Apple Computer Inc has teamed up with the Open Software Foundation to put the Linux Unixalike operating system up on the Power Macintosh. The implementation of the freely available Unix variant is being based on the Mach 3.0 microkernel, and the duo expects to have a finished version ready next quarter. Initially it will run on the older NuBus-based Power Macintoshes; the 6100, 7100, 8100, with the 7200, 7500, 8500 and 9500 models following. The work was announced last week at the Conference on Freely Redistributable Software in Cambridge Massachusetts. Apple says it showed an early prototype, but no information was available on progress. The announcement has been welcomed by the Linux community, but with some confusion – Apple has hitherto appeared indifferent to freelance efforts to get Linux running on its machines. Apple and the Software Foundation say their work will be made available under the standard GNU general public license; in other words the source code will be available for people to use and tinker with. Unlike Tenon Intersystems Inc’s commercial Mach Ten Unix, Linux will not enable concurrent use of Mac and Unix applications – once Linux is running, the user will have to re-boot to get back into the Mac OS. As with most Linux releases, the first version will only have a sparse set of drivers. There will be no AppleTalk stack; just TCP/IP over Ethernet. It will include X11.6 X Window, however. The GNU development suite will be included – GCC, Emacs and so forth. The effort marks the first time that Linux will be hosted on the Mach micro kernel and the Software Foundation is undertaking a parallel effort to convert the Mach-Linux combination for iAPX-86 machines. Mach is important not only in terms of Linux, but also for the way that it could ease the development of other operating system ‘personalities’ for the PowerPC processor. A FreeBSD Unix variant should be achievable, for example, and those with a perverse streak will remember that OS/2 for the PowerPC is based on the same Open Software Foundation work. OS/2 for the Mac anyone? Currently, the work is specific to the Power Macintosh, but Apple says it will be extended later to the PowerPC Platform. Certainly the results of the work could be useful to other teams currently striving to put Linux up on machines to the discredited PowerPC Reference Platform and on Be Inc’s Bebox. In the short term, however, Apple is targeting the academic community, which will no doubt greet the news with a sigh of relief. The company says it expects the source code implementation will help foster new research and education uses for Power Macintosh. Indeed it should, but it could also help Apple’s position in the burgeoning World Wide Web market. The company says explicitly that the new operating system will enable Power Macs to act as domain name and Point-to-Point Protocol servers.
