Annotation of www/alpha.html, Revision 1.249
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1.116 krw 17:
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66: NetBSD code, hardware and software support became very outdated.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
1.234 sthen 81: the help of a few others, eventually brought the port into 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>
1.247 matthieu 98: X11 server support is currently broken on alpha.
1.95 miod 99:
100: <hr>
101: <a name="projects"></a>
102: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Projects (in no particular order):
103: </strong></font></h3>
104:
105: <ul>
106: <li>Testing more platforms and peripherals, to find what issues are
107: remaining and improve overall stability
1.243 sthen 108: <li>Support for multiprocessor systems
1.95 miod 109: <li>Improve port-specific documentation
110: <li>Support DMA for ISA devices
1.97 naddy 111: <li>Floppy support (requires working ISA DMA first)
1.95 miod 112: <li>Fix 64-bit issues in the non-working PCI drivers
1.247 matthieu 113: <li>Repair Improve X11 support
1.138 jsg 114: <li>Make X11 work on PCI VGA cards for machines without BWX
1.95 miod 115: </ul>
116:
117: <hr>
118: <a name="hardware"></a>
119: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Supported hardware:</strong></font></h3>
1.45 niklas 120:
1.95 miod 121: <p>
122: To the best of our knowledge, the following hardware is supported, but there
123: might be occasional breakage on some models.
124: Since there are many models and combinations that have not been tested,
125: we would appreciate very much if you told us about things that work and
126: do not work.
127: To help us keep track of what hardware people use, please mail your dmesg to
128: <a href="mailto:dmesg@openbsd.org">dmesg@openbsd.org</a>.
129: If there are things that do not work, please file a bug report using
1.116 krw 130: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=sendbug&arch=alpha&sektion=1">
1.95 miod 131: sendbug(1)</a>.
132:
1.170 brad 133: <p>
134:
1.95 miod 135: <h4>Supported Machines:</h4>
1.229 jsg 136: <ul>
1.241 miod 137: <li>DS15, DS15A, DS25, ES45, TS15 and TS202C
138: <br>
139: (Only one processor will be used on multiprocessor models)
140: <li>264DP, CS20, DS10, DS20, DS20L, ES40, XP900, XP1000, and other EV6 machines
141: using the Tsunami chipset<br>
142: (Only one processor will be used on multiprocessor models)
1.233 miod 143: <li>API UP1000, UP1100, UP2000, and UP2000+ and other EV6 machines using the
144: Irongate chipset
1.229 jsg 145: <li>Digital Personal Workstation (Miata)<br>
1.233 miod 146: <li>EB164 based machines (including PC164, 164SX, 164LX, but <b>NOT</b> the
1.229 jsg 147: 164UX)<br>
1.239 jsg 148: <li>AlphaStation 600A, 1200
149: <li>AlphaServer 800 (also known as Digital Server 3300 and 3305), 1000, 1000A
150: <li>AlphaServer 1200, 4000 and 4100
151: <li>AlphaServer 300, 400 and AlphaStation 200, 250, 255 and 400
1.229 jsg 152: <li>AlphaStation 500 and 600
153: <li>AXPpci based machines (including ``Noname'', UDB, Multia)
154: <li>DEC 3000 models 300{,L,X,LX}
155: <li>DEC 3000 models 400,500,500X,600,700,800,900
156: </ul>
1.116 krw 157:
1.229 jsg 158: <h4>Unsupported Machines</h4>
1.18 johns 159: <ul>
1.233 miod 160: <li>DECpc AXP150 (2000/300) ``Jensen'' systems (EISA-bus PC-like systems)
1.238 jsg 161: <li>AlphaServer 2000, 2100 and 2100A
1.240 jsg 162: <li>AlphaServer 8200, 8400, GS60 and GS140
1.238 jsg 163: <li>AlphaServer ES47, ES80 and GS1280
164: <li>AlphaServer GS80, GS160 and GS320
1.233 miod 165: <li>Alpha XL systems (no SRM)
166: <li>DEC 4000, 7000, and 10000 systems (FutureBus+ and XMIBus-based)
167: <li>EB64+ based systems
168: <li>Samsung 164BX/UX (no SRM)
1.112 miod 169: <li>Multiprocessor Alpha systems (though they will run fine using one
1.233 miod 170: processor only, if the model is listed as supported above)
171: <li>VME Alpha systems
1.238 jsg 172: <li>Tadpole ALPHAbook
1.4 niklas 173: </ul>
174:
1.229 jsg 175: <h4>Supported devices</h4>
1.50 nate 176: <ul>
1.230 jsg 177: <li>Host Controllers and Bridges, including:
