SRPM for FC14 and could try to recompile 
it on CentOS5. Then one takes the BlueOnyx ISO image apart and replaces the 
CentOS5 kernel on the CD with the recompiled 2.6.35 FC14 kernel. 

Additionally it may be necessary to replace the 1st stage loader of the CD 
with a modified one from the FC14 ISO image, or the installer will be unable 
to access the disks for the installation.

Even then there are some unknown waters:

Will the FC14 2.6.35 kernel compile on CentOS5 w/o to begin with? It could 
require a vast array of updated RPMs that are not present in the desired 
version numbers.

Will your custom CentOS5 will be able to boot and run with the 2.6.35 kernel, 
as there are some architectural changes?

It could be that the FC14 1st stage loader also requires a newer Anaconda 
installer than the one present on our CD. In that case more extensive updates 
would be required to our custom CD.


If someone would borrow or donate me a Mac Mini, I could certainly throw 
something together and it would be a nice exercise and fun project for a 
couple of weekends. But I'm not really inclined to pay 709,- EUR for a (nice 
looking - that's true!) cigar-box with the Apple logo on it, while I could get 
a fully blown and much more powerful desktop server for the same price. 

--

Oh, I just checked the CentOS forums and there could be another way:

See: http://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=10701

Use the latest CentOS5 DVD and install a CentOS5 minimal install as outlined 
in the 1st post on that page. Be sure to set up a separate /home partition as 
well, as BlueOnyx wants one.

Once you have CentOS5 installed and the Mac Mini survived a reboot and still 
has a network connection, then grab the BlueOnyx tarball and install BlueOnyx 
from the tarball.

Maybe that works. But no guarantees.

-- 
With best regards

Michael Stauber