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Installing Gentoo Linux on a T2 Mac

Install Procedure

  1. Follow the Pre-installation steps.
  2. Since there is not yet a T2 Gentoo Installation ISO, you will need to use a different ISO. We recommend the T2-Ubuntu ISO if you want a graphical environment, or the T2-Archiso if you don't want to have to copy Wi-Fi firmware to the livecd.

  3. If you chose the Ubuntu ISO, follow the Wi-Fi Guide once booted.

  4. Connect to the internet using NetworkManager in the Ubuntu ISO, or using iwctl in the Arch ISO.

  5. You will need to reformat your partitions, except for the EFI partition. The other partitions will need to reformatted as described in the Gentoo Handbook. For the EFI system partition there will be one at /dev/nvme0n1p1 and you can use this if you don't intend to install Windows or already have it installed. If you do intend to triple boot, refer to this guide.

  6. Follow the Gentoo Handbook from Installing stage3 until Kernel Configuration and Compilation.

  7. Setup the T2 Gentoo overlay:

  8. Install dev-vcs/git and app-eselect/eselect-repository, then enable and sync the overlay:

emerge -av app-eselect/eselect-repository dev-vcs/git
eselect repository add t2 git https://codeberg.org/vimproved/t2-overlay.git
emerge --sync t2

  1. Install the T2 Gentoo kernel:

  2. The T2 overlay provides a Distribution Kernel for T2 Macs. To install it, run:

echo "sys-kernel/t2gentoo-kernel" >> /etc/portage/package.accept_keywords/t2gentoo-kernel
echo "virtual/dist-kernel::t2" >> /etc/portage/package.accept_keywords/t2gentoo-kernel
emerge -av sys-kernel/t2gentoo-kernel

  1. Install Wi-Fi firmware for T2 Macs:

    1. The T2 overlay provides a package for T2 Wi-Fi firmware. To install it, run:
mkdir -p /etc/portage/package.license
echo "sys-firmware/apple-bcm-firmware all-rights-reserved" >> /etc/portage/package.license/firmware
emerge -av sys-firmware/apple-bcm-firmware

  1. Follow the Gentoo Handbook from Configuring the System up to Configuring the bootloader

  2. Install the bootloader:

    1. Choose a bootloader (other than LILO) from the Configuring the bootloader section of the Gentoo Handbook.
    2. Add intel_iommu=on iommu=pt pcie_ports=compat to the kernel parameters. Refer to the Gentoo Wiki article for your bootloader of choice for instructions on how to do this.

  3. Exit the chroot (Control-d, or exit) and reboot. You should now be able to select Gentoo from the macOS startup manager by holding option at boot. Congratulations, you should now have a working Gentoo installation!