
The road from basic kernel support to fully working desktop experience is a long one, but thanks to the efforts of some dedicated and skilled programmers, Linux on Apple Silicon is fast becoming a reality. These control all aspects of normal functionality: USB support, audio, power management, the ability to control CPU scaling, and more.
#HOW TO INSTALL LINUX ON MAC MINI DRIVERS#
Getting the kernel working was an important early first step, but there are many more drivers that are needed to add support for the various controllers and chips that power Apple Silicon machines. In future revisions or firmware updates, they still could. Apple blocks unsigned kernels from running on iPhone and iPad, and the company could have chosen to do the same on the Mac too. This is significantly different from how Apple tightly controls its smartphones and tablets. The bootloader that runs before the kernel can load unsigned kernels, which was a pleasant surprise to many once the M1 chip made its debut. This means that Apple has chosen not to lock the hardware to a specific type of software. Unsigned kernels are those that are not overseen by Apple. It’s always there in the background, controlling how hardware and software communicate with one another. The kernel is a central component of an operating system. The good news is that Apple hasn’t blocked unsigned kernels from booting on Apple Silicon. There are already Linux distributions that are built for “true” ARM-based processors, but Apple Silicon is a different beast that requires a new approach. They underpin many of the advancements Apple has managed to squeeze into its latest Mac models, but this poses an issue for Linux support. In true Apple fashion, these differences are proprietary and heavily guarded.
