Installation on 2012 Mac Mini

Hi,

why are you trying to install this on a MAC OS, the software installs as a native application on your hardware? You might have issues with only one real NIC though or you can install VM ware and then install the ISO an application.

Ian

Thanks for the quick reply Ian.

I'm not trying to install on a Mac OS but rather on Mac/Intel hardware. If possible I'm trying to avoid running the firewall on a VM. If the VM is my only option I'll do it. However Sophos has Mac hardware installation instructions here: https://docs.sophos.com/nsg/sophos-firewall/18.0/Help/en-us/webhelp/virtual-software-appliance/nsg/sfos/tasks/vs_SoftAppInstallationmacOS.html. 

Unfortunately I just can't get it to work. Per the forums it seems like its possible as there's many posts running UTM on Mac Mini's and at least one post with XG running as well. I'm just not sure where I'm going wrong....

Thanks for the quick reply Ian.

I'm not trying to install on a Mac OS but rather on Mac/Intel hardware. If possible I'm trying to avoid running the firewall on a VM. If the VM is my only option I'll do it. However Sophos has Mac hardware installation instructions here: https://docs.sophos.com/nsg/sophos-firewall/18.0/Help/en-us/webhelp/virtual-software-appliance/nsg/sfos/tasks/vs_SoftAppInstallationmacOS.html. 

Unfortunately I just can't get it to work. Per the forums it seems like its possible as there's many posts running UTM on Mac Mini's and at least one post with XG running as well. I'm just not sure where I'm going wrong....

Hi Morgan,

there is something missing in that instruction and that is the installation of the second NIC. XG will not install with one NIC.

If I get too bored today I will put my 2012 mini back together and try the instructions.

Ian

Thanks for the feedback Ian.

I thought that also. I have a the second apple nic connected via thunderbolt. That said the installer never starts. I always get the "failed getting ISO disk" error before anything else happens.

Hi Morgan,

I have been trying many different USB sticks on both my current MBP and the old 2012 mini to attempt to build a bottle USB disk, total failure.

The software doesn't quite work as per the instructions.

When following the software steps the processes all report writing the correct amount of data to the USB sticks and those with lights flash as it is written to. When investigating the USB stick there is no extra data shown anywhere on the device.

I suspect the step that is missing from the instructions is how to make the USD stick available because the instructions show the hardware eg disk9 not the partition which could be disk9s2. 

I have tried using a USB DVD drive and that is recognised, but doesn't boot.

So at this stage, total failure on my behalf. Finally there mini does not have a serial port and even with a USB to serial convertor the driver would not load until the boot sequence is complete, so what am I missing?

Ian

Hi Morgan,

more investigation found there is a step missing intros instruction and that is to unmount the disk but there is nowhere to provide feedback for that document.

Next issue I have is the firmware starts then fails to find the ISO. I have rbuilt the disk twice, maybe time to use a fasterUSB (3.0)

Ian

Hi Ian,

First thank you so much for looking into this problem, I really do appreciate it. 

I've tried similar steps. I've mounted the ISO to both USB 2 and 3 flash drives. I've tried mounting the ISO to a bootable drive. I've tried mounting the DMG to a bootable drive. When I do get the firmware to start I get the same result every time. "Failed getting ISO disk." I even made CD copies of the ISO and the DMG to find out that the Mac wont boot from CD....... 

At this point I'm very stumped. I really don't want to run XG on a VM and I don't want to use UTM. Also I may run out of IP's with UTM as I keep adding more and more smart home features. 

Hi Morgan,

My next step is to investigate the BIOS except the instructions didn't work.

I tried using boot camp to create a bootable disk except I couldn't load the dmg onto it correctly.

I was using VM on a NUC for awhile as an experiment, at least with the mini you can get real NIC connected. Might try that on the mini and se what happens. I have a copy of VMware 6.7 looking for a use or at least experiment.

Ian

I tried to create a VM ISO USB, not even recognised by the mini.

I will try an create the USB on the mini this time.

Ian

Total failure

 2 Sophos XG iso could not be found during installation

1 VMware ISO did not even register when built many times.

I've had no success as well. 

Just to be thorough I made an attempt to install UTM 9.7 on my Mac Mini. The install went flawlessly! I'm going to continue trying for a few days but at this stage I may just stick with UTM since the XG ISO does not seem to work for Mac. Its really unfortunate because my Ubiquiti USG reports I have ~40 active IP's on my home network. If I run into the 50 IP limit it looks like I may need to switch to the Ubiquiti UDM-Pro over a Sophos solution.

I don't want to make it sound like I'm giving up. I did reach out to Sophos support and informed them about the misleading install document. Sophos responded however didn't seem to want to provide any additional assistance since I'm a free home user and not a paid corporate client. 

Thanks again Ian for your help but I have a feeling its the ISO itself. Without Sophos support it doesn't seem like this problem is going to be solved.

Hi Morgan,

support will not offer any help, for you and me and many other home users it is these forums that provide help.

The KBA you have referenced has no option to provide feedback which is a bit strange.

Ian