[Hardware List] Apple/OSX EFI & Kali Linux

[g0tmi1k]

Since the release of 1.0.8, Kali now supports EFI (http://www.kali.org/news/kali-1-0-8-released-uefi-boot-support/).
Single boot guide: http://docs.kali.org/installation/kali-linux-hard-disk-install-on-mac
Dual boot guide: http://docs.kali.org/installation/kali-linux-dual-boot-on-mac-hardware


Below is a list of reported Apple hardware which it is compatible with.

Please only post detailed results/status on using Kali Linux.
All posts asking for support will be removed (you need to create a new thread).



You need to select the 'Windows' partition, not EFI.



MacBook Pro
Model: Mid 2009
Booting: USB - No
Booting: DVD - Yes
Known issues:
* For WiFi support during install - use "Live Mode" (b43/ucode16_mimo.fw is missing via text/graphic install)
* No trackpad support via graphic install.


MacBook Pro
Model: Mid 2012
Booting: USB - No
Booting: DVD - Yes
Known issues:
* For WiFi support during install - use "Live Mode" (b43/ucode29_mimo.fw is missing via text/graphic install)
* No trackpad support via graphic install.


MacBook Pro Retina
Model: Early 2013
Booting: USB - Yes
Known issues:
* For WiFi support during install - use "Live Mode" (b43/ucode29_mimo.fw is missing via text/graphic install)
* No trackpad support via graphic install.



MacBook Air
Model: Mid 2012
Booting: USB - Yes
Known issues:
* None


MacBook Air
Model: Mid 2013
Booting: USB - Yes
Known issues:
* No WiFi support

[samiux]

The wifi problem of MacBook Air (Mid 2013) can be overcome by installing the suitable driver.

Here is my solution (although it is for the Kali Linux 1.0.6, but it still work) :

http://samiux.blogspot.mx/2014/02/howto-kali-linux-106-on-macbook-air-mid.html

Enjoy!

[roadrunnerTX]

This article on the forum is most useful in getting a dual boot of Kali on MacBook Pro 5.5 (mid 2009). I have successfully installed 1.0.8 using that as a guide.
I did intstall rEFInd and Step 6. can be replaced with using GParted to create the partition instead (less room for error that way).
Step 7. says to skip installing grub - which I did not find possible under 1.0.8, so I left the field blank and continued. In the end that worked fine.
After the install -- and before a reboot -- I found that my / partition contained a boot directory. I copied the devices.map over to the 'kaliefi' partition created in Step 6. and modified the grub.cfg.
My setup is: /dev/sda1 = efi partition, /dev/sda2 = OSX partition. /dev/sda3 = 'kaliefi' partition, /dev/sda4 = root and /dev/sda5 = /home.
I also wound up needing to add 'xdriver=nvidia' to the execution statement.

Therefore, my grub.cfg looks like this:


# Config file for GRUB2 - The GNU GRand Unified Bootloader
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg

# DEVICE NAME CONVERSIONS
#
# Linux Grub
# -------------------------
# /dev/fd0 (fd0)
# /dev/sda (hd0)
# /dev/sda1 (hd0,1)
# /dev/sda2 (hd0,2)
# /dev/sda3 (hd0,3)
# /dev/sda4 (hd0,4)
# /dev/sda5 (hd0,5)
# /dev/sda6 (hd0,6)
# /dev/sdb1 (hd1,1)
# /dev/sdb2 (hd1,2)
#
# root=UUID=xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx persistent

set menu_color_normal=white/blue
set menu_color_highlight=black/white

function load_video {
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
insmod all_video
}

load_video
set gfxpayload=keep

# Timeout for menu
set timeout=5

set default="1"
set timeout=30

set menu_color_normal=white/blue
set menu_color_highlight=blue/white

function load_video {
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
insmod all_video
}

load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2

menuentry "Kali Linux" --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
set root='(hd0,gpt4)'
search --fs-uuid --no-floppy --set=root fa53e71c-adc5-4db1-a782-f6f91cff74ca
echo 'Loading Kali Linux...'
linuxefi /boot/vmlinuz-3.14-kali1-amd64 root=UUID=fa53e71c-adc5-4db1-a782-f6f91cff74ca xdriver=nvidia ro quiet
initrdefi /boot/initrd.img-3.14-kali1-amd64
}


Now that I have a good working installation, I will add more menu entries to it.
But, with the caveats I have indicated here, that article will work on a MacBook Pro 5.5 (mid 2009) running Kali 1.0.8 off of the DVD.

