Instal on a 2006 1,1 Mac Pro tower?

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 24 Feb 2017 16:01

Have been playing with an old Mac Pro, a 2006 MP tower machine model 1,1
have used
a tool to allow re flashing as at later 2,1 which allows 64 bit OS as the early Mac Pro's although 64bit hardware seem to be limited to 32 bit OS

System Spec as pulled from the NAS4Free Status page after successful install on HDD of Shigwire

Hostname nas4free.local
Version 9.2.0.1 - Shigawire (revision 972)
Build date Mon Apr 28 02:43:01 CEST 2014
Platform OS FreeBSD 9.2-RELEASE-p4 (kern.osreldate: 902001)
Platform x64-embedded on Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU 5150 @ 2.66GHz
System Apple Inc. Mac-F4208DC8
System bios Apple Computer, Inc. version: MP21.88Z.007F.B06.0707021348 07/02/07

Anyone able to help on how to get NAS4Free 11 installed?

Can get 9.2 and 10.2 32 bit..and 9.3 x64 to instal from Live CD and boot from HDD

but x32 versions later than 10.2 won't install.

10.3.0.3 works if I upgrade from NAS4Free-x86-LiveCD-10.2.0.2.2433 via webGUi Firmware update page, but x86 (32) 10.3.0.3 - Pilingitam (revision 3776) wont install and boot from its own Live CD

Version 10.3.0.3 - Pilingitam (revision 3776)
Compiled Sat Feb 04 21:06:23 UTC 2017
Platform OS FreeBSD 10.3-RELEASE-p16 #0 r313247M: Sat Feb 4 19:41:06 CET 2017
Platform x86-embedded on Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU 5150 @ 2.66GHz
System Apple Inc. Mac-F4208DC8
System bios Apple Computer, Inc. version: MP21.88Z.007F.B06.0707021348 07/02/07

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 24 Feb 2017 20:14

OK, so here is what I have managed to 'discover' this afternoon.

9.2.0.1 - Shigawire (revision 972) can be installed direct from a Live CD and boots directly from the HDD with no further messing

NAS4Free-x86-LiveCD-10.3.0.3.3450 will boot from the Live CD, and does install to the HDD. but will not boot from HDD, but if I install 10.2, then do firmware upgrade I can make a bootable HDD of 10.3.0.3 32 bit

Any NAS4Free version 11 will not even boot from the Live CD. They boot as far as the first menu where you can choose SafeBoot or normal or command prompt etc....but it hangs at:

Code: Select all

Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/md0

I tried installing version 10.3.0.3.3450 and trying to boot using EFI boot managers "rEFInd" and "rEFIt"
rEFInd 'sees' the NAS4Free install and shows the FreeBSD logo...but never boots,

Version 9.2.0.1 - Shigawire (revision 972)
Build date Mon Apr 28 02:43:01 CEST 2014
Platform OS FreeBSD 9.2-RELEASE-p4 (kern.osreldate: 902001)
Platform x64-embedded on Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU 5150 @ 2.66GHz
System Apple Inc. Mac-F4208DC8
System bios Apple Computer, Inc. version: MP21.88Z.007F.B06.0707021348 07/02/07

So is there a way to get the later versions of NAS4Free to run on this hardware? or am I limited to the older (though perfectly usable) 9.2 ?

The flash upgrade tool flashes to allow 64 bit OS..is this even relevant to NAS4Free? or was this only a OSX limitation ? See the Boot ROM version in the screenshots

Screen shot 2017-02-26 at 10.39.46.png

Screen shot 2017-02-26 at 09.38.55.png

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 13:00

OK< well it seems that it is not a 32 bit64 bit issue..from my understanding at least.

I have just created a successful instal to the MP with the BootRom flashed to 64 bit version 2,1

That then allows install of 64 bit version 9.3.0.2 - Nayla (revision 1349) boots from HDD

If i try a Live CD of x64 Version 10, it boots from Live CD, does the instal, then the built int boot manager dos not recognise the install as a bootable on the HDD

If i try a Live CD of x64 Version 11, then it does not even boot from the Live CD, it hangs after the menu screen at

Code: Select all

Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/md0

System information
Hostname nas4free.local
Version 9.3.0.2 - Nayla (revision 1349)
Build date Tue Feb 10 03:12:22 CET 2015
Platform OS FreeBSD Revision: 199506
FreeBSD 9.3-RELEASE-p9 #0 r278463M: Mon Feb 9 18:31:18 CET 2015
Platform x64-embedded on Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU 5150 @ 2.66GHz
System Apple Inc. Mac-F4208DC8
System bios Apple Computer, Inc. version: MP21.88Z.007F.B06.0707021348 07/02/07
System time

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 13:47

Have tried this , to 'pain the boot loader to the correct partition ..but still no joy

https://glenbarber.us/2011/11/12/Dual-B ... BSD-9.html

except changing to partition to the one listed as freebsd-boot that the installer seems to instal to

Code: Select all

# gpart bootcode -b /boot/pmbr -p /boot/gptboot -i 2 ada0

Still not recognising the installed Live CD of version 10 ??

