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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:
1.161 nick 34: <a name="toc"></a>
1.95 miod 35: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><i>Table of contents</i></font></h3>
1.116 krw 36:
1.95 miod 37: <ul>
1.100 jufi 38: <li><a href="#history">History of the port</a>
1.95 miod 39: <li><a href="#status">Current status</a>
40: <li><a href="#projects">Project list</a>
1.120 nick 41: <li><a href="#hardware">Supported hardware</a>
1.95 miod 42: <li><a href="#install">Getting and installing OpenBSD/alpha</a>
43: </ul>
44:
45: <hr>
46: <a name="history"></a>
47: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>History:</strong></font></h3>
48:
49: <p>
50: The OpenBSD/alpha port was started in the summer of 1996 by using code
51: from the NetBSD/alpha port which was started by
52: <a href="mailto:cgd@netbsd.org">Chris Demetriou</a> in 1994.
53: After the original OpenBSD port, some
1.45 niklas 54: copyright issues prevented OpenBSD from tracking the NetBSD code.
55: Regardless, work on the alpha port continued and many fixes were made.
1.95 miod 56: Meanwhile, NetBSD continued to make improvements to the
1.83 horacio 57: alpha port which we were unfortunately unable to use. Over time,
1.45 niklas 58: because of a lack of programmer resources and the inability to use
59: NetBSD code, hardware and software support became very outdated. This
60: caused the 2.5 and 2.6 releases of alpha to have few kernel
1.95 miod 61: enhancements. As a result of its becoming so stale, there was no
62: OpenBSD/alpha port included in the 2.7 and 2.8 releases.
1.45 niklas 63:
1.95 miod 64: <p>
65: Shortly after OpenBSD 2.8 was released, there has been a great deal of
66: interest in bringing the port up to date. This, coupled with the fact
67: that NetBSD changed the license on its alpha code so that there were no
1.50 nate 68: longer copyright issues has lead to an effort to bring the alpha port
69: back up. (For details on why we were not able to keep tracking the
1.95 miod 70: NetBSD code, check our <a href="policy.html">policy</a> page.)
1.50 nate 71:
1.95 miod 72: <p>
73: Nathan Binkert, Art Grabowski, Niklas Hallqvist and Eric Jackson, with
1.234 sthen 74: the help of a few others, eventually brought the port into good shape
1.95 miod 75: again, and starting with the 2.9 release OpenBSD/alpha is a supported
76: OpenBSD port again.
77:
78: <hr>
79: <a name="status"></a>
80: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Current status:</strong></font></h3>
81:
82: <p>
83: Currently, all the hardware listed in the
1.120 nick 84: <a href="#hardware">supported hardware</a> section below boots
1.95 miod 85: multi-user, and supports enough of the on-board devices to be generally
1.119 pedro 86: usable, unless specified otherwise.
1.95 miod 87: A large set of PCI cards also work reliably, while ISA devices support has
88: limitations.
89:
90: <p>
1.247 matthieu 91: X11 server support is currently broken on alpha.
1.95 miod 92:
93: <hr>
94: <a name="projects"></a>
95: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Projects (in no particular order):
96: </strong></font></h3>
97:
98: <ul>
99: <li>Testing more platforms and peripherals, to find what issues are
100: remaining and improve overall stability
1.243 sthen 101: <li>Support for multiprocessor systems
1.95 miod 102: <li>Improve port-specific documentation
103: <li>Support DMA for ISA devices
1.97 naddy 104: <li>Floppy support (requires working ISA DMA first)
1.95 miod 105: <li>Fix 64-bit issues in the non-working PCI drivers
1.254 miod 106: <li>Repair X11 support
107: <!--
108: <li>Improve X11 support
1.138 jsg 109: <li>Make X11 work on PCI VGA cards for machines without BWX
1.254 miod 110: -->
1.95 miod 111: </ul>
112:
113: <hr>
114: <a name="hardware"></a>
115: <h3><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Supported hardware:</strong></font></h3>
1.45 niklas 116:
1.95 miod 117: <p>
118: To the best of our knowledge, the following hardware is supported, but there
119: might be occasional breakage on some models.
120: Since there are many models and combinations that have not been tested,
121: we would appreciate very much if you told us about things that work and
122: do not work.
123: To help us keep track of what hardware people use, please mail your dmesg to
124: <a href="mailto:dmesg@openbsd.org">dmesg@openbsd.org</a>.
125: If there are things that do not work, please file a bug report using
1.116 krw 126: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=sendbug&arch=alpha&sektion=1">
1.95 miod 127: sendbug(1)</a>.
