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Building my Hack Pro – 2. basic install

by Jozef Mares
written by Jozef Mares

In my previous post was covered my hardware setup. It’s time to install some basic software like OS X.

Once I was pretty sure it is possible to install OS X on my hardware I visited Tony Mac X86 site and looked for some how-to.

I used this how-to and I was following pretty much everything mentioned on site.

But not everything was that straight! OS X won’t boot into install screen, after some time screen just went blank and there was no option left only to cold cycle computer. To fix this issue i had to go to UEFI and change primary screen adapter from discrete Geforce to integrated Intel graphic adapter. After this computer booted into install and i followed how-to.

After install my OS X won’t boot into setup finish (part when you add user and so on), and I had to add this option to bootloader:

GraphicsEnabler=No

This parameter fixed problem with graphic card. Without this there was only spinning wheel and no setup finish.

After this step my hackintosh has been installed. Only few steps needed to go, right? Wrong. There was problem with network adapter, bootloader, wifi card and sound card – none of them works out of the box.

You need to download Unibeast for Mountain Lion (login required) and install appropriate driver (kext – kernel extension).

For my motherboard I needed to install and enable these drivers/settings:
* UserDSDT or DSDT-Free installation
* Audio – ALC892
* TRIM Enabler with 10.8.1+ TRIM Patch
* FakeSMC Plugins
* Realtek – Lnx2Mac’s RealtekRTL81xx v0.0.90
* Patched AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement
* Boot Options – GraphicsEnabler=No and 1080p display
* System definitions for Mac Pro 5,1

Next part will cover usual problems and how to fix them. Happy hacking.

_hacks

Building my Hack Pro – 1. hardware

by Jozef Mares
written by Jozef Mares

My Macbook Air mid 2011 was one of the best buys in my life. I love this piece of hardware. I have been using GNU/Linux on desktop for more than 10 years. But changes in recent years like KDE 4, Gnome 3, systemd made me think about switching.

On the other side I have been using Mac in parallel for two years in 2003. I had iBook G3 and it was also beautiful piece of hardware and great system. Many of my knowledge was born working in internet cafe on this device (funny is that I have been doing best job with no money, with only 12.1 inch screen – but this should be subject of other post).

So, this experience made me thing that it might be time to switch on desktop. To describe reasons briefly – simplified workflow (Mac Linux sync), consistent GUI and apps, no more tuning keyboard shortcuts to work same way on both platforms.

Cons was only that Mac Pro is expensive as hell and I have a pretty new desktop home. I do not like to spend that much of money (e.g. 120 000 CZK) for just a computer. Time to build Hack Pro!

If this decision came few months ago when I was building my computer i would go way of buying components based on this guide.

But I already had my hardware so let’s try it. These are my hardware specs (links to shop I bought hardware):

I’m very lucky guy – this setup was created for Linux (to work like a charm), but when I made decision about switching to hackintosh all seemed great. Building a hackintosh is always (at least according to how-to’s) about supported motherboard and graphic adapter. After quick googling hardware hardware has been looking good.

Next part will cover basic setup of my hackintosh – creating of install media, and USB installation.

_hacks

So, I have a problem with Firebird?

by Jozef Mares
written by Jozef Mares

Today, one guy I know called and asked if I can help him with accounting system in his restaurant. There was cryptic message from accounting software with some sort of DB error.

I saw system like this first time in my life so I started to investigate DB backend and I found Firebird / InterBase. Actually I saw Firebird in production for first time in my life. I started to think about fixing database from command line and i googled a lot ’till found solution. I should verify DB, prepare for dump and then restore.

This is how I achieved task:
1. disconnect users – in my case accounting software;
2. create backup copy of database file;
3. run gfix to validate database;

gfix -v dbname

4. I prefer full validation;

gfix -v -f dbname

5. prepare corrupted database for backup;

gfix -mend dbname

6. backup database – -g switch disables garbage collection;

gbak -g -b dbname.backup

7. restore database -r replaces existing database (remember that part about copy?);

gbak -v -c -r dbname.backup dbname

If you are lucky enough you have now working database. I wasn’t. During restore there was problem with primary key on one of the tables. I “fixed” (i mean – it worked for me) it running this:

gbak -v -c -r -i dbname.backup dbname

-i switch creates indexes as inactive which worked for me.

People were happy today and my introduction to Firebird was only one hour long. ;)

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