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Why Linux On Microsoft Surface Is a Tough Challenge

Posted by timothy on from the 5-feet-high-and-risin' dept.

hypnosec writes "With Linux enthusiasts and distro publishers eagerly waiting for a solution to Microsoft's UEFI SecureBoot, there are those who have already looked at the viability of Linux on Microsoft Surface tablet. Matthew Garrett, a.k.a. UEFI-guru, has revealed that those who are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping to find run Linux on Microsoft's tablet are on an uphill walk and it doesn't seem to be an easy one. So why is this? The answer is in the manner in which Microsoft has restricted the Surface from loading non-signed software / binaries by implementing UEFI SecureBoot. Microsoft has loaded on the ARM based tablet its private key instead of the 'Microsoft Windows UEFI Driver Publisher' key, which is needed to sign non-Microsoft software like Linux distributions or loaders. So, no publisher key = no signed non-Microsoft binary = no Linux."

2 of 561 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Unbelievable. by Microlith · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Stop. Just stop.

    Yeah you stupid Linux nerds, stop trying to use your hardware as you see fit and start doing as the vendor tells you.

    There are a thousand other things wrong with Linux right now and nobody seems interested in fixing them

    Nonsense.

    yes, I'm doing my part

    Says the AC.

    we're going to dump all our time and effort into making a device that was NEVER DESIGNED TO RUN LINUX, well, run Linux.

    Again, what's with this "all or nothing" nonsense? Why does making an OS run on a device that was designed to lock the user out run Linux mean that other efforts must stop?

    they're subsidizing the damned hardware by assuming that you'll run Windows on it and buy applications through the Windows App Store.

    There's zero proof of that. Not to mention that there are other Windows RT devices out there similarly locked down.

    This is almost as dumb as buying a set of kitchen utensils then wondering why you can't build a shed with them.

    Err, no. Bad analogy.

    If you wanted to buy a shed, why didn't you invest in a set of proper tools?

    More like "I bought a saw, but it only cuts Microsoft Wood, and a hammer but it only drives Microsoft Nails." But it still doesn't work.

  2. Re:Another reason not to buy Surface by drsmithy · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Actually people should complain, Microsoft is abusing it's OS monopoly [...]

    In what market are you proposing Microsoft has a monopoly ?

    Not loading their publisher key is a blatant attempt to try to prevent people from running other OSes on that piece of hardware which is an abuse of their "dominant market share" and they need to be punished for it, preferably harshly

    "Dominant market share" ? In what market ? Not tablet hardware. Not tablet OSes. Not tablet software. What market ?