Emma Thorpe
f41879710c
- common-nixos: nix.settings.auto-optimise-store + larger download buffer. - workstation: fstrim, boot.tmp.cleanOnBoot, and the shared graphical options moved here from the per-host configs (pipewire, swaylock PAM stub, redistributable firmware) -- MBP-Asahi gains audio it lacked. - T400: zramSwap for the low-RAM host. - MBP-Asahi: nixos-apple-silicon binary cache substituter. - MacPro31 README: describe the real (LVM/UUID) hardware config; it is no longer a placeholder. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Mac Pro 3,1 (Early 2008) — install notes
Flake host: lyrathorpe-macpro31. Desktop (portable = false, imports
../../modules/desktop.nix). Files: configuration.nix,
hardware-configuration.nix.
Hardware configuration
hardware-configuration.nix here is the real config generated by
nixos-generate-config on the machine. Root is an LVM logical volume
(/dev/mapper/MacPro-Root, ext4); the ESP (vfat) and swap are referenced by
UUID. The initrd carries dm-snapshot for the LVM root. Regenerate and commit
if the disk layout changes.
Bootloader
The Mac Pro 3,1 has 64-bit EFI, so it uses systemd-boot (no GRUB/CSM
shim). canTouchEfiVariables = false because Apple's firmware does not reliably
accept efibootmgr NVRAM writes.
Apple-EFI quirk: if the firmware boot picker does not show NixOS after install, either
- uncomment
boot.loader.efi.efiInstallAsRemovable = true;inconfiguration.nix(installs the fallback\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI), and/or - "bless" the ESP from macOS.
Partition the disk GPT with an ESP (vfat).
Graphics
The stock card varies between units — ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT. No proprietary driver is hardcoded; Sway relies on in-tree KMS:
- ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT →
radeon(oramdgpu) KMS - NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT →
nouveauKMS
These come up automatically. If a card needs forcing, set
services.xserver.videoDrivers and/or add the module to
boot.initrd.kernelModules for early KMS (see the comment in
configuration.nix).
Networking
Wired Ethernet via NetworkManager (from desktop.nix) — the Mac Pro has two
gigabit ports.
Login
Graphical login via a Wayland greeter — greetd running ReGreet inside the
cage kiosk compositor — configured centrally in lyrathorpe/swaywm.nix for
every Sway host (gated on features.swayDesktop.enable). The greeter is forced
to the Dvorak layout to match the console and Sway session. Set the user
password (passwd lyrathorpe) after install, or the greeter cannot
authenticate. Requires working KMS (radeon/nouveau — see Graphics).
Apply
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#lyrathorpe-macpro31