linux on mac?

[SlowGTi]

I'm not sure where to ask this but how would i go about putting Linux on my MacBook Air? I'm running the most up to date OS X. I have Bootcamp assistant but thats for installing windows. I want to play with some Linux OS to see what one/s I like for when I finally can get a Raspberry.

[elatllat]

You could use vertualbox if you have a free GB of ram.
Otherwise;
http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/

[Joe Schmoe]

Personally, I think VirtualBox (or VMWare or similar) is the best way to go. Performance is entirely acceptable, and you don't have to risk blowing up your machine. I am currently using VirtualBox to run Windows on the Mac and it is fine (except for the Bridged Networking bug, of course).

Notes:
1) I don't get why you say you need 1G RAM (not that that's very much in today's world). Particularly for a non-piggy OS like Linux, it can (and will) be much less. My Windows box runs fine in the (system default/recommended) 192M. And, of course, I remember the days when we ran Linux in 1M.

2) I know very little about "Bootcamp" (having just heard about it for the first time about a week ago), but it is my understanding that you *could* install/run Linux from there (as well as the more common use case of Windows, of course).

[SlowGTi]

2) I know very little about "Bootcamp" (having just heard about it for the first time about a week ago), but it is my understanding that you *could* install/run Linux from there (as well as the more common use case of Windows, of course).

Bootcamp on my Mac says its only for windows dual boot.

Personally, I think VirtualBox (or VMWare or similar) is the best way to go. Performance is entirely acceptable, and you don't have to risk blowing up your machine. I am currently using VirtualBox to run Windows on the Mac and it is fine (except for the Bridged Networking bug, of course).

How does VirtualBox work? Is there a way for run Linux from a USB HDD? My MacBook Air only has 128gb to start with and I have a 500GB USB HDD sitting here with nothing on it.

[Joe Schmoe]

Bootcamp on my Mac says its only for windows dual boot.

Then you are probably right. As I said, I know very little about it. Apple, of course, has a history of artificially limiting functionality for marketing purposes. Still, I imagine some enterprising hacker will figure out a way to make it boot Linux (one of these days...)

Anyway, as the previous poster indicated, there are always alternatives (e.g., Rod's EFI thingie).

How does VirtualBox work? Is there a way for run Linux from a USB HDD? My MacBook Air only has 128gb to start with and I have a 500GB USB HDD sitting here with nothing on it.

Yes, you should be able to put the "virtual disk" file anywhere you want. That should work fine.

[SlowGTi]

Thanks I just got Ubuntu to run on my Mac. For anyone wanting to just run Linux on a Mac and not install Ubuntu has great instructions on how to do it.