Hey guys,

As many of you heard , new kernels are coming everyday and most of us wants to get their hands on the latest one. But of course there is a problem , updating kernel isnt that easy for someone who is new to the OSX86 Community. So I wrote a tiny script that installs the new kernel. It just grabs the latest one from semthex's site , installs it and of course it takes care of backing up your working kernel and fixes the permisson. All you have to do is answer a few questions and then you could sit back and enjoy while this script takes care of everything]

UPDATE : Fixed stuff again and this time it updates to beta8 - the latest

BEFORE THAT , PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'RE USING DARWIN KERNEL VERSION 8.8.1/TRUE OSX 10.4.8 .IT WILL NOT WORK WITH OLDER OSX 10.4.8 , THAT RUNS ON 8.4.1. IT DOES NOT WORK WITH
MACOSX 10.4.1 , MACOSX 10.4.3 , MACOSX 10.4.4 , MACOSX 10.4.5 , MACOS X 10.4.6 , MACOSX 10.4.7 AND MACOS X 10.4.8 JAS SSE2/SSE3/AMD SSE2/AMD SSE3 COMBO UPDATE from Demonoid. It works with Jas' Intel Re-seed OSX 10.4.8 [4GB ISO] and AMD SSE3 OSX 10.4.8 ISO AS WELL



Features :-

1. Live-Update

Automatically grabs the latest baked version directly from Semthex's Bakery .You dont even have to use IRC , bug Semthex [poor guy] nor ask 'Where to Get the Kernel and How To Do It'. It fixes all of that. Thats right folks , it updates OTA [Over-The-Air]. So you're always up2date with the latest kernel enhancements


2. Automatic Backup

This script also backups your current working kernel. So incase of emergency , you could boot up your system with the old working kernel. It avoids the whole 'Re-Install dilemma '


3. Works On GUI - No Need Special Rebooting Techniques - No Need to Memorize all the commands

My script also avoids new-comers to boot into -s mode where users normally update their kernel using this traditionally method . All you have to do is punch the start-up command and thats it , it would work . In other words , it just works


4. Approved By Semthex and tested by a group of beta testers

To ensure the proper quality of my script , I have semthex's approval [and he is the one who encouraged me to improve the script] and it has been tested thoroughly by a group of beta testers and it is guaranteed to work

5. Safer Method
[/color]
With the new kernel , I have included a much more safer method as suggested by the folks here and over the IRC Channel. It copies the kernel instead of moving it , this means that if anything happens to your internet connection during the upgrade , your old kernel would be still there. It only updates once it has finished unzipping it

6. Fully Automated
[/color]
With the new version , you just simply double click and run. Thats it. No more messing around with Terminal. It takes that for you


How-To

1. Download the script from this site and run it ! - Simple as that





NOTES

In case if anything did went wrong , try to boot up using F8 and then type -f . See if that fixes the problem. If it does not , you could use back the old kernel , by typing mach_kernel.old in the boot prompt


KUDOS

I would like to thank :-

semthex - Kernel
Joey - Helping me out with some things
Hagar - Testing it out
locsmif - Helping me out with bash
interinv - User feedback !

Q/A

If you're having any problems , feel free to send me a PM or meet me on IRC - macspeak , #scripts. If you're having any problems with the kernel , you could contact semthex as well !

hi,
nice post! i belive is it goes to be of much aid for all.

[]'s

Thanks for the feedback , I am going to add few more strings

Like It would auto-grab the latest version from semthex and do it automatically. I am working on that

Thnx Prasys (and also Semthex) for helping here, and on IRC as well.

I am now working with semthex to provide a Live-Update , meaning that we dont have to get it from IRC. The script would do it automatically. This time , I might include some nags [thats right , we need to show our support to semthex]. Once its done , I will update it. It will be called 'Run-N-Shout' ....I am working with semthex right now for a live kernel update , so it would be updated everyday and it would check for the latest version as well

More to come , its just the starting

does this 1 work with vitaly kernel too? or just semthex kernel?

works great, keep up good work dude!

only need to finish my sound issue then my osx86 will be perfect

all good here - thanks!

i run the script with latest kernel but im not sure if im on new kernel? how is it named wen i type uname -a in terminal? thanks!

_Prasys_, nice work.

The "Live Update" is a excellent idea

Yeah, a live updater is a GREAT idea! Just one question: What is meant whith "True OSX 10.4.8" ? Does that mean u run apples intelcombo update and after not rebooting, you run the live updater?

continue ur great work, i appreciate it !

edit: ok, now i understand You alreday need the new kernel, this is just for updating. But would it maybe also work with old kernel after apples 10.4.8 update?

2. Open up Terminal and then type sudo ./script.sh . It would automatically grab the latest kernel from semthex's site [resume-able and with Progress], creates a backup of your current 'working' kernel , Fixes Permisson and Auto-Reboot [With a Prompt]


Had to eliminate the ( . ) in front of /script.sh for it to work.


works great

thanks
kaos

Very good Idea Perfect !

