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1.95 miod 18: <h2><font color="#e00000">OpenBSD/alpha</font></h2>
19:
1.83 horacio 20: <hr>
1.3 fn 21:
1.50 nate 22: <p>
1.95 miod 23: OpenBSD/alpha runs on a large set of the alpha computers manufactured by
24: <a href="http://www.digital.com">Digital</a> (then Compaq, now Hewlett-Packard).
25:
26: <p>
27: A mailing list dedicated to the OpenBSD/alpha port is available at
28: <u><font color="#23238e">alpha@openbsd.org</font></u>.
29: To join the OpenBSD/alpha mailing list, send a message body of <b>"subscribe
30: alpha"</b> to <a href="mailto:majordomo@openbsd.org">majordomo@openbsd.org</a>.
31: Please be sure to check our <a href="mail.html">mailing list policy</a> before
32: subscribing.
1.45 niklas 33:
1.95 miod 34: <p>
35: There is currently no maintainer for the alpha port.
36: Technical discussion about the alpha port should be directed to the
37: <u><font color="#23238e">alpha@openbsd.org</font></u> mailing list.
38: If you are interested in the job of alpha port maintainer, help out the project
39: for a while and step up to the job.
40:
1.161 nick 41: <a name="toc"></a>
1.95 miod 42: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><i>Table of contents</i></font></h3>
1.116 krw 43:
1.95 miod 44: <ul>
1.100 jufi 45: <li><a href="#history">History of the port</a>
1.95 miod 46: <li><a href="#status">Current status</a>
47: <li><a href="#projects">Project list</a>
1.120 nick 48: <li><a href="#hardware">Supported hardware</a>
1.95 miod 49: <li><a href="#install">Getting and installing OpenBSD/alpha</a>
50: </ul>
51:
52: <hr>
53: <a name="history"></a>
54: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>History:</strong></font></h3>
55:
56: <p>
57: The OpenBSD/alpha port was started in the summer of 1996 by using code
58: from the NetBSD/alpha port which was started by
59: <a href="mailto:cgd@netbsd.org">Chris Demetriou</a> in 1994.
60: After the original OpenBSD port, some
1.45 niklas 61: copyright issues prevented OpenBSD from tracking the NetBSD code.
62: Regardless, work on the alpha port continued and many fixes were made.
1.95 miod 63: Meanwhile, NetBSD continued to make improvements to the
1.83 horacio 64: alpha port which we were unfortunately unable to use. Over time,
1.45 niklas 65: because of a lack of programmer resources and the inability to use
66: NetBSD code, hardware and software support became very outdated. This
67: caused the 2.5 and 2.6 releases of alpha to have few kernel
1.95 miod 68: enhancements. As a result of its becoming so stale, there was no
69: OpenBSD/alpha port included in the 2.7 and 2.8 releases.
1.45 niklas 70:
1.95 miod 71: <p>
72: Shortly after OpenBSD 2.8 was released, there has been a great deal of
73: interest in bringing the port up to date. This, coupled with the fact
74: that NetBSD changed the license on its alpha code so that there were no
1.50 nate 75: longer copyright issues has lead to an effort to bring the alpha port
76: back up. (For details on why we were not able to keep tracking the
1.95 miod 77: NetBSD code, check our <a href="policy.html">policy</a> page.)
1.50 nate 78:
1.95 miod 79: <p>
80: Nathan Binkert, Art Grabowski, Niklas Hallqvist and Eric Jackson, with
1.83 horacio 81: the help of a few others, eventually brought the port in good shape
1.95 miod 82: again, and starting with the 2.9 release OpenBSD/alpha is a supported
83: OpenBSD port again.
84:
85: <hr>
86: <a name="status"></a>
87: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Current status:</strong></font></h3>
88:
89: <p>
90: Currently, all the hardware listed in the
1.120 nick 91: <a href="#hardware">supported hardware</a> section below boots
1.95 miod 92: multi-user, and supports enough of the on-board devices to be generally
1.119 pedro 93: usable, unless specified otherwise.