178: <ul>
179: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=tcasic&arch=alpha&sektion=4">tcasic(4)</a>
180: TURBOchannel host bus,
181: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lca&arch=alpha&sektion=4">lca(4)</a>
182: DECchip 21066 Core Logic,
183: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=apecs&arch=alpha&sektion=4">apecs(4)</a>
184: DECchip 21072/21071 Core Logic,
185: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=cia&arch=alpha&sektion=4">cia(4)</a>
186: DECchip 2117x Core Logic,
187: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=tsc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">tsc(4)</a>
1.241 miod 188: DECchip 21272 and 21274 Core Logic,
1.230 jsg 189: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=irongate&arch=alpha&sektion=4">irongate(4)</a>
190: API UP1000 AMD751 Core Logic and AGP,
191: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=mcbus&arch=alpha&sektion=4">mcbus(4)</a>
192: MCBUS System Bus.
193: </ul>
1.231 jsg 194: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=com&arch=alpha&sektion=4">com(4)</a>
195: built-in serial.
196: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lpt&arch=alpha&sektion=4">lpt(4)</a>
197: built-in parallel.
198: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=de&arch=alpha&sektion=4">de(4)</a>
199: built-in DEC Ethernet.
200: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=fxp&arch=alpha&sektion=4">fxp(4)</a>
201: built-in i8255x Ethernet.
202: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&arch=alpha&sektion=4">le(4)</a>
203: built-in LANCE Ethernet.
204: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=isp&arch=alpha&sektion=4">isp(4)</a>
205: built-in ISP SCSI controller.
206: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=ahc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">ahc(4)</a>
207: built-in Adaptec SCSI controller.
208: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=siop&arch=alpha&sektion=4">siop(4)</a>
209: built-in 53C810 SCSI controller.
210: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">asc(4)</a>
211: built-in 53C94/53CF94-2 SCSI controller.
212: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pciide&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pciide(4)</a>
213: built-in IDE controller.
214: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=usb&arch=alpha&sektion=4">usb(4)</a>
215: built-in USB supports most USB devices.
1.236 jasper 216: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=uvideo&arch=alpha&sektion=4">uvideo(4)</a>
217: UVC-compatible Video devices.
1.231 jsg 218: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pci&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pci(4)</a>
219: most PCI devices.
220: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=isa&arch=alpha&sektion=4">isa(4)</a>
221: some ISA devices.
222: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=eisa&arch=alpha&sektion=4">eisa(4)</a>
223: some EISA devices.
1.232 jsg 224: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pckbd&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pckbd(4)</a>
225: PS/2 and AT keyboards.
226: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pms&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pms(4)</a>
227: PS/2 mice.
1.231 jsg 228: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&arch=alpha&sektion=4">le(4)</a>
229: TURBOchannel LANCE Ethernet cards (PMAD-A) on DEC 3000.
230: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">asc(4)</a>
231: TURBOchannel SCSI (53C94) (PMAZ-A) on DEC 3000.
232: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=fta&arch=alpha&sektion=4">fta(4)</a>
233: TURBOchannel DEFTA FDDI cards (PMAF-FA) on DEC 3000.
1.229 jsg 234: </ul>
235:
236: <h4>Unsupported devices</h4>
237: <ul>
238: <li>Floppy drive.
239: <li>ISA devices that require DMA operation.
240: <li>ISA IDE controller
241: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=wdc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">wdc</a>)
242: on the EB164.
243: <li>Built-in ISDN/audio chip on DEC 3000.
244: <li>Built-in framebuffer on DEC 3000.
