By disabling Secure Boot and changing the boot security options of Macs equipped with a T2 chip, it is still possible to install operating systems other than macOS, including Linux, contrary to claims made by many articles published in recent days.
The Secure Boot control interface on a Mac equipped with a T2 chip. © Itopdroid
In recent days, many articles have been published on the Internet explaining that the T2 chip built into the latest Macs prevents the installation of Linux. If this assertion is not completely false, in practice it suffices to deactivate the Secure Boot feature ("secure boot") to achieve this. Note, moreover, that the level of security applied at startup can be modified as needed by using the Recovery mode (Command + R), and that it thus becomes possible to activate the startup by means of an external drive.
It is therefore possible to install any operating system on a Mac with a T2 chip, provided you disable the boot security settings. Many users have already arrived there iMac Pro, a machine already equipped with a T2 chip (like the new MacBook Air fresh out). You should also know that this does not deactivate all the security functions attached to the T2 chip, but only the Secure Boot. Admittedly, this possibility however requires a sacrifice from the user, this chip normally making it possible to secure the starting of macOS or Windows (via Bootcamp).
A bug in question?
Most of these articles are based on that of the Phoronix site which explains that despite the deactivation of Secure Boot, Linux remains impossible to install on a machine equipped with a T2 chip. However, by doing the test, it works fine. Let's admit all the same that there may be an operating bug on some Macs equipped with a T2 chip, as developers who are facing the problem seem to notice.
We contacted Apple about this and the company told us that there was no incompatibility problem between Macs and Linux, even those equipped with a T2 chip. Apple referred us to the article on the iMore site, which offers a tutorial listing the steps to follow to install Linux.
Note that Apple is not the only company to integrate a security system at startup preventing the installation of other operating systems, the Secure Boot being a feature also used on Windows products and integrated by Microsoft into its devices. Area.
to read also: 9
To help Linux, Microsoft makes 60 open source patents
A nice gesture from Microsoft, which once again takes a step towards developers, joining the Open Invention Network and ...
3 years ago