1.95 miod 94: A large set of PCI cards also work reliably, while ISA devices support has
95: limitations.
96:
97: <p>
1.140 martin 98: X11 is supported on TGA cards, as well as a few regular PCI
1.138 jsg 99: cards on newer (BWX enabled) machines, of which the following have been tested:
1.116 krw 100:
1.95 miod 101: <ul>
1.116 krw 102: <li>3DFX Interactive Banshee
103: <li>3DLabs Permedia 2 (8, 15, 16 and 24 bits depth)
104: <li>ATI Rage Pro (works with 'Option "NoAccel"')
105: <li>ATI Rage 128
106: <li>Cirrus Logic CL5430 (works with 'Option "NoAccel"')
107: <li>Cirrus Logic GD5446 (8, 16 and 24 bits depth)
1.140 martin 108: <li>Matrox MGA 2064 (8, 16 and 24 bits depth, works with 'Option "NoInt10"')
1.95 miod 109: </ul>
1.116 krw 110: <p>
1.95 miod 111: More cards will be supported as time and resources permits.
112:
113: <hr>
114: <a name="projects"></a>
115: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Projects (in no particular order):
116: </strong></font></h3>
117:
118: <ul>
119: <li>Testing more platforms and peripherals, to find what issues are
120: remaining and improve overall stability
121: <li>Improve port-specific documentation
122: <li>Support recent OSF/1 binaries and shared libraries in compatibility mode
123: <li>Support DMA for ISA devices
1.97 naddy 124: <li>Floppy support (requires working ISA DMA first)
1.95 miod 125: <li>Fix 64-bit issues in the non-working PCI drivers
126: <li>Improve X11 support
1.138 jsg 127: <li>Make X11 work on PCI VGA cards for machines without BWX
1.95 miod 128: </ul>
129:
130: <hr>
131: <a name="hardware"></a>
132: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Supported hardware:</strong></font></h3>
1.45 niklas 133:
1.95 miod 134: <p>
135: To the best of our knowledge, the following hardware is supported, but there
136: might be occasional breakage on some models.
137: Since there are many models and combinations that have not been tested,
138: we would appreciate very much if you told us about things that work and
139: do not work.
140: To help us keep track of what hardware people use, please mail your dmesg to
141: <a href="mailto:dmesg@openbsd.org">dmesg@openbsd.org</a>.
142: If there are things that do not work, please file a bug report using
1.116 krw 143: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=sendbug&arch=alpha&sektion=1">
1.95 miod 144: sendbug(1)</a>.
145:
1.170 brad 146: <p>
147:
1.95 miod 148: <h4>Supported Machines:</h4>
1.229 jsg 149: <ul>
150: <li>264DP, CS20, DS10, DS20, XP900, XP1000, and other EV6 machines using the
151: Tsunami chipset<br>(Only one processor will be used on multiprocessor
152: models)
153: <li>API UP1000, UP2000, and UP2000+ and other EV6 machines using the Irongate
154: chipset
155: <li>Digital Personal Workstation (Miata)<br>
156: <li>EB164 based machines (including PC164, 164SX, 164LX, but NOT the
157: 164UX)<br>
158: <li>AlphaServer 800, 1000, 1000A, 1200 and 4100
159: <li>AlphaStation 500 and 600
160: <li>AlphaStation 200, 250, 255 and 400
161: <li>AXPpci based machines (including ``Noname'', UDB, Multia)
162: <li>DEC 3000 models 300{,L,X,LX}
163: <li>DEC 3000 models 400,500,500X,600,700,800,900
164: </ul>
1.116 krw 165:
1.229 jsg 166: <h4>Unsupported Machines</h4>
1.18 johns 167: <ul>
1.82 miod 168: <li>DECpc AXP150 (2000/300) systems (EISA-bus PC-like systems)
1.92 miod 169: <li>AlphaServer systems, other than model 400, which seem to
1.83 horacio 170: be disguised AlphaStation machines.
