Sailfish x86 Linux Distribution for x86_64

Sailfish x86 is a Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Sailfish OS 3.4 It can be run on any x86_64 (amd64) PC (e.x. Asus Transformer Mini, Thinkpad X200T, Thinkpad X230T, Dell XPS 15 2-in-1) that can work with GRUB.

Media:

Video on Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 9575: https://twitter.com/i/status/1341374202637643777

Pic of Thinkpad X200T

Pic of GPD Pocket (by @jgibbon)

Pic of Asus X554L (by @Diego)

Project Website

Installation

You can follow the instructions at https://docs.sailfish-x86.yeheng.org to install on a USB stick or SD card if your tablet computer supports booting from it.

Limitations

  • Currently the Jolla Browser doesn’t work because Mesa is used for graphics rather than libhybris/hwcomposer.
  • Webcat and Webpirate displays webpages too big.
  • Sound not working.
  • No Jolla Store access. Most apps can be installed from OpenRepos.

Hardware Requirements

  • Graphics card: supported by Mesa preferably Intel
  • Wifi: Supported by Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
  • BIOS: i386-pc, i386-efi, x86_64-efi
  • CPU: x86_64 (amd64)
  • Touchscreen strongly recommended for touch gestures

Issue tracking

Issues can be filed in the project GitHub.

40 Likes

YES!!! That’s what many members of the community desired for so long! This 2021 has started well for one thing at least, finally. Thank you!

7 Likes

MeeGo lives after all!

6 Likes

Getting an error in grub:
error: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.50-amd64-desktop has invalid signature.
When trying to set linux /boot…

At this time, Sailfish x86 does not support Secure Boot. Please turn off secure boot in the BIOS.

Clearing some confusion up: please note that Sailfish x86 only runs on amd64 (x86_64) tablet PCs with a UEFI BIOS.

V0.2 has been released! Now it’s very easy to install Sailfish x86 to a USB pendrive or SD card. Please see https://github.com/sailfish-x86/rootfs/releases/tag/v0.2 and the updated documentation!

2 Likes

W000t! heres for net-boot & net install!

In some time I might write net-install. Probably make a debian base that unpacks a tarball into the filesystem. Or even do that with SFOS so users can try before installing like Ubuntu.

That would be awesome!
Btw, what wifi chips are supported?

Wifi chips supported by Ubuntu 20.04 should work out of the box.

maybe a stupid question:
can i run the os from sd-card only ? so not actually install it on my laptop like a live-cd ?

Yes, you may run it from bootable external media and it will persist.

wow man !
runs on my medion akoya. wlan works, pirate browser shows something.
mousepad does behave strange, so u have to use the touchscreen.
but again !
wow ! thanks !

2 Likes

Ok, finally my impressions after using it today.
This port looks like a sorcery for how stable and usable is. I’d say that nearly 70% of sailfish is working. As I said to Heng already, I’m using it as live usb from an Asus X554L (which is a normal laptop, nothing to do with tablets).
I downloaded sfos forum viewer and read this thread lol.


I’d like to thank you again Heng and the other porters involved for all the hardwork and dedication, because this was the latest hole in devices to cover. And thank again Heng for helping with the installation!

7 Likes

Jolla-Devices tested on the Thinkpad t420: https://twitter.com/jolladevices/status/1350523976158740480

3 Likes

Confirmed working on my HP x2 with an Atom Z8350 and 2GB of RAM. Unfortunately my SD card port doesn’t work for booting, but at least I can adapt it. https://twitter.com/WedgeStratos/status/1350672752546615304

I can confirm that is working on my Samsung 670Z. No touch screen, but mouse and touchpad do the job. It’s nice to see this happening; thanks you all!!!

3 Likes

It desperately needs a nicer cursor theme. The traditional desktop arrow kind of seems off.

3 Likes

I think I can replace the cursor bitmap. How do you think it should look?