Installing Alma or Rocky Linux on Macmini Intel

gistfile1.txt

Overview:
  I have two older macmini systems (MacMini 6,2, 4 core 2.37Ghz i7, 16Gb, 255Gb SSD) that I want to use
  for a home kubernetes cluster. Since the most of my clients/experience has been with RedHat, I decided
  to go with Rocky Linux 9.x, but this technique also worked for installing Alma Linux.
  
Task:
  Install Rocky/Alma linux to the internal drive on the MacMini. 
  
Issues:
  The normal process for installing Linux on an Intel based Mac is:
    1. Create bootable USB from ISO using something like Belena Etcher.
    2. With the machine off, insert USB and start machine and hold ALT key.
    3. Select EFI Boot from USB to begin installation.
    4. Make selections, begin installation, reboot to linux.
    
  This process works for Fedora, but not for Alma or Rocky linux. Fedora includes the mkfs.hfs+ module in the kernel
  and also provides the package mactel-boot package. But these are not included in Alma or Rocky being downstream.
  After lots of googling and many attempts, including trying to update the installer using a kickstart file, I stumbled
  on a guide that was close and I was able to finess to the final solution. This should also work for RHEL, but has only
  been tested on Alma 9 and Rocky 9. 
  
Solution Description:
  The primary steps to making this solution work is:
    1. Setting configuration to not install boot loader.
    2. Manually creating the /boot/efi partion for the boot loader.
  But, you can't directly create an /boot/efi partion, you have to create another valid partion like "/var", and
  then change the parameters to make it a "standard partition" formatted as an "EFI System Partition."
  You have to ensure there are no other existing partitions, and if there is not enough space for the /boot/efi
  partition, you will have to resize either the "/" or "/home" partition down to allow 1024 MiB for the /boot/efi partition.
  
Quick Answer:
  In my final provisioning my steps involved:
    Automatically created partitions using "LVM".
    Removing the "/home" partion.
    Reducing the "/" partion down to 40 Gb,
    Create a "/var" partition (using the + in the lower left) with 1024 MiB.
    Change the "/var" partition to "/boot/efi" as a standard partition formatted as an "EFI System Partition".
    Create a "/opt" partition (using the + in the lower left) and use up the balance of the drive. 

Pre-Installation:

1. Download the Installation iso. I downloaded the DVD ISO versions.
2. Burn iso to 16Gb USB thumb drive. I created my USB using balenaEtcher from my Macbook Pro.

Installation:

1. With the MacMini off, insert USB thumb drive created above into mini.
2. Turn on MacMini and hold down <alt> key to bring up boot options.
3. Select the USB drive created (should say EFI and be an orange-ish color).
4. Wait for booting to bring you to the installation screen.

From the Installation screen:
1. Select language and <continue>
2. (optional) Root Password (Set root password)
3. (optional) User Creation (Create a default user & make administrator)
4. Installation Destination:
    Select "Full disk summary and boot loader"
        Select disk and then click "Do not install boot loader"
        Close
    Select drive and then under Storage Configuration select Custom
    Done
    Select LVM format and then click create them automatically
    Remove the "home" partition (use the '-' in the lower left corner)
    Reduce "/" partition down to 40 GiB
    
    Now we have to create the /boot/efi partition in a backwards fashion, by creating /var and renaming it:
    Create new partition on lower left "+" and create:
        /var with 1024 MiB
    
    Now change /var partition parameters....
        mount point: /boot/efi
        device type: "standard partition"
        File system: EFI System Partition
      select update settings.
    Create a new partion on the lower left "+" and create:
        /opt to use up the balance of the drive.
        
    Done
    Accept Changes
5. Make changes to installation type
6. Begin Installation
7. "Problems in request, Ignore and continue installation" ---> Yes


This should complete the installation and when rebooting, will boot from the new installation, SUCCESS!