1.82 miod 171: <li>Alpha XL systems. (No SRM)
172: <li>DEC 4000, 7000, and 10000 systems (FutureBus+ and XMIBus based).
173: <li>EB64+ based systems.
174: <li>Samsung 164BX/UX. (No SRM)
1.112 miod 175: <li>Multiprocessor Alpha systems (though they will run fine using one
176: processor only, if the model is listed as supported above).
1.82 miod 177: <li>VME Alpha systems.
1.4 niklas 178: </ul>
179:
1.229 jsg 180: <h4>Supported devices</h4>
1.50 nate 181: <ul>
1.230 ! jsg 182: <li>Host Controllers and Bridges, including:
! 183: <ul>
! 184: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=tcasic&arch=alpha&sektion=4">tcasic(4)</a>
! 185: TURBOchannel host bus,
! 186: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lca&arch=alpha&sektion=4">lca(4)</a>
! 187: DECchip 21066 Core Logic,
! 188: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=apecs&arch=alpha&sektion=4">apecs(4)</a>
! 189: DECchip 21072/21071 Core Logic,
! 190: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=cia&arch=alpha&sektion=4">cia(4)</a>
! 191: DECchip 2117x Core Logic,
! 192: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=tsc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">tsc(4)</a>
! 193: DECchip 21272 Core Logic,
! 194: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=irongate&arch=alpha&sektion=4">irongate(4)</a>
! 195: API UP1000 AMD751 Core Logic and AGP,
! 196: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=mcbus&arch=alpha&sektion=4">mcbus(4)</a>
! 197: MCBUS System Bus.
! 198: </ul>
1.229 jsg 199: <li>Built-in serial
200: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=com&arch=alpha&sektion=4">com</a>)
201: and parallel
202: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lpt&arch=alpha&sektion=4">lpt</a>)
203: ports.
204: <li>Built-in DEC
205: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=de&arch=alpha&sektion=4">de</a>),
206: Intel i8255x
207: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=fxp&arch=alpha&sektion=4">fxp</a>),
208: or LANCE
209: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&arch=alpha&sektion=4">le</a>)
210: Ethernet.
211: <li>Built-in ISP
212: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=isp&arch=alpha&sektion=4">isp</a>),
213: Adaptec
214: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=ahc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">ahc</a>),
215: 53C810
216: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=siop&arch=alpha&sektion=4">siop</a>),
217: or 53C94/53CF94-2
218: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">asc</a>) SCSI controller.
219: <li>Built-in IDE controller
220: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pciide&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pciide</a>).
221: <li>Built-in USB
222: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=usb&arch=alpha&sektion=4">usb</a>).
223: <li>Most PCI devices
224: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pci&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pci</a>).
225: <li>Most USB devices
226: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=usb&arch=alpha&sektion=4">usb</a>).
227: <li>Some ISA
228: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=isa&arch=alpha&sektion=4">isa</a>)
229: and EISA
230: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=eisa&arch=alpha&sektion=4">eisa</a>).
231: <li>TURBOchannel LANCE ethernet cards (PMAD-A)
232: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&arch=alpha&sektion=4">le</a>) on DEC 3000.
233: <li>TURBOchannel SCSI (53C94) (PMAZ-A)
234: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">asc</a>) on DEC 3000.
235: <li>TURBOchannel DEFTA FDDI cards (PMAF-FA)
236: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=fta&arch=alpha&sektion=4">fta</a>) on DEC 3000.
237: </ul>
238:
239: <h4>Unsupported devices</h4>
240: <ul>
241: <li>Floppy drive.
242: <li>ISA devices that require DMA operation.
243: <li>ISA IDE controller
244: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=wdc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">wdc</a>)
245: on the EB164.
246: <li>Built-in ISDN/audio chip on DEC 3000.
247: <li>Built-in framebuffer on DEC 3000.
