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version 1.24, 1997/06/17 20:15:02 version 1.25, 1997/06/18 03:42:15
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 <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC  "-//IETF//DTD HTML Strict//EN">  <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC  "-//IETF//DTD HTML Strict//EN">
 <html>  <html>
 <head>  <head>
 <title>OpenBSD for SPARC Processors</title>  <title>OpenBSD/sparc</title>
 <link rev=made href=mailto:www@openbsd.org>  <link rev=made href=mailto:www@openbsd.org>
 <meta name="resource-type" content="document">  <meta name="resource-type" content="document">
 <meta name="description" content="the OpenBSD for SPARC page">  <meta name="description" content="the OpenBSD/sparc page">
 <meta name="keywords" content="openbsd,sparc">  <meta name="keywords" content="openbsd,sparc">
 <meta name="distribution" content="global">  <meta name="distribution" content="global">
 <meta name="copyright" content="This document copyright 1996 by OpenBSD">  <meta name="copyright" content="This document copyright 1996 by OpenBSD">
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 <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#23238E">  <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#23238E">
   
 <h2>OpenBSD for SPARC<sup>tm</sup> Processors</h2>  <h2>OpenBSD/sparc</h2>
   
 <hr>  <hr>
 <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 1.0 release, Peter Galbavy wrote an  code.  Just after the NetBSD/sparc 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.
 </p>  </p>
   
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 </p>  </p>
   
 <p>  <p>
 Work on porting OpenBSD to the sun4m platform was started by Theo,  Work on porting OpenBSD/sparc 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 S/Linux project got a little bit involved.  David Miller of the Sparclinux project got a little bit involved.
 </p>  </p>
   
 <p>  <p>
 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 is becoming usable on SPARC again.  There are still a few  OpenBSD.  OpenBSD/sparc is becoming usable again.  There are still a few
 features from older source trees that need to be re-integrated;  OpenBSD/sparc features from older source trees that need to be re-integrated;
 these will likely surface soon.  these will likely surface soon.
 </p>  </p>
   
 <p>  <p>
 The people working the most on OpenBSD for SPARC are Jason Downs, George Robbins,  The people working the most on OpenBSD/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.
 </p>  </p>
   
 <p>  <p>
 An important note about OpenBSD on SPARC is that it is designed so that  An important note about OpenBSD/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.
 </p>  </p>
   
 <p>  <p>
 OpenBSD for SPARC can be reasonably described as a continuation of the  OpenBSD/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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 </p>  </p>
   
 <p>  <p>
 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 kernel problems.  rather then general kernel 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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 <p>  <p>
 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 can be installed  improved over previous releases of OpenBSD.  OpenBSD/sparc 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).
 </p>  </p>
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 <p>  <p>
 <ul>  <ul>
 <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 for 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/sparc</a>
 </ul>  </ul>
 </p>  </p>
   
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 <hr>  <hr>
 <h3><strong>What hardware is supported?</strong></h3>  <h3><strong>What hardware is supported?</strong></h3>
   
 <h4>OpenBSD for SPARC runs on the following classes of machines:</h4>  <h4>OpenBSD/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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 </ul>  </ul>
   
 <h4>OpenBSD for SPARC does *not* run on these machines (yet):</h4>  <h4>OpenBSD/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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 <p>  <p>
 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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 </ul>  </ul>
   
 <hr>  <hr>
 <h3>OpenBSD for SPARC Projects:</h3>  <h3>OpenBSD/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 SPARC features from older code.  <li>Bring back OpenBSD/sparc features from older code.
 </ul>  </ul>
   
 <hr>  <hr>
 <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>
 <br>  <br>
   
   
 <small>  
 <p>  
 "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."  
 </p>  
   
 <p>  
 "Products bearing the SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc."  
 </p>  
 </small>  
   
 <p>  
 <small>$OpenBSD$</small>  <small>$OpenBSD$</small>
 </p>  
   
 </body>  </body>
 </html>  </html>
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