![[OpenBSD]](images/smalltitle.gif){kind=small}
++
![[OpenBSD]](images/bsd_small.gif){kind=small}
-
OpenBSD/sparc runs on most of the 32bit Sun SPARC workstations, including -the sun4, sun4c, and sun4m architectures -(not the 64bit UltraSPARC computers which are supported by +the sun4, sun4c, and sun4m architecture families +(but not the 64bit UltraSPARC computers, which are supported by OpenBSD/sparc64). -The current port maintainer is -Art Grabowski (art@openbsd.org). +
+ ++A mailing list dedicated to the OpenBSD/sparc and OpenBSD/sparc64 ports is +available at sparc@openbsd.org. +To join the OpenBSD/sparc mailing list, send a message body of "subscribe +sparc" to majordomo@openbsd.org. +Please be sure to check our mailing list policy before +subscribing. +
+ ++The current port maintainer is Art Grabowski +(art@openbsd.org), with the help of +mainly Jason Wright, Theo de Raadt, and Miodrag Vallat. Others are definitely welcome to contribute!
-![[SPARC]](images/sparc.gif)
+
@@ -48,14 +64,13 @@ worked it into shape for the NetBSD tree. Theo and Markus Wild worked on improving Chris' original SunOS compatibility code into a highly complete and reliable emulation. Chuck Cranor ported the sun4c code to -the 8KB pagesized Sun4 architecture, and Theo merged this code in a +the 8KB pagesize sun4 architecture, and Theo merged this code in a way that would allow the same kernel and programs to run on either sun4c or sun4 machines (unlike Sun's separate kernel environments). This last change also required a rewrite of the device configuration 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 -code, this new driver unfortunately had some problems and was eventually -replaced. +code.
@@ -69,27 +84,29 @@
Theo continued working independently, and made a number of additions: -P4 support, flexible boot strategy, a few graphics drivers with help -from John Stone, and masses of bug fixes. Many people will be most -interested that the ESP scsi driver has been completely replaced by -Theo, and that it supports disconnect/reconnect. +P4 support, flexible boot strategy, a few graphics drivers with the help +from John Stone, and masses of bug fixes.
Work on porting OpenBSD/sparc to the sun4m platform was started by Theo, but tendinitis problems with his wrists and the problems with the NetBSD -core conspired, and he stopped work. Theo passed his initial sun4m work +core combined made him stop this work. The initial sun4m work was passed 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, -David Miller of the S/Linux project got a little bit involved. +David Miller of the UltraLinux project got a little bit involved.
Theo and Jason Downs merged the NetBSD sparc code back into OpenBSD, making OpenBSD/sparc usable again. Jason Wright wrote a few new SBus Ethernet -drivers with information from the S/Linux project and has merged a few bits +drivers with information from the UltraLinux project and has merged a few bits from NetBSD sources to improve the stability of this architecture. +Over the time, Art Grabowski fixed various stability or reliability issues, +and added non-executable stack and heap on sun4m machines. +The frame buffer and console code was completely overhauled for OpenBSD 3.2, +improving display speed with some frame buffers, and supporting more cards.
@@ -97,21 +114,22 @@
-The people working the most on OpenBSD/sparc are -Jason Wright, Theo de Raadt, Todd Fries and Artur Grabowski. +Currently, all the hardware listed in the +supported hardware list section below boots +multi-user, and supports enough (if not all) of the on-board devices to +be generally useable. +A small set of third-party SBus cards are also supported.
-Email may be sent to the maintainers and users of the OpenBSD/sparc port at -sparc@openbsd.org. -To join the OpenBSD/sparc mailing list, send a message body of "subscribe -sparc" to majordomo@OpenBSD.org. -Please be sure to check our mailing list policy before -subscribing. +The X-Window system is working on all supported frame buffers, including +multi-head configurations. +No accelerated server is provided at the moment, although this is being +worked on.
@@ -130,28 +148,109 @@ appreciated, particularly with newer models or upgrades.
+-OpenBSD/sparc can be installed or upgraded via floppy boot images on -sun4c and sun4m, miniroot images for machines without floppies -(and sun4 machines), as well as network and diskless installs. +
+The last supported OpenBSD/sparc release is +OpenBSD 3.2. +Here are the + +OpenBSD/sparc 3.2 installation instructions +. +
+ ++Snapshots are made available from time to time, in +this location +as well as in a few +mirrors. +Here are the + +OpenBSD/sparc snapshot installation instructions + as well. +
+ ++There are several installation media provided, so that +OpenBSD/sparc can be installed or upgraded via CD, floppy boot images on +sun4c and sun4m, miniroot images for machines without floppies +(and sun4 machines), as well as network and diskless installs.
+ Booting off the CD provides a small ffs filesystem with a kernel containing
+ a GENERIC kernel with drivers for all devices found on Sparc machines.
+ For the latest list of drivers available on this image, take a look at the
+GENERIC
+kernel configuration file.
+ The CD can be booted off the OpenPROM prompt with
+
+ boot cdrom 3.2/sparc/bsd.rd ++
+ Booting off the floppy provides a small ffs filesystem with a kernel
+ containing drivers for the most popular devices found on Sparc machines.
+ For the latest list of drivers available on this image, take a look at the
+RAMDISK
+kernel configuration file.
+ The floppy can be booted off the OpenPROM prompt with
+
+ boot floppy ++
+ The miniroot provides the same installation environment as the bootable CD, + and is intended for easy bootstrap if there is already an operating system + installed on the machine. + After dumping the miniroot to the primary swap partition with dd, the + miniroot can be booted off the OpenPROM prompt with a command such as +
+ boot disk:b ++ (the disk designation may be different, depending on the chosen swap + partition). +
+ Using a diskless setup, it is also possible to boot the OpenBSD/sparc + boot loader, boot.net, from the network via tftp, and access + the bsd.rd standalone miniroot over NFS. + Refer to the + diskless(8) + manual page for details on how to setup a network boot environment. +
+
+
-
+
-
This list of basically declares that any `stock' sun4c or sun4m +
+This list of devices basically declares that any ``stock'' sun4c or sun4m "sparcstation" or "sparcserver" machine will probably work; for sun4 machines one must be more careful. +
+
-
+
+
+First of all, there are MANY unsupported devices. +A comprehensive list can probably not be written. +
+ +
+ This is present on some sun4m systems (LX, LC, SPARCstation 10/20). +
+ OpenBSD will sometimes not boot on some machines with multiple processors. + If this is the case, the extra CPUs must be removed. +
+ A driver exists in the source tree, but it does not work. None of the + developers have printers or cables to work with, to make it work, but + we really would prefer to receive a fixed driver. +
-
+ The FAS-only card is not supported. The HME+FAS card only supports the + HME part of the card. + +
+
-www@openbsd.org
+
+
+