How to extend the iMac Pro to X99 [Successful Build/Extended Guide]

[kgp]

I was able to get through this, it was something on the ACPI folders causing the issue. I've been traveling, will post EFI when I get back.

@dnetcrawler , @duckgrossberg,

Clarification:

When initially doing all tests on my rig (clean install of PB3/DP4, update from 10.12, update from PB2/DP3), I did not complete the matchOS entries for the KextToPatch and KernelToPatch entries. Thus, this version of the config. plist and EFI folder did boot the DP3/DP4 installer without any problems.

If you @dnetcrawler properly remember, after all your problems with EFI-10.13-TM, I uploaded for you the initial version of the EFI folder on my USB Flash drive. That's why you could finally pass the +++++++ problem. Honestly, I would have expected some positive feedback from you, which would have extremely minimized the duration of the +++++++ problem for all users!

With respect to EFI-10.13-TM, which I distributed attached to my 10.13 High Sierra Desktop Guide during the last days and weeks, I was subsequently completing the matchOS entries for the KextToPatch and KernelToPatch entries on my system drive, without checking whether the DP3/DP4 installer/updater boots well with this modifications.

And exactly there was there was the problem! After all negative feedback from you and other users, I did a backup of the functional EFI folder on my USB Flash Drive, removed it's content on the USB Flash Drive, and copied the content of the EFI folder in EFI-10.13-TM to the EFI folder in my USB Flash Drive.

And to my big surprise, when booting the PB3/DP4 installer yesterday night with the EFI folder in EFI-10.13-TM, I also ended up with the +++++ problem even on my rig!

After in-depth tests and various intents and modifications, I found the problem which exactly consisted in the subsequent modification of my original config.plist concerning the MatchOS entries!

After changing the MatchOS entry for the "5960X 10.12" KextsToPatch" entry from MatchOS "10.13" to
MatchOS "10.12", and also changing the MatchOS entry for the "10.13 Installer/Updater essential" KernelToPatch" entry
from MatchOS "10.13" to MatchOS "10.12", the PB3/DP4 installer/updater booted flawless again. But suddenly when booting the PB3/DP4 System Disk subsequently, I faced permanent reboot during the boot process.

After finally changing the MatchOS entry for the "5960X 10.12" KextsToPatch" entry from now MatchOS "10.12" to
MatchOS "10.13, 10.12", and also changing the MatchOS entry for the "10.13 Installer/Updater essential" KernelToPatch" entry
from now MatchOS "10.12" to MatchOS "10.13, 10.12", the PB3/DP4 installer/updater and the PB3/DP4 System Disk worked flawless again.

This the correct configuration definitely is:

Name*            Find*[HEX]           Replace*[HEX]        Comment               MatchOS
IOPCIFamily      4881fb00 000040      4881fb00 000080      5960XPatch 10.12      10.13, 10.12

Find*[HEX]                    Replace*[HEX]                  Comment                                MatchOS
07000000 31d2e88f fcffff      07000000 31d29090 909090       10.13 Installer/Updater essential      10.13, 10.12

The MatchOS entries for all other KextToPatch and KernelToPatch entries can remain with "10.13" only!

EFI-10.13-TM-030817a.zip now contains all these tiny but substantial and absolutely necessary modifications to successfully boot the DP3/DP4 installer/updater but also the BP3/DP4 system disk subsequently ! With the content of the EFI folder of EFI-10.13-TM-030817a.zip, definitely everything should work fine.

Further important clarifications:

@dnetcrawler: Now to your ACPI folder comment! The ACPI folder of EFI-10.13-TM-030817a.zip is totally empty and has to be filled during the post-install process. If you already performed the post-install during PB2/DP3 you can just copy and paste all aml-files from your previously completed configuration. The ACPI folder of EFI-10.13-TM-030817a.zip was definitely NOT the source for the +++++ problem.

@duckgrossberg: Do you have the TB PCIe card installed on your ASUS X99 Deluxe II?? If so, remove it for the PB3/DP4 clean install process and configure it properly during the post-install process, following a few specific posts indicated in my 10.12 MacOS Sierra Desktop Guide! With a not properly configured TB PCIe card, neither the PB3/DP4 installer nor your DP4 System Disk will ever boot flawless!

Ok, thanks guys for your attention and good luck to both of you!

Cheers,

KGP

 

[Obecny]

The new efi works no problems for me, great job! thanks kgp
I can't boot with nvidia webdrivers, every time I am trying to boot with nvidia webdriver on I get reboot during boot, looks like random spot but it is so fast I can't even spot on what it is exactly, no problem with booting with -v but the webdrivers are not loaded this way

 

[kgp]

The new efi works no problems for me, great job! thanks kgp
I can't boot with nvidia webdrivers, every time I am trying to boot with nvidia webdriver on I get reboot during boot, looks like random spot but it is so fast I can't even spot on what it is exactly, no problem with booting with -v but the webdrivers are not loaded this way

Thanks for the positive reply! I am happy of having solved the +++++ problem!

I guess that you simply messed up something in the 10.12.6 Webdriver Workaround on 10.13! Just repeat the procedure described in my 10.13 High Sierra Desktop Guide. Remember that you have to use SMBIOS Mac Pro 6.1 to circumvent the Nvidia black screen problem with AGDPFix!

Cheers,

KGP!