128:
1.170 brad 129: <p>
130:
1.95 miod 131: <h4>Supported Machines:</h4>
1.229 jsg 132: <ul>
1.241 miod 133: <li>DS15, DS15A, DS25, ES45, TS15 and TS202C
134: <br>
135: (Only one processor will be used on multiprocessor models)
136: <li>264DP, CS20, DS10, DS20, DS20L, ES40, XP900, XP1000, and other EV6 machines
137: using the Tsunami chipset<br>
138: (Only one processor will be used on multiprocessor models)
1.233 miod 139: <li>API UP1000, UP1100, UP2000, and UP2000+ and other EV6 machines using the
140: Irongate chipset
1.229 jsg 141: <li>Digital Personal Workstation (Miata)<br>
1.233 miod 142: <li>EB164 based machines (including PC164, 164SX, 164LX, but <b>NOT</b> the
1.229 jsg 143: 164UX)<br>
1.239 jsg 144: <li>AlphaStation 600A, 1200
145: <li>AlphaServer 800 (also known as Digital Server 3300 and 3305), 1000, 1000A
146: <li>AlphaServer 1200, 4000 and 4100
147: <li>AlphaServer 300, 400 and AlphaStation 200, 250, 255 and 400
1.229 jsg 148: <li>AlphaStation 500 and 600
149: <li>AXPpci based machines (including ``Noname'', UDB, Multia)
150: <li>DEC 3000 models 300{,L,X,LX}
151: <li>DEC 3000 models 400,500,500X,600,700,800,900
152: </ul>
1.116 krw 153:
1.229 jsg 154: <h4>Unsupported Machines</h4>
1.18 johns 155: <ul>
1.233 miod 156: <li>DECpc AXP150 (2000/300) ``Jensen'' systems (EISA-bus PC-like systems)
1.238 jsg 157: <li>AlphaServer 2000, 2100 and 2100A
1.240 jsg 158: <li>AlphaServer 8200, 8400, GS60 and GS140
1.238 jsg 159: <li>AlphaServer ES47, ES80 and GS1280
160: <li>AlphaServer GS80, GS160 and GS320
1.233 miod 161: <li>Alpha XL systems (no SRM)
162: <li>DEC 4000, 7000, and 10000 systems (FutureBus+ and XMIBus-based)
163: <li>EB64+ based systems
164: <li>Samsung 164BX/UX (no SRM)
1.112 miod 165: <li>Multiprocessor Alpha systems (though they will run fine using one
1.233 miod 166: processor only, if the model is listed as supported above)
167: <li>VME Alpha systems
1.238 jsg 168: <li>Tadpole ALPHAbook
1.4 niklas 169: </ul>
170:
1.229 jsg 171: <h4>Supported devices</h4>
1.50 nate 172: <ul>
1.230 jsg 173: <li>Host Controllers and Bridges, including:
174: <ul>
175: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=tcasic&arch=alpha&sektion=4">tcasic(4)</a>
176: TURBOchannel host bus,
177: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lca&arch=alpha&sektion=4">lca(4)</a>
178: DECchip 21066 Core Logic,
179: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=apecs&arch=alpha&sektion=4">apecs(4)</a>
180: DECchip 21072/21071 Core Logic,
181: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=cia&arch=alpha&sektion=4">cia(4)</a>
182: DECchip 2117x Core Logic,
183: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=tsc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">tsc(4)</a>
1.241 miod 184: DECchip 21272 and 21274 Core Logic,
1.230 jsg 185: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=irongate&arch=alpha&sektion=4">irongate(4)</a>
186: API UP1000 AMD751 Core Logic and AGP,
187: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=mcbus&arch=alpha&sektion=4">mcbus(4)</a>
188: MCBUS System Bus.
189: </ul>
1.231 jsg 190: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=com&arch=alpha&sektion=4">com(4)</a>
191: built-in serial.
192: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lpt&arch=alpha&sektion=4">lpt(4)</a>
193: built-in parallel.
194: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=de&arch=alpha&sektion=4">de(4)</a>
195: built-in DEC Ethernet.
196: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=fxp&arch=alpha&sektion=4">fxp(4)</a>
197: built-in i8255x Ethernet.
198: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&arch=alpha&sektion=4">le(4)</a>
199: built-in LANCE Ethernet.
200: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=isp&arch=alpha&sektion=4">isp(4)</a>
201: built-in ISP SCSI controller.
202: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=ahc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">ahc(4)</a>
203: built-in Adaptec SCSI controller.
204: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=siop&arch=alpha&sektion=4">siop(4)</a>
205: built-in 53C810 SCSI controller.
206: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">asc(4)</a>
207: built-in 53C94/53CF94-2 SCSI controller.
208: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pciide&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pciide(4)</a>
209: built-in IDE controller.
210: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=usb&arch=alpha&sektion=4">usb(4)</a>
211: built-in USB supports most USB devices.
1.236 jasper 212: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=uvideo&arch=alpha&sektion=4">uvideo(4)</a>
213: UVC-compatible Video devices.
1.231 jsg 214: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pci&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pci(4)</a>
215: most PCI devices.
216: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=isa&arch=alpha&sektion=4">isa(4)</a>
217: some ISA devices.
218: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=eisa&arch=alpha&sektion=4">eisa(4)</a>
219: some EISA devices.
1.232 jsg 220: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pckbd&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pckbd(4)</a>
221: PS/2 and AT keyboards.
222: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=pms&arch=alpha&sektion=4">pms(4)</a>
223: PS/2 mice.
1.231 jsg 224: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&arch=alpha&sektion=4">le(4)</a>
225: TURBOchannel LANCE Ethernet cards (PMAD-A) on DEC 3000.
