- 1PowerPC Emulator (32-bit)
- 1.4PowerMac G4 and G3 emulation
- 2Debugging tips
- 3Emulated hardware issues
PowerPC Emulator (32-bit)
Description
This page is about qemu-system-ppc.Note: Information below true for qemu-system-ppc builds as of 14-03-2019
The following machines are emulated through qemu-system-ppc:
Select the arrow and then the disk to boot it: Notes: Macs will not boot an older Mac operating system than shipped with them. Most PowerPC Macs do not support booting Mac OS X from USB. There are tricks to make it work, but better to go with Firewire for booting PowerPC Macs externally. Currently, NewWorld PowerMac systems are known to support USB booting. Make sure you have prepared everything from Section 4.4, “Preparing Files for USB Memory Stick Booting”. To boot a Macintosh system from a USB stick, you will need to use the Open Firmware prompt, since Open Firmware does not search USB storage devices by default.
| Machine model selector | Provides |
| -M g3beige | Heathrow based PowerMAC (default) |
| -M mac99 | Mac99 based PowerMAC |
| -M 40p | IBM RS/6000 7020 (40p) |
| -M bamboo | Bamboo |
| -M mpc8544ds | Mpc8544ds |
| -M none | Empty machine |
| -M ppce500 | Generic paravirt e500 platform |
| -M prep | PowerPC PREP platform (deprecated in favour of the 40p machine ) |
| -M ref405ep | Ref405ep |
| -M sam460ex | aCube Sam460ex |
| -M taihu | Taihu |
| -M virtex-ml507 | Xilinx Virtex ML507 reference design |
Build directions
Due to mouse issues when using the default GTK GUI in Windows, it is advisable to use the SDL-based GUI when compiling on/for that platform:
Pre-built binaries for Windows and OSX
Pre-built binaries for Windows can be found here: https://qemu.weilnetz.de/w64/
Pre-built binaries for OSX are provided at the emaculation website: https://www.emaculation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=8848
Experimental builds for Windows/OSX with e.g., sound support are provided at the emaculation website: https://www.emaculation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=8848&p=52102#p52104 and here: https://www.emaculation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9028
PowerMac G4 and G3 emulation
PowerPC Mac G4 (Mac Model PowerPC3,1) and PowerPC Mac G3 emulation
The PowerPC Mac G4 -m mac99 machine model selector has three options:
| Machine model selector options | Provides |
| -M mac99,via=pmu | pmu power management, providing USB mouse and keyboard |
| -M mac99,via=pmu-adb | pmu power management with adb bus for older OSs not supporting USB |
| -M mac99,via=cuda | cuda power management with adb bus (this is the default) |
Optional commands:
| Optional commands | Default | Provides |
| -prom-env 'auto-boot?=true' | yes | Automatic boot at openbios prompt |
| -prom-env 'boot-args=-v' | no | Verbose start-up of OSX guests |
| -prom-env 'vga-ndrv?=true' | yes | On the fly resolution/colour depth switching for Mac OS/OS X guests |
| -device VGA,edid=on | no | Provides additional screen resolutions for Mac OS/OS X guests |
Mac OS/OSX and Linux guest compatibility
| Operating system | Status | Remarks |
| Mac OS 8.0 to 8.6 | Not supported | |
| Mac OS 9.0 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires 9.0.4 with rom version 5.2.1 and above (e.g., 9.0.4 for the Cube) |
| Mac OS 9.1 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 9.2 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 10.0 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 10.1 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 10.2 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 10.3 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 10.4 | Boots, installs, runs | |
| Mac OS 10.5 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires -m mac99,via=pmu to run |
| Mac OSX Server 1.2v3 | Boots, installs, runs | No networking due to lack of gigabit ethernet support |
| Lubuntu 14 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires -g 1024x768x8 to see text while installing |
| Fedora 12 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires -g 1024x768x8 to see text while installing |
| Debian 10 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires -g 1024x768x8 to see text while installing |
| OpenSuse 11 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires -device rtl8139 for networking, -g 1024x768x8 to see text while installing |
| Yellow Dog Linux 6.2 | Boots, installs, runs | Requires -device rtl8139 for networking, -g 1024x768x8 to see text while installing |
Guest installation instructions
Mac OS 9.x to Mac OS X 10.4
Command-line options to install Mac OS:
Command-line options to run Mac OS:
Mac OS X 10.5
Command-line options to install Mac OS X 10.5:
Command-line options to run Mac OS X 10.5:
Mac OS X Server 1.2v3
Installation requires several steps:
Step 1: boot from installation CD, use disk utility to partition disk as Apple Server, start the installation and let it fail. Quit Qemu and reboot with command line in step 2.