Surely some one has some idea?

Snufkin · Post by **Snufkin** » 26 Feb 2017 14:54

Can this Mac tower be bootable from USB or just from internal preinstalled HDD/CD?

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 15:21

OK, well seem to have had success in getting a x64 firmware upgrade to work.but it does not boot.

I know it says that you should not upgrade from pre 11.00 to above 11.00 but since the Ver 11 Live CD installer seems to be " broken" compared to the 9.2 Live CD I thought I'd try the firmware upgrade itself from the WebGUI, and it does work ,

But re boot seems to hang at

Code: Select all

Converting configuration. (1.8 to 3.1)

Since there was mention of

we have increased the size of the boot partition & partition layout.

Is this the issue?

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 15:49

Snufkin wrote: ↑
26 Feb 2017 14:54
Can this Mac tower be bootable from USB or just from internal preinstalled HDD/CD?

There are ways to make USB bootable USB, yes... it is done often to instal / re instal OS X , when the Mac laptop has no CD or external CD/ DVD reader.

But have ben unable to get certain versions to instal and boot from either USB or internal HDD

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 15:57

Well I finally managed to get Version 11.0.0.4 - Sayyadina (revision 3948) booting....but no idea really how. apart from luck and more luck on top of perseverance

I tried an instal of NAS4Free-x64-LiveCD-9.3.0.2.1349, then did a firmware upgrade via webgui to NAS4Free-x64-embedded-11.0.0.4.3948.img

This failed to boot, so I put the NAS4Free-x64-LiveCD-9.3.0.2.1349 CD back in and did a fresh install over the top, option 1 basic (preferred) install.

But on re booting ...I did not get 9.3...I got 11.0.0.4

Now WTF ???

but it is working...trying a re boot now ..lets see if it survives!

Seems I have installed as MBR ...thought I had selected GPT ... I have been on this for so long now..do not remember..but either way it is now booting. via a combination of trying every thing possible to my ability level.

Screen Shot 2017-02-26 at 14.45.16.jpg

Code: Select all

nas4free: ~# gpart list | less
Geom name: ada0
modified: false
state: OK
fwheads: 16
fwsectors: 63
last: 156301487
first: 63
entries: 4
scheme: MBR

Snufkin · Post by **Snufkin** » 26 Feb 2017 16:11

NeilP wrote: ↑
26 Feb 2017 15:49
There are ways to make USB bootable USB, yes... But have ben unable to get certain versions to instal and boot from either USB or internal HDD

In case Mac tower could be configured to boot from USB port, you just 'cook' embedded USB installation on another Desktop/Notebook, then put USB flash drive in the Mac tower USB port.

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 16:26

It is strange how some Live CD's boot and install to HDD, and others do not. I guess it is something to do with how the different Lived CD's are configured to create the Boot drive. the 9.3 version works while the later x64 versions seem not to ..at least with GPT as a choice. Maybe the two all I needed to do ..select a x64 Live CD and choose MBR for a UEFI boot rather than GPT

Anyway working now

Snufkin · Post by **Snufkin** » 26 Feb 2017 17:13

NeilP wrote: ↑
26 Feb 2017 16:26
Maybe the two all I needed to do ..select a x64 Live CD and choose MBR for a UEFI boot rather than GPT

Look at this post and thread.
May be this is the answer to your question.

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 17:27

Thanks but that seems to be talking about a BIOS based machine, the is also complicated by the Mac being UEFI..or EFI..not sure the difference...I was thinking that EFI needed GPT partitions..not MBR..so I did not try the MBR Install option..maybe that was the issue all along?

NeilP · Post by **NeilP** » 26 Feb 2017 23:06

OK, so after 14 hours on it today here is the conclusion

Can't install from Version 11 Live CD..it just does not boot the machine
Can't install from Version 10 Live CD..it does not boot the machine, and allows instal, but the instal does not get recognised by boot manager

Have to instal version 9.3...what ever the last one was...and then do a firmware upgrade.

MacPro has
4 SATA ports,
single IDE channel with the usual 2 ( Master/ slave connections)
2 extra SATA ports on the mainboard under th front fan enclosure, that do not seem to function unless OSX is installed.

So got an installation on IDE salve channel HDD..old 80gb one that was kicking about.

Tried an IDE to CF adapter..and it is seen and installs..but the boot loader then comes up with " No Boot Media, insert media and Any Key to Continue .

Would still be nice to know what has changed between version 9.3 and Version 10 and 11 LiveCD's. and if something is 'broken'.

x86 instals to GPT instal , but x64 can't install from to GPT and boot, only MBR installs work in x64.

Is this a limitation of FreeBSD or just totally down to how the LiveCD does the install?

XigmaNAS