The article referenced is:
https://forums.kali.org/showthread.php?19261-EFI-Install-Kali-Linux-w-o-USB-stick-or-network-access-MacBook-Pro-%28Dual-Boot%29&highlight=EFI-Install+Kali

RoadRunnerTX

[Toontje]

I have Kali running on a early 2006 Mac Mini 1,1
Boot from USB using old version of rEFIt. Later versions don't boot.
Ethernet and Wifi working.

[niemtin259]

thank for share 1!!!!!

[Nitchell]

MacBook Pro (8.2) - Dual boot using manual partitioning
Model: Early 2011
Booting: USB - Yes - create bootable USB with program 'rufus' on windows. Using the mac 'dd' command didn't work.
Booting: DVD - (not tested)
Known issues:
* Possible issues with graphics card drivers missing - could mean GNOME doesn't load. Try complete re-install
* Partial trackpad support - movement, scrolling (hor & vert), and hard-click all work. Multiple fingers and touch-to-click not working.

[bob454522]

I have Kali running on a early 2006 Mac Mini 1,1
Boot from USB using old version of rEFIt. Later versions don't boot.
Ethernet and Wifi working.

WOW!! what version of rEFit if you dont mind sharing please? (and rEFit , not rEFinD right?)

I have tried for days to get either kali 2.0 or 1.1 running on a old 13" black MacBook (the Intel core 2 duo ones from ~2007 with the annoying 32-bit efi ). Ive tried refit .14 , refinD 0.90, 0.87 and 0.83 all with no success on any version of kali.

thanks alot

[Miglosh]

It actually does boot also on my MacBook Pro Mid 2009 :-)

After installing the current Version of reFind from Mavericks, it just works perfectly fine!!! Cheers!!!

[JackFuckery]

WOW!! what version of rEFit if you dont mind sharing please? (and rEFit , not rEFinD right?)

I have tried for days to get either kali 2.0 or 1.1 running on a old 13" black MacBook (the Intel core 2 duo ones from ~2007 with the annoying 32-bit efi ). Ive tried refit .14 , refinD 0.90, 0.87 and 0.83 all with no success on any version of kali.

thanks alot

Hi bob, Did you ever get Kali running on a black macbook? would love to do the same...

[Gh0sT.sh]

Hi bob, Did you ever get Kali running on a black macbook? would love to do the same...

Black Mack book ? Seriously ?

[mach]

MacBook Pro 12,1
Model: Retina 13" early 2015 12
Booting: Live on USB with Mac Linux Usb Loader - Yes, all working
Booting: MacOsx Boot loader : No
Booting: Refind : Not directly, need to configure files before install but after it's working
*Known issue : files have to be configured manually to install, sound not work great with earing for me.

Should be added to the top post of this discussion.

[Le_Spirit]

Am installing the latest, (2016.2) as of today, version on a macmini 2,1, trying to have a triple boot on it. Lion and Win 7 are installed, via Bootcamp. Had the dreaded EFI32 related problem, kept getting the "Select CD-ROM Boot Type" dialog, with no possibility to type anything. Did a lot of trial and research, burned a nice pile of unusable dvd's from both the 32 and 64bit official versions, until I found a pretty straightforward method in this post (https://mattgadient.com/2016/07/11/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/). The resulting iso was recognised at startup while holding the "alt" key, (as a windows disk), and is running the installer as I type. In short:

• Download "kali-linux-2016.2-amd64.iso"
• create a folder on your desktop (e.g. "Kali_bootable")
• copy the above ISO in the newly created folder

Convert the ISO
This is done via a very simple C program.

First, start TextEdit, copy / paste the below code and save it in "Kali_bootable", as isomacprog.c (it will end with a .txt extension, erase it once it has been saved).


#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

//static char *iso_name = {"mac.iso"};
//cc -g -Wall isomacprog.c -o isomacprog

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
int fd, ret;
unsigned char buf[2048 - 64];
off_t lba;
size_t buf_size = 2048 - 64;

if (argc < 2) {
fprintf(stderr, "No iso name assigned\n");
exit(1);
}

char *iso_name = argv[1];

fd = open(iso_name, O_RDWR);
if (fd == -1)
goto err_ex;
if (lseek(fd, (off_t) 32768 + 2048 + 71, SEEK_SET) == -1)
goto err_ex;
ret = read(fd, buf, 4);
if (ret == -1)
goto err_ex;
if (ret < 4) {
fprintf(stderr, "Cannot read 4 bytes from %s\n", iso_name);
exit(1);
}
lba = buf[0] | (buf[1] << 8) | (buf[2] << 16) | (buf[3] << 24);
if (lseek(fd, lba * 2048 + 64, SEEK_SET) == -1)
goto err_ex;
memset(buf, 0, buf_size);
ret = write(fd, buf, buf_size);
if (ret == -1)
goto err_ex;
if (ret < buf_size) {
fprintf(stderr, "Cannot write %d bytes to %s\n", (int) buf_size, iso_name);
exit(1);
}
close(fd);
printf("done\n");
exit(0);
err_ex:;
perror(iso_name);
exit(1);
}