1.189 martin 248: </ul>
249:
1.3 fn 250: <hr>
1.98 miod 251: <a name="install"></a>
252: <h3><font color="#0000e0">
253: <strong>Getting and installing OpenBSD/alpha:</strong>
254: </font></h3>
255:
256: <p>
257: The latest supported OpenBSD/alpha release is
1.227 steven 258: <a href="43.html">OpenBSD 4.3</a>.
1.98 miod 259: Here are the
1.227 steven 260: <a href="ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/4.3/alpha/INSTALL.alpha">
261: OpenBSD/alpha 4.3 installation instructions
1.98 miod 262: </a>.
263:
264: <p>
265: Snapshots are made available from time to time, in
266: <a href="ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/alpha">this location</a>
267: as well as in a few
268: <a href="ftp.html">mirrors</a>.
269: Here are the
270: <a href="ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/alpha/INSTALL.alpha">
271: OpenBSD/alpha snapshot installation instructions
272: </a> as well.
273:
274: <p>
275: There are several installation media provided:
1.116 krw 276:
1.98 miod 277: <ul>
278: <li><strong>CD boot</strong>
279: <p>
280: Booting off the OpenBSD CD provides an <i>El Torito</i> 2.88MB floppy image
281: that contains drivers for the most popular devices found in alpha
282: hardware.
283: This also includes minimal USB support (storage devices, keyboard and
284: some ethernet adapters).<br>
285: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
286: look at the
287: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISKBIG?rev=HEAD">RAMDISKBIG</a>
288: kernel configuration file.
1.227 steven 289: <li><strong>Floppy A</strong> (floppy43.fs)
1.98 miod 290: <p>
291: This 1.44MB floppy image supports the following alpha hardware:
292: <ul>
1.116 krw 293: <li>AlphaStation 200, 250, 255, 400
294: <!-- <li>AlphaStation 500, 600 -->
1.213 martin 295: <li>AlphaServer 800, 1000, 1000A, 1200, and 4100
1.116 krw 296: <li>AXPpci33 based machines, such as the ``Noname'', UDB, and Multia
297: <li>EB164 based machines, such as the PC164, 164SX and 164LX
298: <li>Personal Workstation (Miata)
1.98 miod 299: </ul>
1.116 krw 300: <p>
1.98 miod 301: It contains support for the on-board devices found on these machines,
302: however due to lack of place there are only few other drivers.
303: In particular, <i>this floppy lacks cdrom support</i> and will <i>not</i>
304: allow installation from cdrom media.<br>
305: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
306: look at the
307: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISK?rev=HEAD">RAMDISK</a>
308: kernel configuration file.
1.227 steven 309: <li><strong>Floppy B</strong> (floppyB43.fs)
1.98 miod 310: <p>
311: This 1.44MB floppy image supports the following alpha hardware:
312: <ul>
1.116 krw 313: <li>Alpha Processor, Inc. UP1000
314: <li>XP1000, 264DP, DS10, and DS20, CS20
315: <li>Alpha Processor, Inc. UP2000, UP2000+
1.98 miod 316: </ul>
1.116 krw 317: <p>
1.98 miod 318: It contains support for the on-board devices found on these machines,
319: however due to lack of place there are only few other drivers.
320: In particular, <i>this floppy lacks cdrom support</i> and will <i>not</i>
321: allow installation from cdrom media.<br>
322: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
323: look at the
324: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISKB?rev=HEAD">RAMDISKB</a>
325: kernel configuration file.
326: </ul>
327:
328: <hr>
1.95 miod 329: <a href="plat.html">
330: <img height="24" width="24" src="back.gif" border="0" alt="Supported platforms">
331: </a>
1.3 fn 332: <br>
1.95 miod 333: <small><a href="mailto:www@openbsd.org">www@openbsd.org</a></small>
334: <br>
1.230 ! jsg 335: <small>$OpenBSD: alpha.html,v 1.229 2008/06/11 22:40:25 jsg Exp $</small>
1.3 fn 336: </body>
337: </html>
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