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Ubuntu install on macbook pro 16 (2019)

Hi,


Is it technically possible to install Ubuntu (18.04.03) and boot from some partition on the internal SSD, on a macbook pro 16" running mac OS 10.15.2 (Catalina) ?


I already know the two prerequisite condition :

1-Allow the boot on alternate OS, &

2-Deactivate the System Integrity protection.


More accurately, is there any hardware limitation prohibiting Ubuntu to write on the SSD, and/or a technical incompatibility with the trackpad and/or the touchbar, or any other MBP 16 component ?


If such an installation is possible, does it present any risk for the MBP hardware (like overheating for instance) ?


Additional information : my MBP 16 already dual boots mac OS & Win10, installed without any difficulty through BootCamp. Then my purpose is to triple boot mac OS, Win10 and Ubuntu. When I tried to install, the Ubuntu installer is unable to "see" the SSD, then can't mount it to format the partition(s) it needs to install.


Thank you in advance for your help.

MacBook

Posted on Jan 30, 2020 10:03 AM

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Posted on Jan 30, 2020 9:38 PM

You cannot currently install Linux onto bare metal on any 2018+ Mac which uses a T2 chip since the Linux kernel doesn't yet contain the necessary drivers to communicate with the T2 chip and hence the SSD. I've heard someone is working on T2 chip support, but I don't believe it will be anytime soon.


Besides the T2 chip issue the default Linux kernel in most distributions do not have the necessary drivers to be able to use the Keyboard or Trackpad since those items are no longer considered USB devices. IIRC the v5.5 kernel will support the Keyboard & Trackpads on MBPro 2016-2017 (and probably 2018+). Even Ubuntu 19.10 by default only includes the v5.3 kernel although it is possible to upgrade to the v5.5 kernel after Ubuntu is installed (or it will soon be possible to get v5.5).


At this time if you want to use Linux on this laptop you will need to use a VM.


FYI, before you try to install any other OS on the same drive as macOS make sure to have good verified working backups of macOS. So many people end up destroying both macOS and the other operating systems when resizing partitions and installing/uninstalling the other operating systems. You are much safer using a VM or installing other operating systems to an external drive.



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Ubuntu install on macbook pro 16 (2019)

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