mbp-fedora-kernel

Fedora kernel with Apple T2 patches built-in (Macbooks produced >= 2018).

Fedora ISO (with mbp-fedora-kernel builtin): https://github.com/mikeeq/mbp-fedora

Kernel patches: https://github.com/AdityaGarg8/linux-t2-patches

Tested on: Macbook Pro 15,2 13" 2019 i5 TouchBar Z0WQ000AR MV972ZE/A/R1 && Macbook Pro 16,2 13" 2020 i5

Boot ROM Version:	220.270.99.0.0 (iBridge: 16.16.6571.0.0,0)
macOS Mojave: 10.14.6 (18G103)

How to update kernel-mbp

### First run or if you want to update your copy of update_kernel_mbp script
sudo -i
curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mikeeq/mbp-fedora-kernel/v5.18-f36/update_kernel_mbp.sh -o /usr/bin/update_kernel_mbp
chmod +x /usr/bin/update_kernel_mbp
update_kernel_mbp

### Next runs
sudo -i
update_kernel_mbp

### Update to specific version of kernel
sudo -i
KERNEL_VERSION="5.18.6-f36" update_kernel_mbp

### Update to specific version of kernel using specific version of update script
#### Usually not needed, because scripts are shared between branches, but you can use it to update your update_kernel_mbp script
##### If the script fails, try to rerun it - it's due to self-upgrading feature of this script
sudo -i
KERNEL_VERSION="5.18.6-f36" UPDATE_SCRIPT_BRANCH="v5.18-f36" update_kernel_mbp

CI status

GitHub Actions kernel build status:

Github Actions kernel publish status - http://fedora-mbp-repo.herokuapp.com/ :

TODO

• add kernel-headers RPM generation
• remove a need for update_kernel_mbp script
  • revert GRUB_ENABLE_BLSCFG=false change
• add RPM packages signing

Known issues

• TouchID - (@MCMrARM is working on it - https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux/issues/71#issuecomment-528545490)
• Audio
  • Dynamic audio input/output change (on connecting/disconnecting headphones jack)
    • manual switch works, see here: https://github.com/mikeeq/mbp-fedora#todo
  • Microphone (it's recognized with new apple t2 sound driver, but there is a low mic volume amp)

Working with upstream stable kernel 5.18

• Display/Screen
• USB-C
• Battery/AC
• Ethernet/Video USB-C adapters
• Bluetooth
• NVMe
• Camera

Working with mbp-fedora-kernel

• with builtin BCE driver
  • Audio
  • Keyboard
  • Touchpad (scroll, right click)
• with builtin iBridge driver
  • MacBook Pro Touch Bar
    • If there's an issue with Touch Bar startup on Linux I recommend to install Win10 and boot it once a while to initialize Touch Bar using BootCamp driver, it seems to fix the issue
• WiFi
  • to make it working, you need to grab closed source Broadcom WiFi firmware from MacOS and put it under /lib/firmware/brcm/ in Linux OS, see https://wiki.t2linux.org/guides/wifi/

Not tested

• eGPU
• Thunderbolt

How to build mbp-fedora-kernel

1. Make sure that Docker is installed and running correctly on your machine
2. Clone repo
3. Run ./build_in_docker.sh

Docs

• Discord: https://discord.gg/Uw56rqW
• WiFi firmware: https://packages.aunali1.com/apple/wifi-fw/18G2022
• blog Installing Fedora 31 on a 2018 Mac mini: https://linuxwit.ch/blog/2020/01/installing-fedora-on-mac-mini/
• iwd:
  • https://iwd.wiki.kernel.org/networkconfigurationsettings
  • https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Iwd
  • https://www.vocal.com/secure-communication/eap-types/

Fedora

• https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Building_a_custom_kernel
• https://fedoramagazine.org/building-fedora-kernel/
• https://www.hiroom2.com/2016/06/25/fedora-24-rebuild-kernel-with-src-rpm/

Github

• GitHub issue (RE history): https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux/issues/71
• VHCI+Sound driver (Apple T2): https://github.com/MCMrARM/mbp2018-bridge-drv/
• AppleSMC driver (fan control): https://github.com/MCMrARM/mbp2018-etc/tree/master/applesmc
• hid-apple keyboard backlight patch: https://github.com/MCMrARM/mbp2018-etc/tree/master/apple-hid
• TouchBar driver: https://github.com/roadrunner2/macbook12-spi-driver/tree/mbp15
• Kernel patches (all are mentioned in github issue above): https://github.com/aunali1/linux-mbp-arch
• ArchLinux kernel patches: https://github.com/ppaulweber/linux-mba
• hid-apple-patched module for changing mappings of ctrl, fn, option keys: https://github.com/free5lot/hid-apple-patched
• AdityaGarg8 kernel patches: https://github.com/AdityaGarg8/linux-t2-patches

Credits

• @MCMrARM - thanks for all RE work
• @ozbenh - thanks for submitting NVME patch
• @roadrunner2 - thanks for SPI (touchbar) driver
• @aunali1 - thanks for ArchLinux Kernel CI
• @ppaulweber - thanks for keyboard and Macbook Air patches
• @AdityaGarg8 - thanks for support and upkeeping kernel patches