Linux in MacLand

This is a braindump page for research and thoughts into moving MacLand away from using OSX for testing, and to an (almost) entirely linux-run shop.

Pros

 * Open source kids!

Cons

 * Firmware updates have to be done in OSX, implications for end user (super easy work arounds like keeping an external HDD or flash drive around with OSX)
 * Depending on the Distro committee's verdict, there are numerous known issues with certain new (2011+) MacTel machines

Projects
Partition layout research (getting ready for network pre-seed/installing from TDM) http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4896559#post4896559 [Category:Macintosh|Mac Development]

this guy says it's easier to setup a dual boot than a single boot http://www.noah.org/wiki/Ubuntu_install_on_Apple_Mac_Intel_hardware

reefit explination of what is needed to boot linux in efi environment http://refit.sourceforge.net/myths/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple%E2%80%93Intel_architecture#GUID_Partition_Table why USB booting for linux is tough

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFI_System_partition nothing needs to be installed to the EFI partition, it's just a staging area for firmware stuffs

http://mac.linux.be/content/how-create-ubuntu-live-usb-both-mac-and-pc usb boot flash drive formatting http://studyblast.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/guide-mac-os-x-lion-how-to-boot-a-linux-live-system-from-a-usb-drive-how-to-update-any-ocz-ssds-firmware/