 

[kgp]

Last Minor Updates and Refinements​

Please note that I just performed minor updates in EFI-10-13-TM consisting of:

• Further refinements of MatchOS entries for KextsToPatch and KernelToPatch entries in the config.plist

• EmuVariableUefi-64.efi (clover file) removed from /EFI/CLOVER/drivers64UEFI/. This file seems to result in an error during the upgrade process from PB2/DP3 to PB3/DP4

​

• CsmVideoDxe-64.efi (clover file) added to /EFI/CLOVER/drivers64UEFI/. This file omits the verbose line of the apfs.efi driver

• FakeSMC.kext replaced by a FakeSMC.kext properly supporting the individual HWsensor.kexts in /EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other/. The actual FakeSMC.kext also supports now Fan-speed information with the HWMonitor.app

• Modified EFI Folder attached below and towards the end of the originating post of this thread (10.13 High Sierra Desktop Guide): EFI-10.13-TM-040817.zip

• 10.13 High Sierra Desktop Guide (originating post of this thread) modified and adopted correspondingly

Clean Install of PB3/DP4, Update from 10.12.6 to PB3/DP4 and Update from PB2/DP3 to PB3/DP4 works now absolutely flawless

a.) If you use a Haswell-E instead of Broadwell-E, don't forget to perform the necessary modifications for the upgrade or clean

install of DP3/DP4 (see originating post, 10.13 desktop guide)​

b.) In case of a clean install or upgrade from 10.12.6, don't forget to subsequently perform the post-installation procedure (see

originating post, 10.13 desktop guide).​

c.) If you upgrade from PB2/DP3 to PB3/DP4, don't forget to complete the EFI folder with your previous settings, i.e. transfer the

necessary kext and aml files! If you posses a Haswell-E CPU, also consider a.)​

Good luck and enjoy!



KGP

I address this notification especially to @dnetcrawler , @ICEVISION , @Pears , @Obecny, @duckgrossberg, @Subsystems and @GDS

 

[kgp]

Thanks!

@duckgrossberg, please have a crosstalk with @Obecny, in case you still do not succeed with the PB3/DP4 clean install on the ASUS X99 Deluxe II with EFI-10.13-TN-040817.zip! Opposite to @dnetcrawler (ASUS X99 Rampage V Edition 10), he as the same board configuration like you (ASUS X99 Deluxe II) and he already successfully passed the DP3/DP4 installer booting problem thanks to my new EFI configuration!

Cheers,

KGP

 

[duckgrossberg]

@duckgrossberg, please have a crosstalk with @Obecny, in case you still do not succeed with the PB3/DP4 clean install on the ASUS X99 Deluxe II with EFI-10.13-TN-040817.zip! Opposite to @dnetcrawler (ASUS X99 Rampage V Edition 10), he as the same board configuration like you (ASUS X99 Deluxe II) and he already successfully passed the DP3/DP4 installer booting problem thanks to my new EFI configuration!

Cheers,

KGP

@kgp Thank you very much for this. Unfortunately still ++++++

@Obecny When you get the opportunity, could you please upload your EFI folder that progresses past the +++++++ and successfully loads the installer.

Regards,
Duck

 

[kgp]

@kgp Thank you very much for this. Unfortunately still ++++++

@Obecny When you get the opportunity, could you please upload your EFI folder that progresses past the +++++++ and successfully loads the installer.

Regards,
Duck

Did you remove the TB PCIe card before installation??? This seems absolutely mandatory for a clean install of PB3/DP4 with the Deluxe II!! See also may 10.12 Desktop Guide!

If I am not totally wrong, @Obecny just successfully boots with my new revised EFI folder without further modifications...

Let's see what he answers...

Cheers

 

[duckgrossberg]

Did you remove the TB PCIe card for the installation???

If I am not totally wrong, @Obecny just boots with my new revised EFI folder...

Let's see what he answers...

Cheers

I did remove the card. You've put A LOT of time and effort into your build and documentation. I appreciate everything you've done and am following your instructions to the letter.

 

[kgp]

I did remove the card. You've put A LOT of time and effort into your build and documentation. I appreciate everything you've done and am following your instructions to the letter.

I don't know... before there was certainly a bug in the config.plist in the uploaded EFI-10.13-TM Folder. I checked this EFI Folder myself two days ago and it did neither boot on my rig even. But now after two tiny modifications everything boots fine: clean installer of DP4, upgrade installer from 10.12.6 and DP3. 100% verified. And you see that also @Obecny succeeds with the same EFI Folder on the Deluxe II.

Man, I really don't know where is your specific not to loose yet. Hopefully, @Obecny can help you in solving your specific issue.

Let me know once it works out for your and you can report success. If there is something additional, Deluxe II users have to consider, please let us know about the details!

Good luck!

KGP

 

[kgp]

All right you're right ... setup should be simple
Just like the installation of the 10.12

The computer connected to 5 HHD
2 SSD
1 NVME

TOTAL 32 TB

Disassemble all Hard Drive?

@ICEVISION, have you been able to successfully boot the DP4 installer with the modified EFI-10.13-TM folder once more attached below? I found two bugs in the former version previously uploaded and distributed towards the end of my guide. This former version of the folder you tried unfortunately did not even boot on my rig! Now with the modified folder below, everything works perfectly! 100% verified boot of DP4 clean installer and update installer from 10.12.6 and DP3.

I am totally sure that it will also work with your rig. Can you please provide some feedback as soon as possible?

Thanks in advance,

KGP