10.7.4 AMD Kernel

[The Connactic]

Seriously, one question: your kernel is i386, as you said before, since it's based on anterior patched kernels (AndyVand, Bronzovka) that are all i386. But the original vanilla kernel - correct me if i'm wrong, please, here i'm way beyond my field of knowledge - is x64_86, right?, and those i386 patched kernels are all based in this single x64_86, is that correct?

So why is not possible to build a AMD_64 kernel based on x64_86? Why the patched ones seemingly have to be 32-bit? Or did Apple release a dumbed-down kernel as open source? Thank you in advance.

[R:A:W:X86]

Originally Posted by The Connactic Seriously, one question: your kernel is i386, as you said before, since it's based on anterior patched kernels (AndyVand, Bronzovka) that are all i386. But the original vanilla kernel - correct me if i'm wrong, please, here i'm way beyond my field of knowledge - is x64_86, right?

Nope.
The Vanilla Kernel in 10.6 & 10.7 is a fat binary that contains an i386 and a x86_64 Kernel.

On a real Mac it i.a. depends on wether the Firmware is 32 or 64-Bit what can Kernel is / can be loaded.

The i386 Kernel still allows running 64-Bit applications, in case of a compatible CPU.
Support for non-64-Bit CPUs has been dropped in 10.7 (even from the 32-Bit Kernel), though it is reimplemented in the patched Kernel, as this "compatibilty / legacy mode" is currently the only way to boot 10.7 using non-SSSE3 CPUs (all old AMD).

In 10.8 the Kernel is 64-Bit only, so even Intel Macs with 64-Bit compatible CPU, but 32-Bit Firmware are dropped from support.

As for 10.7 it is rather unimportant wether you are booting i386 or x86_64 Kernel (speaking for owners of fully compatible / SSSE3 capable CPUs) - it does not have influence on the applications you are running - most likely it will only matter for you in case you have some 3rd party Kernel Extensions, i.e. printer drivers that are either i386 or x86_64 only.

So why is not possible to build a AMD_64 kernel based on x64_86? Why the patched ones seemingly have to be 32-bit? Or did Apple release a dumbed-down kernel as open source? Thank you in advance.

Well it is possible to build the x86_64 Kernel from the patched source code.
But for some reason it does instant reboot on AMD setups, while it works on my Vanilla capable machines.

The latest 10.6.8 Kernel are the same - most AMD people encounter either instant reboot or AppleACPIPlatform.kext Panic when attempting to boot the x86_64 Kernel.

If someone is curious to try it himself, here is an universal build of the latest Kernel patch - use arch= flag to advice the Kernel you want to boot.

Originally Posted by The Connactic Another one: is there any public knowledge base provided by AMD, where one can look for especifications of, say, Bulldozer CPUs and how low-level and higher-level programming should be projected for them?

Well the AMD Developer Central contains some documentation, but it ain't that up-to-date as desireable...

That long set of hex numbers, are them assembly code? If yes, are they the original assembly code of vanilla (therefore, intel assembly)?

Those are copyspace for binary injection of an autpatching dyld and a SSE3 emulator.
I don't see a reason to look into the rebasement of dyld (the released source code is incomplete), as 32-Bit Apps are working just fine by binary patching of sysenter traps - there is not any software left that peforms CPUID checks in -legacy mode either.
Injection of a SSE3 emulator is also pretty unimportant (for obvious reasons I think ), but the methods of Kernel integration could be modified, in case someone could write an SSSE3 emualtor that works the same style as the old SSE3 one...

[The Connactic]

Another one: is there any public knowledge base provided by AMD, where one can look for especifications of, say, Bulldozer CPUs and how low-level and higher-level programming should be projected for them?

That long set of hex numbers, are them assembly code? If yes, are they the original assembly code of vanilla (therefore, intel assembly)?

[The Connactic]

Thank you, RAW!

[The Connactic]

Well, Mountain Lion is here. For we AMD users, three options: change to Intel, stuck with Lion i386 64-bit suporting on FX line (or Snow Leo with full functionality for all other AMDs) or hope, crossing fingers, that someone wise enough to patch a working arch x64_86 kernel pops out of the blue.

RAW, i tried the 64-bit kernel. Instant reboot, as you told me. But, remember, i have a plain Athlon II x2. No ssse. So the question is - assuming the problem affects Bulldozers as well - why does this happen? Any clue?

[justinster123]

Originally Posted by The Connactic Well, Mountain Lion is here. For we AMD users, three options: change to Intel, stuck with Lion i386 64-bit suporting on FX line (or Snow Leo with full functionality for all other AMDs) or hope, crossing fingers, that someone wise enough to patch a working arch x64_86 kernel pops out of the blue. RAW, i tried the 64-bit kernel. Instant reboot, as you told me. But, remember, i have a plain Athlon II x2. No ssse. So the question is - assuming the problem affects Bulldozers as well - why does this happen? Any clue?

I tried the kernel on x86_64 on my amd Athlon X2 7550 and it booted to the point where launchd would start up. no further, just like booting without -legacy
it says verbosely "Kernel is LP64" meaning 64-bit i've tried all the possible boot combination but it's a no-go.
SSSE3 emulator, how can it be so hard? (theoretically speaking) because there's only 16 new instructions that SSSE3 introduced.. hmm...

[The Connactic]

But why it doesn't boot, Justin? That's the question!

Indeed, it doesn't boot even with ssse3-enabled AMD FX series, as RAW x86 said before, so it isn't just a sss3-related issue, tha could be solved with an emulator.

Now don't let me be misunderstood: the emulator is important, as it would grant a full working Lion for almost every AMD user. We're in Mountain Lion era, though; without a working patched x86_64 kernel, in addition to a sss3 emulator for non-Buldozer users, the AMD hackintoshes will slowly fall into obsolescence.

[R:A:W:X86]

Originally Posted by justinster123 it says verbosely "Kernel is LP64" meaning 64-bit i've tried all the possible boot combination but it's a no-go.

Interesting.
The patched x86_64 Kernel works on my Intel machines as well.
I have some suspicions what could be the problem for the majority of us AMD users here...

Would be cool if some other people with old / "pre-Phenom" AMD CPUs could try.

Originally Posted by felipeunix Do not think the fight is over. Mountain Lion is here!!

The src has been released as well.

For some reason xnu-2050.7.9 does not build for me wo errors... (unpatched of course)

I am not sure what I am missing - Xcode 4.5 probably?!
The problem may also be, that I am still kinda little drunken due to yesterday.
Someone else has tried to compile the Kernel yet?

[The Connactic]

Originally Posted by R:A:W:X86 Interesting. The patched x86_64 Kernel works on my Intel machines as well. I have some suspicions what could be the problem for the majority of us AMD users here...

What would them be?

I tried to compile the kernel to no avail...

[felipeunix]

Do not think the fight is over. Mountain Lion is here!!