For others, there's SheepShaver, a PowerPC emulator capable of running Mac OS 9.0.4 down to Mac OS 7.5.2 and there's Basilisk II, a 68k emulator, capable of running Mac OS (8.1 to 7.0). For everything older than System 7, you will need a Mac Plus emulator like Mini vMac NEW!
- Sheepshaver Rom
- Sheepshaver Quits
- Sheepshaver Pc
- Sheepshaver Wrapper
- How To Open Iso On Sheepshaver Mac Pro
- How To Use Sheepshaver
- How To Open Iso On Sheepshaver Macbook Air
SheepShaver is a PowerPC (PPC) emulator which allows you to run Mac OS 7.5 up to Mac OS 9.0.4 on various platforms, such as on Windows. SheepShaver started as a commercial project in 1998 but is now open source since 2002. UPDATE: For a list of interesting old Mac applications which you can play with using Mini vMac, Basilisk and SheepShaver, refer to my latest article. This guide shows you how to run MAC OS 8 on the Basilisk emulator. This is the last version of Mac OS X that can be run on this emulator. The emulator emulates a 68k Macintosh, while later versions Mac OS requires a PowerPC. It is recommended.
Status: 12 September 2020 - Testing and done two 'large' physical disk dumps to Virtual Mac using 'sheep_net' kernel module.
Basilisk II & SheepShaver are emulations for Motorola 68000 series and PowerPC series Apple Macintoshes. For retro-computing enthausiants they bring a virtualised retro computing experience. Both can be run on a number of platforms including: Windows, MacOS, FreeBSD, IRIX and Linux. Here are tips on getting these running and trouble shooting there use on Ubuntu Linux.
I did this as I needed to set up an AppleTalk gateway to easily move files to/from a real M68000 series Mac. Another way to achieve this is using netatalk, which is AppleTalk equivalent to Samba for SMB/CIFS.
Setting up Basilisk II
Ubuntu has a prebuilt Basilisk II package available that can be install as standard apt install package:
I have tested the following:
- Ubuntu 20.04 - Does not work (segmenation fault on startup)
- Ubuntu 18.04 - only 'nojit' works
- Ubuntu 160.04 - both 'jit' and 'nojit' work. Through I was unable to find how to get equivalent of 'Command' & 'Alt/Option' keys working and there appears to be problem with disk emulation layer as 'Apple HD SC Setup' is not able to detect disks.
With the Ubuntu 20.04 installation a Gnome Desktop icon is created and you can start Basilisk II emulator by double clicking the icon. For 16.04 & 18.04 open a terminal window and start by running: BasiliskII (default), BasiliskII-jit or BasiliskII-nojit which allows control of the 'Just In Time' (JIT) compiler.
Setting up SheepShaver
There is no Ubuntu Sheep Shaver pre-built package so getting SheepShaver up and running requires a build from source. This requires:
Sheepshaver Rom
- Install build tools
- Clone the git repository - 'git clone https://github.com/cebix/macemu.git'
- Build and Test - 'cd macemu/SheepShaver/src/Unix',
- Install
Given issues with Basilisk II on Ubuntu 18.04 & 20.04 I opted to do build on Ubuntu 16.04.
The build tools required are: build-essential autoconf git libgtk2.0-dev x11proto-xf86dga-dev libesd0-dev libxxf86dga-dev libxxf86dga1 [optionally: libsdl1.2-dev or libsdl2-dev]
To build follow the following steps:
Using sheep_net on Linux
If you want your Macintosh to be able to expose itself as an AppleTalk file server, then the default slirp network will not work. Slirp acts like a NAT firewall, which means it blocks all incoming requests. This is where 'sheep_net' comes in.
'sheep_net' relies on a kernel module which lets the emulator get access to the network interface, avoiding having a NAT layer in place. This means the emulator can now use AppleTalk and TCP/IP protocols and you can do things like set up your emulator to act as a CIF or NFS to Apple File Protocol (AFP) over AppleTalk gateway.
Why would this be helpful ? Well if you have some actual real vintage Mac's then then it is useful to be able to get files on and off them and preserve your collection of vintage applications. Your could also achieve the same thing with netatalk (v2), but this involves more configuration than using the emulator.
The original AppleTalk provided a very simple and easy to manage network that was perfect for small office environments back in its day.
So here the how...
- Install git on you Ubuntu host machine
- Clone the macemu git repository
- cd down into: ./macemu/src/BasiliskII/Unix/Linux/NetDriver
- Build & install the klm by doing: make install
- Load the klm: modprobe sheep_net
- Change the owner of /dev/sheet_net node to avoid permission problem or having to run Basilisk II as root: sudo chown <USER> /dev/sheet_net
- Start up Basilisk II GUI and change the networking to have the name of the network link (not the device) such as: enp0s1
- Start the machine and configure AppleTalk to use the ethernet interface and configure the TCP/IP with either DHCP or statically defined address, gateway and DNS resolution details.