Step 2: initial installation (note machine and CPU, otherwise no desktop is shown).
At the boot prompt enter 'boot cd:9,:tbxi' Initial installation starts. Quit Qemu after completion.
Step 3: Installation continued. Boot with the following command line to complete the installation.
Step 4: Boot the installed system:
Lubuntu 14
Installation:
Running:
Fedora 12
Installing:
Running:
Debian 10 (Buster)
Note: To get a graphical desktop, at software selection, remove the default desktop environment and install only Xfce
Installing:
Create A Bootable Usb From Iso
Running:
At the Linux boot prompt enter 'Linux modprobe.blacklist=bochs_drm'
Pre-installed images of Debian 6 (Squeeze) and 7 (Wheezy) (both minimal and with desktop) can be found here: https://people.debian.org/~aurel32/qemu/powerpc/
These images boot with:
OpenSuse 11
Installing:
Once the license screen appears, press Ctrl-Alt-Shift-X to open a terminal. Follow https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Install_openSUSE_on_an_Apple_PPC_computer to create partitions with pdisk. Write the map after partitioning and continue with Yast. Once Yast arrives at partitioning, select Expert partitioning, select the Hard disk and click Rescan disk.
Leave hda2 as it is.
Edit hda3 to format as Ext2, mount at /boot and set fstab option to: Mount in /etc/fstab by to Device Path (instead of Device ID)
Edit hda4 to format as Swap and set fstab option to: Mount in /etc/fstab by to Device Path (instead of Device ID)
Edit hda5 to format as Ext3, mount at / and set fstab option to: Mount in /etc/fstab by to Device Path (instead of Device ID)
Accept the partitioning and continue with formatting. Continue installing. There will be an error while the boot manager is being installed. Ignore it, do not retry and wait for the installation to finish and the system reboots. Quit Qemu at the openbios screen and edit your command line:
Yellow Dog Linux 6.2
Installing:
Running:
IBM RS/6000 7020 (40p)
The 40p machine can be booted with the sandalfoot zImage from:http://www.juneau-lug.org/zImage.initrd.sandalfoot
Booting:
Bamboo
Mpc8544ds
Create A Bootable Usb Stick
Empty machine
Generic paravirt e500 platform
How To Create A Bootable Usb For Powerpc Mac G3 Software
PowerPC PREP platform (deprecated in favour of the 40p machine)
Ref405ep
aCube Sam460ex
Booting:
Taihu
Xilinx Virtex ML507 reference design
Debugging tips
Command line options
(logs unimplemented features and guest errors to stdout)
(logs all PMU accesses to stdout)
(logs all USB accesses to stdout)
Macsbug
Macsbug can be used with Mac OS guest to tell you what exactly stopped booting. The link for it is below.
Mac OS 9.2 comes with a built-in debugger. To use it, set the OpenBIOS variable “APPL,debug”:
Via QEMU's command-line options:
In OpenBIOS type:
dev /
2000000 encode-int *Note: the number can be replaced with the many options available
“ AAPL,debug” property
then to boot from a cd type:
boot cd:,:tbxi
To boot from a hard drive image:
boot hd:,:tbxi
Debugging qemu-system-ppc with GDB on an x86 Linux host
To build gdb-powerpc-linux on Linux, you need the normal build tools such as GCC installed.Download the GDB source code. Version 7.9 is reported to work: http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/gdb/gdb-7.9.tar.gzUnpack it and cd into the dir, then build and install with:
Launch qemu-system-ppc(64) with -s and -S. Qemu will pause and listen on port 1234 for GDB.Set -prom-env 'auto-boot?=false' --nographic on the command line for the Qemu instance to be debugged.
Open another terminal and launch the GDB you just built:
You can set a breakpoint in GDB, like this:
Type 'boot' in the terminal running Qemu.
Emulated hardware issues
Mac OS
-Only Mac OS 9.x support sound well. Use an experimental build.
-Mac OS 9.x will not boot with 64 Mb or less memory. They will also not boot with more than 1024 Mb.