1.189 martin 245: </ul>
246:
1.3 fn 247: <hr>
1.98 miod 248: <a name="install"></a>
249: <h3><font color="#0000e0">
250: <strong>Getting and installing OpenBSD/alpha:</strong>
251: </font></h3>
252:
253: <p>
254: The latest supported OpenBSD/alpha release is
1.249 ! miod 255: <a href="50.html">OpenBSD 5.0</a>.
1.98 miod 256: Here are the
1.249 ! miod 257: <a href="ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/5.0/alpha/INSTALL.alpha">
! 258: OpenBSD/alpha 5.0 installation instructions
1.98 miod 259: </a>.
260:
261: <p>
262: Snapshots are made available from time to time, in
263: <a href="ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/alpha">this location</a>
264: as well as in a few
265: <a href="ftp.html">mirrors</a>.
266: Here are the
267: <a href="ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/alpha/INSTALL.alpha">
268: OpenBSD/alpha snapshot installation instructions
269: </a> as well.
270:
271: <p>
272: There are several installation media provided:
1.116 krw 273:
1.98 miod 274: <ul>
275: <li><strong>CD boot</strong>
276: <p>
277: Booting off the OpenBSD CD provides an <i>El Torito</i> 2.88MB floppy image
278: that contains drivers for the most popular devices found in alpha
279: hardware.
280: This also includes minimal USB support (storage devices, keyboard and
1.231 jsg 281: some Ethernet adapters).<br>
1.98 miod 282: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
283: look at the
284: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISKBIG?rev=HEAD">RAMDISKBIG</a>
285: kernel configuration file.
1.249 ! miod 286: <li><strong>Floppy A</strong> (floppy50.fs)
1.98 miod 287: <p>
288: This 1.44MB floppy image supports the following alpha hardware:
289: <ul>
1.116 krw 290: <li>AlphaStation 200, 250, 255, 400
291: <!-- <li>AlphaStation 500, 600 -->
1.213 martin 292: <li>AlphaServer 800, 1000, 1000A, 1200, and 4100
1.116 krw 293: <li>AXPpci33 based machines, such as the ``Noname'', UDB, and Multia
294: <li>EB164 based machines, such as the PC164, 164SX and 164LX
295: <li>Personal Workstation (Miata)
1.98 miod 296: </ul>
1.116 krw 297: <p>
1.98 miod 298: It contains support for the on-board devices found on these machines,
1.234 sthen 299: however due to lack of space there are only a few other drivers.
1.98 miod 300: In particular, <i>this floppy lacks cdrom support</i> and will <i>not</i>
301: allow installation from cdrom media.<br>
302: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
303: look at the
304: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISK?rev=HEAD">RAMDISK</a>
305: kernel configuration file.
1.249 ! miod 306: <li><strong>Floppy B</strong> (floppyB50.fs)
1.98 miod 307: <p>
308: This 1.44MB floppy image supports the following alpha hardware:
309: <ul>
1.116 krw 310: <li>Alpha Processor, Inc. UP1000
311: <li>XP1000, 264DP, DS10, and DS20, CS20
312: <li>Alpha Processor, Inc. UP2000, UP2000+
1.241 miod 313: <li>DS15, DS15A, DS25, ES45, and TS15, TS202C
1.98 miod 314: </ul>
1.116 krw 315: <p>
1.98 miod 316: It contains support for the on-board devices found on these machines,
1.234 sthen 317: however due to lack of space there are only a few other drivers.
1.98 miod 318: In particular, <i>this floppy lacks cdrom support</i> and will <i>not</i>
319: allow installation from cdrom media.<br>
320: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
321: look at the
322: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISKB?rev=HEAD">RAMDISKB</a>
323: kernel configuration file.
324: </ul>
325:
326: <hr>
1.95 miod 327: <a href="plat.html">
328: <img height="24" width="24" src="back.gif" border="0" alt="Supported platforms">
329: </a>
1.3 fn 330: <br>
1.95 miod 331: <small><a href="mailto:www@openbsd.org">www@openbsd.org</a></small>
332: <br>
1.249 ! miod 333: <small>$OpenBSD: alpha.html,v 1.248 2011/05/01 14:16:18 sthen Exp $</small>
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