Powerpc Mac Os 9 Emulator
Ignoring licensing/legal issues, is there any virtualisation software that will virtualise an older, PowerPC-only version of Mac OS X (e.g. Panther 10.3.9) on an Intel Mac? If I understand correctly (and I very possibly don’t), such software would have to emulate a PowerPC processor, so it doesn’t seem likely. May 31, 2016 The Mac OS X Developer Previews include the development of the Classic Environment. In fact, you can load a built-in Mac OS 9 virtual machine!
| Developer(s) | Christian Bauer, Gwenole Beauchesne |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1998; 22 years ago |
| Stable release | 2.3 pre / May 14, 2006; 13 years ago |
| Preview release | |
| Repository | |
| Operating system | BeOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows |
| Type | Emulator |
| License | GPL |
| Website | sheepshaver.cebix.net |
SheepShaver is an open-sourcePowerPCApple Macintoshemulator originally designed for BeOS and Linux. The name is a play on ShapeShifter,[1] a Macintosh II emulator for AmigaOS (made obsolete by Basilisk II), which is in turn not to be confused with a third-party preference pane for Mac OS X with the same name. The ShapeShifter and SheepShaver projects were originally conceived and programmed by Christian Bauer. However, currently, the main developer behind SheepShaver is Gwenolé Beauchesne.
History[edit]
SheepShaver was originally commercial software when first released in 1998, but after the demise of Be Inc., the maker of BeOS, it became open source in 2002.[2] It can be run on both PowerPC and x86 systems; however, it runs more slowly on an x86 system than on a PowerPC system, because of the translation between the PowerPC and Intel x86 instruction sets.[3] SheepShaver has also been ported to Microsoft Windows.[citation needed]
As a free software, a few variants exist to simplify the installation process on Intel-based Macs:
- ‘Sheep Shaver Wrapper’[4] is built off of Sheep Shaver but it does some of the bundling work for the user.
- 'Chubby Bunny'[5] also simplifies the set up process of OS 9 visualization on Intel Macs running OS X.
Features[edit]
SheepShaver is capable of running Mac OS 7.5.2 through 9.0.4[6] (though it needs the image of an Old World ROM to run Mac OS 8.1 or below[7]), and can be run inside a window so that the user can run classic Mac OS and either BeOS, Intel-based Mac OS X, Linux, or Windows applications at the same time.
Although SheepShaver does have Ethernet support and CD-quality sound output,[8] it does not emulate the memory management unit.[9] While adding MMU emulation has been discussed, the feature has not been added because of the effort required in implementing it, the impact on performance it will have and the lack of time on the part of the developers.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'The Official SheepShaver Homepage'. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^'The Official SheepShaver Homepage'. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^'SheepShaver (wayback machine)'. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^'The SheepShaver Wrapper for OS X'. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^'The SheepShaver Wrapper for OS X'. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^'The Official SheepShaver Homepage'. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^'Setting up SheepShaver for Windows'. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^'The Official SheepShaver Homepage'. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^'SheepShaver (wayback machine)'. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
External links[edit]
- SheepShaver for x86(in Japanese)
Mac OS 9/Classic Support Q&A - Updated April 27, 2012
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Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?
When Apple made the decision to no longer support Mac OS 9/Classic applications, EveryMac.com was hopeful that an easy to install and use commercial application would become available and allow use of legacy applications and documents on the Intel-based Macs.
However, as the market for Mac OS 9/Classic compatibility solutions is not growing, and as it has been many years since the switch to Intel processors, it is doubtful that a commercial solution will become available.
Open Source 'SheepShaver' Emulator Option
Nevertheless, where the commercial market failed, the open-source community has made an valiant effort to respond with the oddly titled 'SheepShaver'. SheepShaver began life as a Mac OS 'run-time environment' that made it possible to run Mac OS applications within the BeOS. The name itself is a play on 'ShapeShifter', a 68k Mac emulator for the AmigaOS.
The hardworking open-source programmers behind the SheepShaver project explain:
It enables you to run PowerPC Classic Mac OS software on your computer, even if you are using a different operating system [like Mac OS X for Intel]. However, you still need a copy of Mac OS and a Power Macintosh ROM image to use this program. . . SheepShaver provides the first PowerPC G4 emulator, though without MMU, to enable the execution of Mac OS Classic. Performance with the current CPU emulator using basic just-in-time (JIT) translation techniques is roughly 1/8-th of native speeds.
SheepShaver Installation Instructions
Compared to average Mac OS X applications, which generally are installed with 'drag and drop' simplicity, installing SheepShaver is complicated, as it officially requires one to extract a software ROM.
However, Emaculation provides detailed instructions -- complete with screenshots -- that explains the process and includes extracting Mac OS ROM Update 1.0 with TomeViewer as well as installing and configuring the latest build of SheepShaver with Mac OS 9.0.4 (the last supported version of the OS).
Redundant Robot also provides a useful tutorial complete with direct links to ROM files so one will not have to extract them manually.
As first spotted by MacWindows, one helpful SheepShaver user went a step further and bundled recent SheepShaver binaries compatible with Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 along with a 'ROM file and a preconfigured Mac OS 9.0.1 installation' to make it possible to install SheepShaver with 'drag and drop' ease. This convenient bundle (no longer online) is dubbed 'Chubby Bunny,' and is not connected with the SheepShaver development team.
Although it certainly appears that the user behind Chubby Bunny is well meaning, it nevertheless always is prudent to be careful when downloading any 'unofficial' files. Be sure to backup your computer before 'fiddling' with any official or unofficial SheepShaver software (or before adding any new software to your Mac, for that matter).
SheepShaver Performance & Use
From hands on experience as well as other websites and comments, it is safe to conclude that after overcoming any installation hurdles, SheepShaver allows one to run Mac OS 9 slowly -- even within the latest version of Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion' -- but some also have had trouble with compatibility and stability as well. This is not to denigrate the hard work of the open source community in the slightest as this type of program is extremely complex and the fact it works as well as it does is quite remarkable.
Should you have non-critical needs for running Mac OS 9/Classic applications on an Intel-based Mac, such as really old games or potentially even archived document access, SheepShaver might meet your needs. However, most of those who remain dependent on Mac OS 9/Classic software would be best served by continuing to use an existing PowerPC-based Mac or upgrading to a newer one.
Site sponsor Operator Headgap Systems specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications.
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