Issue: inactive keyboard in initramfs on encrypted partitions

[hamidrezaniazi]

Description:

This pull request addresses an issue related to keyboard availability during the initramfs step. If the partition is encrypted, hid_apple must be added to the MODULES list in /etc/mkinitcpio.conf to ensure proper functionality. This step is necessary to prevent the keyboard from becoming unavailable while entering the encryption password.

[AdityaGarg8]

information about encryption is mentioned here: https://wiki.t2linux.org/guides/postinstall/#make-modules-load-on-early-boot

Also, is hid_apple really needed on T2 Macs cause apple-bce is the driver that manages keyboard?

[sharpenedblade]

apple-bce is enough for the keyboard on fedora, I dont think the arch kernel is too diferent

[Redecorating]

for arch, do you have the keyboard hook enabled? i think that one will automatically include hid-apple (but unfortunately not apple-bce)

[hamidrezaniazi]

Also, is hid_apple really needed on T2 Macs cause apple-bce is the driver that manages keyboard? @AdityaGarg8

apple-bce is enough for the keyboard on fedora, I dont think the arch kernel is too different @sharpenedblade

apple-bce alone doesn't enable the keyboard between the bootloader and user authentication, specifically when entering the password to unlock the encrypted volgroup. However, post-encryption, apple-bce indeed takes over for keyboard support. Including both hid_apple and apple-bce in the modules (MODULES=(hid_apple apple-bce)) works well, and I've tested it.

I haven't found an alternative in the wiki for this case. If there's anything I missed or if you have other suggestions, I'd appreciate your insights!

for arch, do you have the keyboard hook enabled? i think that one will automatically include hid-apple @Redecorating

Yes, the keyboard hook was enabled, but it did not automatically include hid_apple.

[Redecorating]

can you check if you have the keyboard mkinitcpio hook before the encrypt hook? I think it might have to be in that order.

HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf kms keyboard keymap consolefont block encrypt filesystems fsck)
is the example order in the arch wiki fwiw

[hamidrezaniazi]

can you check if you have the keyboard mkinitcpio hook before the encrypt hook? I think it might have to be in that order. @Redecorating

Yes, confirming that the order aligns with the mentioned one, keyboard is before encrypt, so it cannot be the case.

[AdityaGarg8]

Request for review from @Redecorating