Now we'll have to compile it in order to create an executable. Open the Terminal (HD -> Applications -> Utilities) and type


cc -g -Wall /Users/yourusername/Desktop/Kali_bootable/isomacprog.c -o /Users/yourusername/Desktop/Kali_bootable/isomacprog
• do not forget to correct the pathes to your real user folder (replace "yourusername" by the real one, e.g. "steve"
• you can drag and drop the "isomacprog.c" file in the Terminal from the "Kali_bootable" folder previously created on your Desktop
• the executable output file to be created "isomacprog" can be named the same way, just remove the .c ending

You should end with a new executable file named "isomacprog" in the "Kali_bootable" folder.

After that, make a COPY of the original ISO


cp /Users/yourusername/Desktop/Kali_bootable/kali-linux-2016.2-amd64.iso /Users/yourusername/Desktop/Kali_bootable/kali-linux-2016.2-amd64_oldmacversion.iso
• you can drag and drop the "kali-linux-2016.2-amd64.iso" file in the Terminal from the "Kali_bootable" folder previously created on your Desktop
• you can drag and drop the "kali-linux-2016.2-amd64.iso" file in the Terminal from the "Kali_bootable" folder previously created on your Desktop and just modify it's name (add for ex. "_oldmacversion") for the output file

A new .ISO named "kali-linux-2016.2-amd64_oldmacversion.iso" should then appear in the "Kali_bootable" folder on your destop

Then modify it into a bootable under EFI32 version


/Users/yourusername/Desktop/Kali_bootable/isomacprog /Users/yourusername/Desktop/Kali_bootable/kali-linux-2016.2-amd64_oldmacversion.iso

You now can proceed with burning the new and modified .ISO named "kali-linux-2016.2-amd64_oldmacversion.iso"

It should appear as a windows disk after holding the "alt" key at startup on a mac with 32bit EFI and run normally, allowing you to use it as a live cd or proceed with the installation.

In the hope it helps :-)

[joker5bb]

Kali 2020.1b on MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) is supported out the box.

03:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Limited BCM4360 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter (rev 03)

You just need to install broadcom wireless driver

apt install broadcom-sta-dkms

[minousoso]

?? do not forget to correct the pathes to your real user folder (replace "yourusername" by the real one, e.g. "steve"
??? you can drag and drop the "isomacprog.c" file in the Terminal from the "Kali_bootable" folder previously created on your Desktop
??? the executable output file to be created "isomacprog" can be named the same way, just remove the .c ending
Kodi (https://kodi.software/) Lucky Patcher (https://luckypatcher.cam/) nox (https://nox.tips/)

[minousoso]

should appear as a windows disk after holding the "alt" key at startup on a mac with 32bit EFI and run normally, allowing Kodi (https://kodi.software/) Lucky Patcher (https://luckypatcher.cam/) nox (https://nox.tips/)

[kordolian]

Kali 2021.3 - from Live USB to MacMini mid 2007 (one of a few old mac machines I keep for fun). Separate partition made in Mac OSX 10.6
USB boot, Graphical install - all OK (takes some time)
Fresh boot - is a bit challenging, sometimes OSX sometimes GRUB - finally decided to go for rEFInd 0.13.2 boot cd
Works pretty well on standard HDD (I could go to SSD but for now is OK) and just 3GB RAM (4GB on mac but it looks it is standard in mid'07 models) - typing this post from mini :-)
Will try (well probably another distro in fact) on Cube with SSD one day :-)

[aaronouthier]

Mac G4 Cube has a Power PC CPU and won't run many versions of Linux. Certainly not anything intended for x86 hardware.
Additionally, the only way to run a "SSD" is with an IDE to Compactflash adapter and a compactflash card. It wouldn't exactly be a true SSD, but flash media is still flash media - it would be close enough. It probably wouldn't be as fast as you might think though.