I have that very same question. (And great job, finally a simple way to grab the lastest kernel )

Thanks, that solve my problems with scratchy sound and the clock,good work.

Sure , I will be working on newer ones and other tutorials and scripts for you guys

I will be improving this script , will be including lots more of stuff. This is just the starting !

The script is a good idea, but more then flawed. Not only does it fail to check for error return codes of curl or unzip, so failures go unnoticed, it also moves away current kernel instead of copying it to backup, which will cause unbootable system if something goes wrong.
The script also contains lots of useless sleeps...

Error checking can be done via sth. like 'test $? -ne 0 && echo "Failed"'

Total sweetness....great utility, great for that hacktosh user who demands the bleeding edge...

A bit of feedback about the script... the line:

mv mach_kernel mach_kernel.old

will make computer unbootable until a new kernel is put in place, which will fail if we don't have a working internet connection, or the website is down. Wouldn't it be better to change that to:

cp mach_kernel mach_kernel.old

Later on, when you do:

cd /kernel
...
mv mach_kernel /mach_kernel

will replace the old kernel anyway - no need to remove it first. I would also put chmod and chown commands before mv command.

got it , i will remake all over again. Thanks again for your comments. I will be creating a new improved version !

_Prasys_ i would also recommend Platypus as with it you can make executable app with your script very easy
So users can just start this app and there you go...

http://www.sveinbjorn.org/platypus

Thanks a lot gus , man I need to do the whole thing back

I am working on version français as well . So I might do it in several versions

Thanks coolbits !

:2cents:Platypus works great

everyone can use it, even me.

when it will come out for linux? just wishing .
not so on topic but i like to thank coolbits for the app location.

greetings.
ciao.
saludos.

Updated the script to a newer version. I will be adding more stuff and I will find a way to fix the sleep thingy , or at least cut its number down

I have to say - you guys are incredible. Thanks to you, I have my Dell Inspiron 9400 fully working except for sound (sigmatel audio). How else could I get a 17" Mac Laptop for $700??? [Dell has them on their refurbished site very cheaply now].

I think that if the handful of people developing drivers can stick with the cheapest/most popular hardware, we could have a number of fully working desktops and laptops on our hands. given the circumstances, I don't think it's possible to get osx86 working on all kinds of different systems - instead, it's better to focus on just a few, and if people are really interested, they'll just switch to those systems. Dell seems to be leading the race, at least for cheap notebooks.

So if you are getting an Inspiron 9400/e1705, I recommend gma950/dell 1390 truemobile/standard +xga/.

That way you can have big ol' mac laptop for less than 1/3 the price! Yay!

i see you're working on a french version. i can help you with the Spanish version! just let me know so i send you the spanish texts.

btw, after aplying this kernel, my gma950 shows only 64mb, and xbench now gets me lower values than using 10.4.6... why?

ok, anyway thanks for sharing your work....

matemago , this is something got to with the kernel. Semthex fixed it , the new score is the real score , the older ones are fake , not really fake . This new kernel is getting closer to the real kernel + many improvements !

_Prasys_,
Your script is fantastic, and is actually as easy as A B C!
I did not have a working 10.4.8 machine but upgraded to it from 10.4.7 using your script.
This was what I did:
1. Install the 10.4.8 intel combo update from Apple
2. Replace AppleSMBIOS.kext
3. Repair permissions
4. Run your script
5. Reboot and voila!!!
Thank you for the great work. Keep it up.

After running the script I´ve got the correct CPU speed reported by "About This Mac" and the clock is now reported correct time, even after Screen saver activated ( before the clock lose 15 mins if the screen saver activated and then de-activated after TEN MINS - WEIRD)....

Only thing is after first update, Aperture asks for SN...Also iTunes came up with "Not Enough Memory"...solved both of the problems though..

A few questions ....

Is this for SSE2 or SSE3 processors?

How do you determine the kernel version? I tried the instructions in post # 1 and it (well me) hosed the system.

How do you go about "fixing" an installation that has gone bad? I just reinstalled and didn't attempt the update again.

Its for SSE3 processors , again semthex's kernel does not work under SSE2 processors [at this time of writing]. I am going to port it to Cocoa !


To restore back , simply fit F8 before the Staring Darwin screen. There you will be prompted with a boot prompt , simply type mach_kernel.old and you would have your old kernel back. Its that simple

Thanks for the info, good stuff!

Now, how do I tell which version of kernel I'm using? You mentioned something about 8.8.1 under 10.4.8 or something like it ...

Which kernels support SSE2?

Go to Teminal

uname -a

and AFAIK , all kernels [at this time of writing] only supports SSE3 processors

wow! The new kernel fixed a ton of my errors. Thanks so much!


edit* I will elaborate of what now works.


Rebooting now works.
No sound stuttering when first loading.
My boot time went from 20 seconds to 5.
When booting, I boot every time now.
Oh god I am going to try titan now.