Links
Installation images:
Lubuntu 14.04 PPC release
OpenSuse 11 PPC release
Fedora 12 PPC release
Ubuntu Mate 16.04 PPC release
Debian 10 PPC release
Yellow Dog Linux 6.2
Google Summer of Code Discussion for Mac OS 9
Macsbug 6.6.3 - debugger for Mac OS 9
Darwin OS installation iso file
JQEMU - graphical manager for QEMU (requires Java)
PowerPC Assembly Language Tutorial
QEMU PowerPC mailing list
Beige Power Mac G3 info
Sawtooth Power Mac G4 info
Pictures
How do I help
QEMU has many systems that can always be improved. Here is a brief list of possible areas you may want to work on:
- Documentation
- Testing
- Fixing operating system compatibility issues
- PowerPC emulation
- User interface
- Implement a 3D video card
- Improve various hardware (via-cuda, ata controller, etc..)
Knowledge in these areas could help:
- PowerPC Assembly
- 68K Assembly
- Embedded Programming
Contacts
Maintainer: David Gibson david@gibson.dropbear.id.au
If there are any issues with this page, please contact me
How To Create A Bootable Usb For Powerpc Mac G3 Os
Article ID = 39Article Title = Creating An Emergency Boot Drive For macOS
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 13th July 2011
Article Last Updated = 8th September 2017
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?39
Article Brief Description:
Instructions for creating an emergency macOS boot disk
Creating An Emergency Boot Drive For macOS / OS X / Mac OS X
An Emergency Boot Drive is useful if you maintain multiple Macintosh computers or just want something that can boot your Mac in an emergency. The basic principle is that the device:- is small and portable
- doesn't need a power supply
- has a slim but most up-to-date version of macOS / OS X / Mac OS X you need (so it can boot all supported Macs)
- Has various software utilities on it that you might need in an emergency
NOTE: This process can be used for multiple types of storage hardware including hard disks, Sold State Drives (SSDs), SD cards or USB sticks/flash drives.
NOTE: It is best that the volume/partition you are going to use must be at least 20GB in size. This is to allow for additional software to be installed and to be able to install macOS / OS X / Mac OS X 'Combo' System Updates (see below).
NOTE: You will want to consider the connection type/device depending on the Macs supported:
- USB - only Intel Macs can boot from USB devices and there are different versions of USB, some of which require specialised cables/connectors/adaptors
- Thunderbolt 3 - this is very fast but it is only compatible with modern Macs and requires specialised cables/connectors/adaptors
- Thunderbolt 1/2 - this is fast but it is only compatible with modern Macs
- FireWire 400/800
- eSATA - this will be fast but are very model specific so not generally recommended
- SD card - only Intel Macs can boot from SD cards
- G-Tech G-Drive mobile 5400rpm USB 3 + FireWire 800
- 500GB (model number = GDMOCEA5001ADB | part code = 0G02384)
- 750GB (model number = GDMOCEA7501ADB | part code = 0G02388)
- 1TB (model number = GDMOCEA10001ADB | part code = 0G02392)
- G-Tech G-Drive mini 7200rpm USB 3 + FireWire 800
- 500GB (model number = GDRMU3EA5001BDB | part code = 0G02569)
- 750GB (model number = GDRMU3EA7501BDB | part code = 0G02573)
- 1TB (model number = GDRMU3EA10001BDB | part code = 0G02577)
- LaCie Rugged Triple USB 3 + FireWire 800 NOTE: We do not recommend the LaCie Rugged Triple 1.5TB or 2TB models as they use two hard disks in RAID 0 mode which is catastrophic for your data if either drive fails.
- 500GB 5400rpm (part code = 301982)
- 500GB 7200rpm (part code = 301983)
- 1TB 5400rpm (part code = 301984)
- For modern Intel systems create a macOS X 10.12 or later volume on a GUID Partition Table storage device - format the volume as 'Mac OS Extended' and not 'APFS'
- For intermediate Intel systems (Core 2 Duo / i3, i5, i7) create an OS X 10.10 volume on a GUID Partition Table storage device - this has the best version of Disk Utility
- For old Intel systems (Core Duo / Core Solo) create a Mac OS X 10.6.8 volume on a GUID Partition Table storage device.
- For modern PowerPC systems (G4 1GHz or higher / G5) create a Mac OS X 10.5.8 volume on an Apple Partition Map storage device.
- For very old PowerPC systems (G3, G4 667MHz or slower) create a Mac OS X 10.3.9 volume on an Apple Partition Map storage device.
