Linux

Virtualized compilation of the Raspberry Pi Linux Kernel on macOS through Ubuntu using OrbStack.

insert prose here

Compiling Linux Kernel

Install OrbStack

brew install --cask orbstack

Create a case-sensitive APFS filesystem volume to store the Linux source code
1. Open Disk Utility
2. Choose root disk (APPLE SSD .... Media)
3. Click "partition" on top right
4. Create a reasonably sized APFS case-sensitive partition (around 20 GB)
5. Allow system to repartition (may take a few minutes)
Open OrbStack and create a new Ubuntu instance under "Linux > Machines"
orb to start the hypervisor. Stay in the Ubuntu environment for next steps.
Clone Linux source code to the new case-sensitive partition

sudo apt install -y git bc bison flex libssl-dev make libc6-dev libncurses5-dev crossbuild-essential-armhf crossbuild-essential-arm64
cd /Volumes/<PARTITION NAME>
git clone https://github.com/murexrobotics/mrxOS

Make config files

cd mrxOS
KERNEL=kernel8
make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-linux-gnu- bcm2711_defconfig

Make modifications to the kernel (if modifications are needed)

make menuconfig

Compile the kernel

make -j<NUMBER_OF_THREADS> ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-linux-gnu- Image modules dtbs

# Example for M3 Max:
make -j14 ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-linux-gnu- Image modules dtbs

unsure, but the number of threads can be found with the htop command and seeing how many "bars" appear at the top

Depending on system performance, the build process should take 15 minutes to an hour.

note: actual flashing onto an RPi has not been tested

Next steps & external references

arm64 Virtualized Linux (macOS Apple Silicon)

Install UTM

brew install --cask UTM

Download the latest Linux arm64 Desktop Image (opens in a new tab)
Open UTM and follow these instructions (opens in a new tab)
1. Pay special attention to this (opens in a new tab)
Best settings;
1. Display Card: virtio-ramfb-gl (GPU Supported)
2. Network: Shared Network + Intel Gigabit e100

Networking UART