Absolutely smart and wonderful script, made my mac almost a real mac :-)

Almost because DDR2 RAM is not recognised as such, and no memory speed either.

CPU type and speed is recognised beautifully though.

Ah, also sleep doesnt work. Will that be fixed in future kernel updates?

In Terminal Type: uname -a

Compare the results to these: (I don't have any older ones)

K19 Thu Nov 16 21:19:02
Beta5 Fri Nov 17 23:52:26
Beta7 Wed Nov 22 22:03:00
Beta8 Mon Nov 27 18:58:11

It is indeed pointing to K19

Is it any good to install Beta7 right now?

The script i very very well, thanks. But it not work because the link semthex kernel is break. Wher he is kernel ?

darn, could sb. just tell me the NAME of the file (don't even need the whole link) - must be someting like
t3-k19.rar, I'm able to figure out the rest.

Thanks,
Bugs

OK, I've run this thing, and as it progressed, I saw this... looks like it enountered a LOT of errors.

I hope this hasn't trashed my install....



Do you want to install the semthex's latest kernel ? [y/n]
yes
Backing Up the Old Kernel
cp: mach_kernel: No such file or directory
Backing Up The Old Kernel - ======DONE=====
Creating /kernel
We're going to get Semthex's Latest Kernel from his site. This could take a couple of seconds/minutes. Please have a cup of coffee !
% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
100 223 100 223 0 0 318 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0
Voila - DONE
Archive: latest.zip
End-of-central-directory signature not found. Either this file is not
a zipfile, or it constitutes one disk of a multi-part archive. In the
latter case the central directory and zipfile comment will be found on
the last disk(s) of this archive.
unzip: cannot find zipfile directory in one of latest.zip or
latest.zip.zip, and cannot find latest.zip.ZIP, period.
We're going to unzip it - DONE
We're going to remove the old Kernel and replace it with a new one
Replaced and now we're going to move the new kernel to root /
mv: rename /kernel/mach_kernel to /mach_kernel: No such file or directory
chmod: /mach_kernel: No such file or directory
Setting up the right permissions for the Kernel
chown: /mach_kernel: No such file or directory
Setting up the right owners for the Kernel
Everything is done. A Small Message from Semthex - PLEASE READ
cat: /kernel/semthex.txt: No such file or directory

© 2006 Prasys. All Rights Reserved. Thanks for using the script

We're going to reboot - Please keep your fingers crossed. TO REBOOT TYPE Y NOW !
Do you want to reboot now? [y/n]



Ok, I'm on my Powerbook now.

As I suspected, this damned thing has trashed my install.

On reboot, I get:

Loading Darwin/x86
Can't find mach_kernel

Now what?

At boot, hit F8 and at the prompt type: mach_kernel.old

It still says:

Loading Darwin/x86
Can't find mach_kernel

Boot into single-user mode (F8 then -s)

At the prompt, type:

CODE

mount -uw /
cd /
ls -al

See if there is a "mach_kernel.old" or anything called "mach_kernel"
Whatever you find, put it as the first parameter in the following command:

cp -f mach_kernel.old mach_kernel
chown root:wheel mach_kernel*
chmod 644 mach_kernel*
reboot

As soon as I type -s, I get the "Can't find mach_kernel" error.

Boot your install DVD. Go to Terminal. Type:

CODE

cd /Volumes/(name-of-OSX-partition)
ls -al

See if there is a "mach_kernel.old" or anything called "mach_kernel.(something)"
Whatever you find, put it as the first parameter in the following command:

cp -f mach_kernel.(something) mach_kernel   <-- replace (something) with real suffix
chown root:wheel mach_kernel*
chmod 644 mach_kernel*

Quit Terminal
Quit Installer and reboot.

OK, trying this....

My partition is called Hard Drive

I've tried:

cd /Volumes/Hard_Drive

No such file or directory...

Funny thing is, that i have the same problem on the unzip step, since i do it myself and use this file as a reference, i still have working system.



i did that:
computer:/kernel root# cp latest.zip /Volumes/%DriveName%/latest.zip
and tried to uzip it manually.
Got this:
Unable to unarchive "latest.zip" into "%DriveName%"
(Error 1 - Operation not permitted.)
what the hell?

Edit
Since this file has only 4kb (command+i) on a copy, i'd assume that there is nothig to download right now.
Hope its because of the update being made.
Offline.

If you have a space in the name, you need to use quotes:

cd "/Volumes/Hard Drive"

The only items with mach or kernel in them are:


kernel
mach -> /mach.sym
mach (Mac OS 9) -> mach_kernel
mach (Mac OS 9) 1 -> /mach.sym
mach.sym
mach.sym (Mac OS 9)
mach.sym (Mac OS 9) 1
mach_kernel (Mac OS 9)
mach_kernel (Mac OS 9) 1

PS, thanks for your help on this!