Apple Macbook Air M1 (apple-tonga)
 MacBook Air M1 2020 running postmarketOS. | |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
|---|---|
| Name | MacBook Air |
| Codename | tonga |
| Released | 2020 |
| Type | laptop |
| Hardware | |
| Chipset | Apple M1 |
| CPU | 3.2 GHz 8cores (4× Apple Firestorm high-performance + 4× Apple Icestorm high-efficiency) |
| GPU | Apple G13G (either 7 or 8 cores dependent on base spec) |
| Display | 13.3", native 2560 x 1600 pixels (16:10, 227 ppi) IPS |
| Storage | 128GB (education only), 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Memory | 8/16 GB LPDDR4 @ 4266 MT/s |
| Architecture | aarch64 |
| Software | |
| Original software | macOS |
| Original version | 11.0 |
| FOSS bootloader | yes |
| postmarketOS | |
| Category | testing |
| Pre-built images | no |
| Mainline | yes |
| USB Networking |
Works |
|---|---|
| Internal storage | |
| SD card | |
| Battery |
Works |
| Screen |
Works |
| Keyboard |
Works |
| Touchpad |
Works |
| Multimedia | |
| 3D Acceleration |
Works |
| Audio |
Works |
| Camera |
Works |
| Camera Flash | |
| Connectivity | |
| WiFi |
Works |
| Bluetooth |
Works |
| Ethernet | |
| NFC | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| FDE |
Partial |
| USB-A | |
| USB OTG |
Works |
| HDMI/DP | |
| Sensors | |
| Magnetometer | |
| Ambient Light | |
| Proximity | |
| Hall Effect | |
| Haptics | |
| Barometer | |
| Secondary Bootloader |
Works |
|---|---|
| Mainline |
Works |
| Internal Storage |
Works |
| USB Host |
Works |
| USB Peripheral |
Works |
| Display |
Works |
| Keyboard |
Works |
| This device is based on the Apple M1 SoC. See the Apple M1 page for common tips, guides and troubleshooting steps |
 |
Note: for active development see https://asahilinux.org/ . |
Contributors
- Asahi Linux Project
Users owning this device
How to enter flash mode
for DFU mode: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/apple-configurator-2/apdd5f3c75ad/mac
Bootloader
According to Asahi Linux's Wiki, m1n1 is the bootloader for Linux kernel booting.
m1n1 is the bootloader developed by the Asahi Linux project to bridge the Apple (XNU) boot ecosystem to the Linux boot ecosystem.
What it does(from their wiki)
- Initializes hardware
- Puts up a pretty logo
- Loads embedded (appended) payloads, which can be:
- Device Trees (FDTs), with automatic selection based on the platform
- Initramfs images (compressed CPIO archives)
- Kernel images in Linux ARM64 boot format (optionally compressed)
- Configuration statements
- Chainloads another version of itself from a FAT32 partition (if configured to do so)
Proxy mode enables a huge toolset of developer features, from reducing your Linux kernel test cycle to 7 seconds, to live hardware probing and experimentation, to a hypervisor capable of running macOS or Linux and tracing hardware accesses in real time while providing a virtual UART over USB.
m1n1 can load U-Boot as a payload.
U-Boot
|
Note: You can look up their wiki for further informations. |
U-Boot is the default payload for m1n1 stage 2, and is used to provide a standard preboot environment familiar to AArch64 developers. External boot is not supported with the native Apple Silicon boot tooling, making U-Boot a hard necessity for providing a PC-like boot environment.
It is able to boot from any external media (USB drive, network, etc.) and users an execute any EFI binaries.
U-Boot Status
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| USB-A Ports | Not working due to their controller requiring firmware which we cannot redistribute. |
| USB devices | Certain USB devices which expose multiple functions (hubs with NICs, fancy gaming keyboards, etc.) do not work. |
| USB Hubs | Hubs with SD Card slots may cause U-Boot crash. |
Installation
This device now have a WIP port in postmarketOS, contributions are welcomed!
to install the m1n1 bootloader, which is needed to be able to boot linux, including a potential postmarketOS port, Use this script: curl https://alx.sh | sh
(this script can also be used to install asahi linux, but also provides the functionality needed to install just the m1n1 bootloader)
UART Debug Port
This device has UART port on the USB-C port closest to the edge. To activate this, you need to send various of commands via USB-PD.
If you enabled UART successfully, here is a command reference :
103: PD reset
This needs a 0x8000 argument (taken from the get action info reply).
105: Reboot
This needs a 0x8000 argument (taken from the get action info reply).
about reboot command
the command "5AC8012,0105,80000000" is sent through the Serial Monitor of Arduino IDE. if you want to reboot Mac more conveniently.
106: DFU / hold mode
This needs a 0x8001 argument (taken from the get action info reply). It only works properly in DFP mode (Mac acting as UFP).
This mode is special. On the Mac Mini, a hard shutdown normally disables PD communications and UFP mode (Rd open). However, a hard shutdown from this mode (e.g. holding down the power button) will power down the machine while PD communications remain active. The machine can also be rebooted via 105 into normal mode, and again PD is not reset and existing modes remain active. This can be used to maintain debug connectivity through a machine reset.
306: Debug UART
Pin order: TX, RX
This can be mapped to pin sets 0-2 (D+/D- B, D+/D- A, or SBU1/2). The UART uses 1.2V voltage levels.
pin 1 is TX and pin 2 is RX, orientation-aware (for CC=CC2 they are flipped). In other words, the SBU pin on the same side of the connector (A or B) as your CC pin is TX.
606: DFU USB
Pin order: D+, D- (of course)
This is automatically mapped to pin set 1 (D+/D- primary) in DFU mode, but can be moved.
4606: Debug USB(What we need)
Interesting. This is not main-CPU-driven, it enumerates even when the system is off (in persistent mode). It re-enumerates on power transitions.
0803: An I²C bus (3.3V)
Pin order: SCL, SDA
Device addresses seen (unshifted): 0x38, 0x3f
It doesn't do anything interesting during normal boot, but does in macOS.
Also, sometimes it just sends START 00 STOP (no ACK cycle) at slower speed (?)
0809: Another I²C bus (3.3V)
Pin order: SCL, SDA
Device addresses seen (unshifted): 0x6b, 0x38, 0x3f,
TBD
0206 weak (30kΩ) pull to 1.2V, no reaction to gnd, no transitions. Good chance this is SWD.
0301 1.2V, one pin drives high, the other no drive. Another UART? high-z in DFU mode, no activity except high pin tracking power/boots.
0303 Only maps to pinsets 1-2? Seems to be GND? No transitions seen. Unused UART mode?
See also
This device does currently boot and works to a degree, it has a actively developed Linux port (https://asahilinux.org/).
Notes
|
Note: An available GPU driver is ready for daily usage. |
Now you can install other Linux like Debian from this website:[Other].
To use Asahi's graphics driver, Update your kernel to their develop branch.