226: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">asc(4)</a>
227: TURBOchannel SCSI (53C94) (PMAZ-A) on DEC 3000.
228: <li><a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=fta&arch=alpha&sektion=4">fta(4)</a>
229: TURBOchannel DEFTA FDDI cards (PMAF-FA) on DEC 3000.
1.229 jsg 230: </ul>
231:
232: <h4>Unsupported devices</h4>
233: <ul>
234: <li>Floppy drive.
235: <li>ISA devices that require DMA operation.
236: <li>ISA IDE controller
237: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=wdc&arch=alpha&sektion=4">wdc</a>)
238: on the EB164.
239: <li>Built-in framebuffer on DEC 3000.
1.189 martin 240: </ul>
241:
1.3 fn 242: <hr>
1.98 miod 243: <a name="install"></a>
244: <h3><font color="#0000e0">
245: <strong>Getting and installing OpenBSD/alpha:</strong>
246: </font></h3>
247:
248: <p>
249: The latest supported OpenBSD/alpha release is
1.255 ! sthen 250: <a href="53.html">OpenBSD 5.3</a>.
1.98 miod 251: Here are the
1.255 ! sthen 252: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/5.3/alpha/INSTALL.alpha">
! 253: OpenBSD/alpha 5.3 installation instructions
1.98 miod 254: </a>.
255:
256: <p>
257: Snapshots are made available from time to time, in
1.255 ! sthen 258: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/alpha">this location</a>
1.98 miod 259: as well as in a few
260: <a href="ftp.html">mirrors</a>.
261: Here are the
1.255 ! sthen 262: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/alpha/INSTALL.alpha">
1.98 miod 263: OpenBSD/alpha snapshot installation instructions
264: </a> as well.
265:
266: <p>
267: There are several installation media provided:
1.116 krw 268:
1.98 miod 269: <ul>
270: <li><strong>CD boot</strong>
271: <p>
272: Booting off the OpenBSD CD provides an <i>El Torito</i> 2.88MB floppy image
273: that contains drivers for the most popular devices found in alpha
274: hardware.
275: This also includes minimal USB support (storage devices, keyboard and
1.231 jsg 276: some Ethernet adapters).<br>
1.98 miod 277: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
278: look at the
279: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISKBIG?rev=HEAD">RAMDISKBIG</a>
280: kernel configuration file.
1.255 ! sthen 281: <li><strong>Floppy A</strong> (floppy53.fs)
1.98 miod 282: <p>
283: This 1.44MB floppy image supports the following alpha hardware:
284: <ul>
1.116 krw 285: <li>AlphaStation 200, 250, 255, 400
286: <!-- <li>AlphaStation 500, 600 -->
1.213 martin 287: <li>AlphaServer 800, 1000, 1000A, 1200, and 4100
1.116 krw 288: <li>AXPpci33 based machines, such as the ``Noname'', UDB, and Multia
289: <li>EB164 based machines, such as the PC164, 164SX and 164LX
290: <li>Personal Workstation (Miata)
1.98 miod 291: </ul>
1.116 krw 292: <p>
1.98 miod 293: It contains support for the on-board devices found on these machines,
1.234 sthen 294: however due to lack of space there are only a few other drivers.
1.98 miod 295: In particular, <i>this floppy lacks cdrom support</i> and will <i>not</i>
296: allow installation from cdrom media.<br>
297: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
298: look at the
299: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISK?rev=HEAD">RAMDISK</a>
300: kernel configuration file.
1.255 ! sthen 301: <li><strong>Floppy B</strong> (floppyB53.fs)
1.98 miod 302: <p>
303: This 1.44MB floppy image supports the following alpha hardware:
304: <ul>
1.116 krw 305: <li>Alpha Processor, Inc. UP1000
306: <li>XP1000, 264DP, DS10, and DS20, CS20
307: <li>Alpha Processor, Inc. UP2000, UP2000+
1.241 miod 308: <li>DS15, DS15A, DS25, ES45, and TS15, TS202C
1.98 miod 309: </ul>
1.116 krw 310: <p>
1.98 miod 311: It contains support for the on-board devices found on these machines,
1.234 sthen 312: however due to lack of space there are only a few other drivers.
1.98 miod 313: In particular, <i>this floppy lacks cdrom support</i> and will <i>not</i>
314: allow installation from cdrom media.<br>
315: For the latest list of drivers available on this image, please take a
316: look at the
317: <a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/sys/arch/alpha/conf/RAMDISKB?rev=HEAD">RAMDISKB</a>
318: kernel configuration file.
319: </ul>
320:
321: <hr>
1.95 miod 322: <a href="plat.html">
323: <img height="24" width="24" src="back.gif" border="0" alt="Supported platforms">
324: </a>
1.3 fn 325: <br>
1.95 miod 326: <small><a href="mailto:www@openbsd.org">www@openbsd.org</a></small>
327: <br>
1.255 ! sthen 328: <small>$OpenBSD: alpha.html,v 1.254 2013/02/02 17:30:22 miod Exp $</small>
1.3 fn 329: </body>
330: </html>
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