- You should now beable to use 'Chooser' to connect to other LocalTalk Macs on your network
NOTE: The Ubuntu install also puts the sheep_net code in directory: /usr/shared/doc/basilisk2/example/NetDriver but this version is relatively old and one on macemu git repository has a number of fixes.
Mounting and Cleanup up HFS Disk Images
To boot your emulated Macintosh you will need a ROM dump and a bootable HFS disk image. The disk images are very suspect to failure, so if you emulation crashes or you have to kill it because it hangs, then it is likely not to be bootable at next startup. To repair the HFS image you will need to mount it as raw block device and then do a file system check on this.
The tools use are:
- hfsprogs - apt package with support for HFS/HFS+ disk
- losetup - provides loop setup function to create new /dev/loopX device
- fsck.hf - part of hfs-utils, provide tools to check the /dev/loopX device file system
- mount - with -t hfs -o loop options to allow you to mount and verify the HFS image
Here is sample session, showing how to mount image and do a file system check:
NOTE 1: To get hfs/hfs+ support do: 'sudo apt install hfsplus hfsprogs'
NOTE 2: Always make sure you have a backup of your HFS image if it is important and always have an alterate boot disk in case you need to do a recovery.
The 'ERROR: Not enough free memory.'
On MacOS I am able to run my machines with 1024 MB RAM, with both Basilisk II & SheepShaver. With Ubuntu 16.04 Basilisk II the maximum size I am able to run is 512 MB RAM. When I went to next increment in size to 1024 I get failure:
Current workaround is simply not use more that 512 MB with Basilisk II.
SheepShaver works with 1024 MB.
AppleTalk Gateway using netatalk (on FreeBSD)
Another way to provide an AppleTalk gateway is by using Netatalk. This provides the equivalent of Sambe but for Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) and if you use older version (2.x) then it has support for AppleTalk which is need to work with older Macs. There are some complexities with this as it requires you compile AppleTalk support into the kernel.
To achieve this I swapped over to using FreeBSD VM. FreeBSD had AppleTalk available up until version 10.4. So I downloaded FreeBSD 10.4 AMD64 DVD iso and did install with src code included (to allow kernal recompile).
Steps are:
- Get 10.4 AMD 64 ISO
- Create new FreeBSD VM and boot from DVD (note that you cannot directly boot a UEFI VM from this DVD), so if you want to use UEFI VM you have to play around by starting boot from existing FreeBSD install and then changing boot device to cd).
- Rebuild kernel with updated 'option ATATALK' in config (/usr/src/sys/amd64/conf/GENERIC) & reboot
- Do pkg install of netatalk (I advise not to do this via ports as the ports tree will point to newer version)
- Make sure you have extra NIC on VM just for AppleTalk and do not configure IP address on this NIC
- Reboot
- Setup you atatalk configuration
- Reboot & Test
In summary this is much more work that just using 'Basilisk II' emulator with sheep_net to provide your AppleTalk solution.
NOTE: I will provide more detailed notes at once I have completed testing. My assessment is that for most Retro Mac'ing needs this is more complicated than is justified to get simple AppleTalk AFP service going.
And a Screen Snap
A VM each for PowerPC SheepShaver and OS 9 and Motorola M68040 Basilisk II and System Software 7.5.3.
Now by mounting NFS or CIFS network file systems somewhere under the that is selected for the Unix Root file systems then this provide a way gateway between NFS/CIFS storage and old world Macs.
NOTE 1: In general Basilisk II Mac has snappier performance that the Sheep Shaver PowerPC machine.
NOTE 2: Both emulators are running in Ubuntu 16.04 VM guest with sheep_net KLM for AppleTalk on an Ubuntu 20.04 Host.
References & Links:
Basilisk II and SheepShaver - are both managed via same sites and a central repository on github
The emuculation Forums - go to place for information on running the emulators, though be aware that some of the topics are very very old and likely to be out 0f date
Another AppleTalk Adventure -
The SheepShaver Wrapper for OS X and macOS
Sheepshaver Quits
Summary | How to set it up | Acknowledgments | Support
An easy way to run 'classic' applications under OS X and macOS
OS X and macOS no longer makes it possible to run 'classic' Mac applications written for 'classic' Mac OS versions, such as System 7 or Mac OS 9. In order to run such applications, OS X and macOS users must now install 'emulator' software that runs old versions of the Mac OS in a window on the OS X or macOS desktop. The most advanced of these emulator programs is SheepShaver. SheepShaver is no longer supported by its original author, Gwenolé Beauchesne, but updates, made by a programmer who calls himself or herself kanjitalk755, are available from an active support forum at E-Maculation.
Sheepshaver Pc
This page provides a system that makes it easy to set up and use SheepShaver under OS X or macOS 10.8 or later. You will need to supply a 'ROM file' (as described below) and you will need an installation CD for any version of the Mac OS from OS 8.5 through 9.0.4, or a disk image of such a CD, as described below.