- If you are going to create a drive with multiple boot partitions for both PowerPC and Intel based Macs use Apple Partition Map. Then install PowerPC operating systems (10.3, 10.4 and/or 10.5) as required using a PowerPC computer. Then use an Intel Mac to install 10.6 and/or 10.7 as required. If you cannot install 10.6/10.7 to the external device install it to the local hard disk in the computer and then clone the install to the external device.
Setting Up An Emergency Boot Drive
How To Create A Bootable Usb For Powerpc Mac G3 Free
NOTE: External USB hard disks/sticks/flash drives and/or SD Card boot drives only work on Intel Macs.- Partition Your Device. NOTE: If the device has a large storage capacity e.g. 80GB+ create multiple partitions (the emergency boot partition only needs to be big enough to install/update macOS / OS X / Mac OS X and put your utilities on it so 30-40GB should be adequate). If the storage device is really large e.g. 200GB+ you could create multiple emergency boot partitions for different Macs you support e.g. (one for 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7) and you could also create one large partition for your software library/installers/updates.
- Install macOS / OS X / Mac OS X for the first time to your device. NOTE: You do not need to install the complete macOS / OS X / Mac OS X. At the 'Customization' stage:
- OS X 10.7 or later > There are no customisation options.
- Mac OS X 10.6 > choose the following options:
- TICK 'Essential System Software' (usually ticked for you by default)
- untick Printer Support (or just choose/tick the printers you may need)
- untick Additional Fonts
- untick Langauge Translations
- untick X11
- untick Rosetta
- untick QuickTime 7
- Mac OS X 10.5 > choose the following options:
- TICK 'Essential System Software' (usually ticked for you by default)
- untick Printer Drivers (or just choose/tick the printers you may need)
- untick Additional Fonts
- untick Langauge Translations
- untick X11
- Once macOS / OS X / Mac OS X has been installed and your computer has restarted boot from the Emergency Boot Drive (use System Preferences > Startup Disk).
- Download and install the latest macOS / OS X / Mac OS X 'Combo' Update
- List of macOS 11
ComboUpdates (latest version = 11.5.2) - List of macOS 10.15 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.15.7)
- List of macOS 10.14 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.14.6)
- List of macOS 10.13 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.13.6)
- List of macOS 10.12 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.12.6)
- List of OS X 10.11 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.11.6)
- List of OS X 10.10 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.10.5)
- List of OS X 10.9 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.9.5)
- List of OS X 10.8 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.8.5)
- List of OS X 10.7 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.7.5)
- List of Mac OS X 10.6 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.6.8)
- List of Mac OS X 10.5 Combo Updates
- List of Mac OS X 10.4 Combo Updates
- List of Mac OS X 10.3 Combo Updates NOTE: Apple software updates/installers downloaded prior to 14th February 2016 have an expired security certificate. You should re-download any required/archived updates/installers.
- Now install all other macOS / OS X / Mac OS X Updates by repeatedly going to Apple menu > App Store… > Updates and installing all required updates until all required updates are installed
- Restart your computer.
- Repair your boot disk's permissions.
- Install and update third party disk utilities e.g.:
- Bombich Software's Carbon Copy Cloner (Donationware).
- Shirt Pocket's SuperDuper! (Full cloning feature free, other features e.g. incremental backups US$27.95).
- Alsoft's DiskWarrior 5 - buy it now at
- Alsoft's DiskWarrior 4 - buy it now at
- Micromat's TechTool Pro 7
- Micromat's TechTool Pro 6 - buy it now at
- Prosoft Engineering's Drive Genius 4 (Disk Directory Repair)
- Prosoft Engineering's Drive Genius 3 (Disk Directory Repair) - buy it now at
- Prosoft Engineering's Data Rescue 3 (Data Recovery) - buy it now at
- Adobe Reader in case you need to open/read manuals/support documents (free).
- Alternative web browser e.g. Firefox in case Safari doesn't work on a web site you need to visit (free).
- Repair your boot disk's permissions.
- Your Emergency Boot Disk is now ready for use.
Article Keywords: Mac OS X OSX 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 1010 1011 macOS 1012 1013 1014 1015 1100 Jaguar Panther Tiger Leopard Snow Leopard Lion Mountain Lion Mavericks Yosemite El Capitan Sierra High Sierra Mojave Catalina Big Sur emergency recovery boot disk Macintosh
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