System Extensions in Big Sur and later
versions of macOS
Summary: Most of the UART
manufacturers have released new drivers that are compatible with
Big Sur and later (see below).
Posted: March 21, 2020,
Updated: Dec 30, 2023
Background: Warnings for
Legacy System Extensions started to appear on reboot after
installing macOS 10.15.4
These extensions are provided by the manufacturers (FTDI,
Silicon Labs etc.) of internal and external USB/Serial adapters
(UARTS) and are needed for CAT control of many serial port
(non-LAN) based radios, rotor controllers, etc.
Apple
intends to eventually prohibit kernel extensions for security
reasons and replace the functionality with DriverKit extensions
running in user space.
The
UART manufacturers have announced their intention to support
Apple's migration from Kernel Extensions to DriverKit Extensions.
Many UARTs are already supported automatically by Apple supplied
Driver Kit extensions in Big Sur and later.
As Apple System Extensions and DriverKit adds functionality, 3rd
party kernel extensions with matching functionality will not be
needed and will not load.
microHAM
DXP is a Standard USB Class device and does not require
a 3rd party driver on Intel or Apple Silicon Macs.
Native
DriverKit Support:
Apple
released Big Sur and later with built-in support for many (but
not all) serial devices.
Big Sur and later DriverKit (Intel and Apple Silicon) currently
supports the following devices without any 3rd party driver:
- FTDI:
Most devices tested so far with standard VID/PID including...
- KX3, K4
- K9JM CI-V Router
- WinkeyUSB
- Generic UART cables
- Silicon
Labs:
- CP2102 (Icom IC-7610, IC-7300,
IC-9700, TS-590 etc.)
- Prolific:
Most devices tested so far.
Big Sur and later DriverKit
does not currently support the following devices without a
3rd party driver:
- Silicon
Labs
- CP2105 (Yaesu
FT-991, FTdx101, etc.)
- Keyspan/TrippLite
USA-19HS
Manufacturer
supplied drivers:
- FTDI
- CP2105
(Yaesu):
- Silicon Labs has released a new
driver...
- v6.0.2
released October 26, 2021
- Installs and loads on Apple Silicon macOS Big Sur and
later
- Installs and loads on Intel macOS Big Sur
and later
- Keyspan/TrippLite
USA-19HS
- Terminal command to display
installed 3rd party DriverKit extensions:
$ systemextensionsctl
list
com.apple.system_extension.driver_extension
2 extension(s)
---
com.apple.system_extension.driver_extension
enabled
active teamID bundleID (version) name
[state]
*
*
658CPPCMJJ
com.ftdi.vcp.dext
(1.0/089)
NullDriver
[activated enabled]
*
*
52444FG85C
com.silabs.cp210x
(6.0.1/1)
com.silabs.cp210x
[activated enabled]