version 1.22, 1997/06/13 14:35:26 |
version 1.23, 1997/06/17 16:51:21 |
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<title>OpenBSD/sparc</title> |
<title>OpenBSD for SPARC Processors</title> |
<link rev=made href=mailto:www@openbsd.org> |
<link rev=made href=mailto:www@openbsd.org> |
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<meta name="description" content="the OpenBSD/sparc page"> |
<meta name="description" content="the OpenBSD for SPARC page"> |
<meta name="keywords" content="openbsd,sparc"> |
<meta name="keywords" content="openbsd,sparc"> |
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<meta name="copyright" content="This document copyright 1996 by OpenBSD"> |
<meta name="copyright" content="This document copyright 1996 by OpenBSD"> |
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<h2>OpenBSD/sparc</h2> |
<h2>OpenBSD for SPARC<sup>tm</sup> Processors</h2> |
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<h3><strong>History and Status:</strong></h3> |
<h3><strong>History and Status:</strong></h3> |
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way that would allow the same kernel and programs to run on either |
way that would allow the same kernel and programs to run on either |
sun4c or sun4 machines (unlike Sun's seperate kernel environments). |
sun4c or sun4 machines (unlike Sun's seperate kernel environments). |
This last change also required a rewrite of the device configuration |
This last change also required a rewrite of the device configuration |
code. Just after the NetBSD/sparc 1.0 release, Peter Galbavy wrote an |
code. Just after the NetBSD 1.0 release, Peter Galbavy wrote an |
ESP scsi device driver as a replacement for Chris' sparc-specific scsi |
ESP scsi device driver as a replacement for Chris' SPARC specific scsi |
code, this new driver unfortunately had some problems. |
code, this new driver unfortunately had some problems. |
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Work on porting OpenBSD/sparc to the sun4m platform was started by Theo, |
Work on porting OpenBSD to the sun4m platform was started by Theo, |
but tendonitis problems with his wrists and the problems with the NetBSD |
but tendonitis problems with his wrists and the problems with the NetBSD |
core conspired, and he stopped work. Theo passed his initial sun4m work |
core conspired, and he stopped work. Theo passed his initial sun4m work |
to Aaron Brown of Harvard, who was paid out of Margo Seltzer's research |
to Aaron Brown of Harvard, who was paid out of Margo Seltzer's research |
funds. This initial stuff consisted mostly of a few attempts at building |
funds. This initial stuff consisted mostly of a few attempts at building |
pmap structure that could support all 3 MMU types efficiently. Also, |
pmap structure that could support all 3 MMU types efficiently. Also, |
David Miller of the Sparclinux project got a little bit involved. |
David Miller of the S/Linux project got a little bit involved. |
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Recently Theo and Jason Downs began merging the NetBSD sparc code back into |
Recently Theo and Jason Downs began merging the NetBSD SPARC code back into |
OpenBSD. OpenBSD/sparc is becoming usable again. There are still a few |
OpenBSD. OpenBSD is becoming usable on SPARC again. There are still a few |
OpenBSD/sparc features from older source trees that need to be re-integrated; |
features from older source trees that need to be re-integrated; |
these will likely surface soon. |
these will likely surface soon. |
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The people working the most on OpenBSD/sparc are Jason Downs, George Robbins, |
The people working the most on OpenBSD for SPARC are Jason Downs, George Robbins, |
John Stone, and probably Chuck Cranor again now that it once again works. |
John Stone, and probably Chuck Cranor again now that it once again works. |
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An important note about OpenBSD/sparc is that it is designed so that |
An important note about OpenBSD on SPARC is that it is designed so that |
a single kernel can run on <b>ALL</b> sparc machines. Whereas SunOS and |
a single kernel can run on <b>ALL</b> SPARC machines. Whereas SunOS and |
Solaris have always had separate `kernel architectures', ie. sun4, sun4c, |
Solaris have always had separate `kernel architectures', ie. sun4, sun4c, |
and sun4m, the same `GENERIC' OpenBSD kernel will run on all the supported |
and sun4m, the same `GENERIC' OpenBSD kernel will run on all the supported |
models. |
models. |
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OpenBSD/sparc can be reasonably described as a continuation of the |
OpenBSD for SPARC can be reasonably described as a continuation of the |
NetBSD/sparc development with improvements. The current status is |
NetBSD SPARC development with improvements. The current status is |
somewhere between under development and ready for general use, in that |
somewhere between under development and ready for general use, in that |
it does support many of the Sparc based systems and their peripherals, |
