Hi All,

Recently, I have been able to install Ubuntu Linux 20.04 onto my Macbook Pro 15 inch, early-2011 model. I am satisfied with the way Ubuntu was installed, but was wondering how to install with Debian 10.3.0 and the firmware distribution.

According to the Debian installation (on a DVD install, optical disk), b43/ucode29_mimo.fw and b43-open/ucode29_mimo.fw are requested files to load a driver to be installed on my Macbook for wireless lan card access. This was the Broadcom wireless lan card driver used in the Ubuntu install, since the wireless card was built for Apple laptops (and Windows 7/8/10 drivers).

Is there a method to install the ucode29_mimo.fw driver code onto a USB or DVD disk ? I tried to place the file in a USB drive, but there was no driver or initialization of the USB drive when I was installing Debian. Do I need to run a USB driver to recognize the USB drive during the install ?

Can you attempt to mount the thumb drive with the mount command?

For the WiFi cards - It's generally easier to install with an ethernet cable, and then run an update and see if the Wi-Fi drivers get installed then maybe manually figure out the right packages to install. Why on God's green Earth they don't include the Wi-Fi drivers in some distributions' install DVD is beyond me.

I loaded the Debian iso into memory and the install progressed. However, when the install prompts for the USB drive or floppy, the install does not see the drive.

I think there is a way to access a command line prompt in the graphical install, but forgot what key combination to use to get one. Is it ctrl+alt+f2 ? shift+alt+f2 ?

I can access the command line prompt in the nongraphical install, but then resuming after mounting the USB drive is at issue. How do I return to the install if I go this route ?

It's "ctrl+alt+f2", although different F keys will take you to different virtual terminals. I don't remember which F key will get you back to the installation, but if you try them one will get you back.

Trying to mount the thumbdrive is more about seeing if it's an issue with hardware or drivers rather than the installer. You can unmount the thumbdrive with the "umount" command then use Ctrl+Alt+F1-12 to get back to your installation

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Installation of Debian 10.3.0 (buster) is now in progress.

I removed the Ubuntu 20.04 partition and instead, formatted the linux partition to load Debian. So far, I am working under a runlevel of 3, as I have installed via Advanced Options > Expert Install.

The expert install was started about an hour and 30 minutes ago, on Thursday, May 7th. The differences between the graphical install and the install options of the DVD are that all aspects of the linux install for Debian 10.3.0 are all out on the table. Some prior experience with installing and partitioning a dual boot system are prerequisites, as well as installing a text-based install (non-GUI, full install options).

Overall, I am progressing on setting up the Macbook Pro (early-2011 model, 15" laptop) as a graphical desktop system. Thanks wagscat123 for your help ! Another question I have now is: Do you have a prepared driver for the Broadcom wireless lan card for this Macbook ? I am currently browsing wireless.wiki.kernel.org for support.

I wouldn't know where one would be off the top of my head.

In the past when a Wi-Fi card works under one distribution but not the other I'll try to figure out which kernel module makes the difference. I would run "lsmod > debian.txt" under Debian, then get an Ubuntu live DVD and run "lsmod > ubuntu.txt" again under Ubuntu 20.04 once you know your Wi-Fi card is activated. I'd then compare the resulting text files and see which kernel module was missing in Debian. You can then research which kernel module was related to W-Fi, and which packages in the Debian repositories may have it.

1 members found this post helpful.

Well, I think I am done for today's Macbook Pro Debian Linux install. So far, I have a runlevel 3, nongraphical system set up on a dual booted Macbook Pro, early 2011, 15" laptop. Two main problems with the install is: 1) the wireless card driver is not working, and 2) the X display is incorrectly set up.

If one likes to use the command line interface, and plugged in to a wired ethernet cable is a good setup, then one does not have to use rEFInd or a virtual machine hypervisor like VMWare to set up Debian Linux. I think it's too early to adopt Debian, more likely distribution 10.3.0. It works better on laptops with all-Intel MS Windows configuration. Apple computers, from my Macbook Pro series, don't have full driver support in Debian at this time.

There is better support with Ubuntu 20.04 (focal fossa), on this Macbook Pro. I can use the Broadcom BCM4331 Ubuntu driver to get wirelessly connected, and the X display is decent. Whether this version of Ubuntu works on a Macbook Pro Retina, the X display may not fully support a billion color palette. That's what is so crisp about the Retina series: pristine video display.

If anybody has more to contribute to this thread, please add them at this time. For now, Debian 10.3.0 will do nicely on my other laptop, a Lenovo W550s, 2015 model. The cost for a decent W550s is high, if you can find one in eBay or Amazon, but I got mine for $1200. Compare that with the current Lenovo P Series laptops with similar features, at $1500 to start.

Still, buying a Macbook Pro for Linux is not highly justified at this time. 2015 and newer Macbook Pro laptops are pushing the Linux envelope in terms of wireless card support, and capable X displays, and will set one back around $900 from a cheap Macbook Pro (mid-2015) selling on Swappa.com. The best benefit though, for installing Linux on a Macbook is the DRM-free and community support of thousands of volunteers. In other words, one can do Pirate Bay things easier than on a Windows laptop: just DON'T GET CAUGHT.

(The above prices reflect May 2020 US dollar quotations.)