This system requires OS X or macOS 10.11 or later. It was updated 31 July 2020 with a version that runs smoothly under macOS 10.15 Catalina and probably at least one future version.
How to set it up
The usual way to set up SheepShaver is to follow the detailed guide on the E-maculation site. The page you are now reading provides a much simpler method, using a prebuilt 'application bundle' that contains almost everything you need, in a single package. To use it, follow these steps. Note that when the instructions refer to OS 9, the same procedure should work with OS 8.5 or 8.6. (Expert users will know how to modify the system for use with System 7 through 8.1; non-experts should not attempt this.)
1. Download the application bundle here. It is enclosed in a 13 MB ZIP file. Extract it and move it from the Downloads folder to any other place on your hard disk. Launch it once so that macOS will request the permissons it needs. The first time you launch it, it will display a warning that you need to add a ROM file, and SheepShaver will not start. Close the warning message and follow the next steps.
2. Get a copy of a New World Mac PPC ROM. See the setup guide at E-Maculation for advice on how to find one. (Or you can go directly to the Redundant Robot web site and find the file indicated as 'best for SheepShaver'.) The ROM file that you find will probably be named something like 'newworldrom'; make certain to rename the ROM file Mac OS ROM (use this exact string; no extension) and drop the ROM file onto the SheepShaver Wrapper. A message from the SheepShaver Wrapper will tell you that the file was copied to the correct location. If you get an error message, make sure that you are using the correct file with the correct name remember: no extension - check the Info window to make sure).
3. Install Mac OS 8.5 through 9.0.4. This step assumes that you have a copy of an OS 8.5 through 9.0.4 installation CD on a disk image. (You cannot use an actual CD, only an image made from a CD.) The installation CD image must be one that was made from a retail CD, not one that came with a specific machine. Note that when installing, you should not try to format or initialize the virtual hard disk; it is already formatted, and contains some Apple-supplied updates for OS 8.6 and 9.0.4 in a disk image file in a folder named 'OS Updaters'. Some of these are US-English versions; other versions may be found through a web search.
Note: To create an image file from an installation CD, use Disk Utility in OS X or macOS and create a disk image in 'DVD/CD Master' format.
(Important note: When installing OS 9, when you reach the menu that lets you specify which parts of the OS you want to install, click Options and turn off the option to 'Update Apple Hard Disk Drivers'; for reasons that I don't understand, the OS installation will stall when this option is on. When booting from an OS 8.5 CD image, hold down the shift key to turn extensions off, or else the CD image may not boot; this is not required with OS 8.6.)
3. Drop your CD image file of a Mac OS installation CD on the SheepShaver Wrapper. If the file is in the correct format, and is bootable, SheepShaver will boot from the image file. (If the image file is not 'locked,' which it must be if the Mac OS is to be installed from it, the SheepShaver Wrapper will offer to lock it for you.) Install the Mac OS from the booted CD image. Then shut down SheepShaver completely. Start the SheepShaver Wrapper again, and it should now boot to OS 8 or 9, and the CD image will not be mounted.
4. Start up SheepShaver and start working in Mac OS 8 or 9. The steps above will give you a working SheepShaver system, with the 'Unix' folder in SheepShaver set to be your Documents folder in OS X or macOS. If you want to use a different folder as the 'Unix' folder, or if you want to change the screen size or other features, use the Preferences menu.
4. Study the configuration guide at E-Maculation. The Configuration Guide includes absolutely essential information about using the 'classic' Mac OS in SheepShaver. If something goes wrong, and you have not studied that guide, then you have only yourself to blame.
Sheepshaver Wrapper
The virtual hard disk in the system is a 4GB disk. If that does not provide enough disk space for your purposes, create a second disk, using the procedures described in the wiki at Emaculation.com. Or use the SheepShaver Preferences to add the unformatted Backup 4GB disk also included in the system.
How To Open Iso On Sheepshaver Mac Pro
Acknowledgments
This system is built on software provided by many people who are more expert than I am. The included build of SheepShaver is slightly customized from code modified by the programmer who uses the name kanjitalk755. I have benefited from many suggestions by Ronald P. Regensburg and others in the E-Maculation forum, and I could not have written this script without the help of many experts at Macscripter.net and especially from Shane Stanley there at Macscripter.net and at the forum at latenightsw.com.
Support
Please do not ask me to help you set up the 'classic' Mac OS or advise you about any applications. Please ask for support in the E-Maculation support forum for SheepShaver. If you want to get in touch with me about the AppleScript in the SheepShaver Wrapper, then please visit this page.
How To Use Sheepshaver
Edward Mendelson (em thirty-six [at] columbia [dot] edu, but with two initials and two numerals before the [at] sign, not spelled out as shown here).