it does support many of the Sparc based systems and their peripherals, |
and can be quite reliable depending on the system configuration and |
and can be quite reliable depending on the system configuration and |
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Most of the problems are believed to stem from the wide variety of sparc |
Most of the problems are believed to stem from the wide variety of SPARC |
processor and cache implementations along with their undocumented bugs, |
processor and cache implementations along with their undocumented bugs, |
rather then general kernal problems. |
rather then general kernal problems. |
Feedback on which models do and do not work reliably is |
Feedback on which models do and do not work reliably is |
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The installation tools and process as of the 2.1 release are greatly |
The installation tools and process as of the 2.1 release are greatly |
improved over previous releases of OpenBSD. OpenBSD/sparc can be installed |
improved over previous releases of OpenBSD. OpenBSD can be installed |
or upgraded via floppy boot images on sun4c and sun4m, miniroot images |
or upgraded via floppy boot images on sun4c and sun4m, miniroot images |
for machines without floppies (and sun4 machines). |
for machines without floppies (and sun4 machines). |
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<ul> |
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<li><a href=ftp.html>Snapshots are made available from time to time.</a> |
<li><a href=ftp.html>Snapshots are made available from time to time.</a> |
<li><a href=ftp://ftp2.usa.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/2.1/sparc/INSTALL.sparc>Installation information for the 2.1 release of OpenBSD/sparc</a> |
<li><a href=ftp://ftp2.usa.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/2.1/sparc/INSTALL.sparc>Installation information for the 2.1 release of OpenBSD for SPARC</a> |
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<h3><strong>What hardware is supported?</strong></h3> |
<h3><strong>What hardware is supported?</strong></h3> |
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<h4>OpenBSD/sparc runs on the following classes of machines:</h4> |
<h4>OpenBSD for SPARC runs on the following classes of machines:</h4> |
<ul> |
<ul> |
<li> sun4: 4/100, 4/200, and 4/300 |
<li> sun4: 4/100, 4/200, and 4/300 |
<li> sun4c: SS1, SS1+, IPC, SLC, SS2, IPX, and ELC |
<li> sun4c: SS1, SS1+, IPC, SLC, SS2, IPX, and ELC |
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<h4>OpenBSD/sparc does *not* run on these machines (yet):</h4> |
<h4>OpenBSD for SPARC does *not* run on these machines (yet):</h4> |
<ul> |
<ul> |
<li> sun4: 4/400 (lacks support for the I/O cache, and has ethernet problems) |
<li> sun4: 4/400 (lacks support for the I/O cache, and has ethernet problems) |
<li> sun4m: older systems with Viking (TMS390Z55) processor modules without external cache chips, aka SuperCache, aka MXCC, aka PAC. |
<li> sun4m: older systems with Viking (TMS390Z55) processor modules without external cache chips, aka SuperCache, aka MXCC, aka PAC. |
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OpenBSD/Sparc on the 4c/4m machines is criticaly dependent on configuration |
OpenBSD/Sparc on the 4c/4m machines is criticaly dependent on configuration |
information returned by the openboot prom. A sparc clone that differs |
information returned by the openboot prom. A SPARC clone that differs |
substantially from the Sun model as far as device names and properties will |
substantially from the Sun model as far as device names and properties will |
require additional work in this area. |
require additional work in this area. |
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<hr> |
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<h3>OpenBSD/sparc Projects:</h3> |
<h3>OpenBSD for SPARC Projects:</h3> |
<ul> |
<ul> |
<li>Improve sun4m stability. |
<li>Improve sun4m stability. |
<li>Merge in useful NetBSD work. |
<li>Merge in useful NetBSD work. |
<li>Start work on device drivers for unsupported framebuffers. |
<li>Start work on device drivers for unsupported framebuffers. |
<li>Bring back OpenBSD/sparc features from older code. |
<li>Bring back SPARC features from older code. |
</ul> |
</ul> |
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<hr> |
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<a href=plat.html><img src=back.gif border=0 alt=OpenBSD></a> |
<a href=plat.html><img src=back.gif border=0 alt=OpenBSD></a> |
<a href=mailto:www@openbsd.org>www@openbsd.org</a> |
<a href=mailto:www@openbsd.org>www@openbsd.org</a> |
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"Sun, Sun Microsystems, and Ultra, are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries." |
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"Products bearing the SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc." |
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<small>$OpenBSD$</small> |
<small>$OpenBSD$</small> |
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