===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsrepo/anoncvs/cvs/www/sparc.html,v
retrieving revision 1.14
retrieving revision 1.15
diff -u -r1.14 -r1.15
--- www/sparc.html	1997/01/29 01:54:37	1.14
+++ www/sparc.html	1997/04/19 23:58:16	1.15
@@ -67,10 +67,6 @@
 </p>
 
 <p>
-OpenBSD/sparc can be correctly described as NetBSD/sparc + improvements.
-</p>
-
-<p>
 The people working the most on OpenBSD/sparc currently consists of
 Theo de Raadt, Jason Downs, and probably Chuck Cranor again now that it
 once again works.
@@ -79,10 +75,35 @@
 <p>
 An important note about OpenBSD/sparc is that it is designed so that
 a single kernel can run on *ALL* sparc machines.  Whereas SunOS and
-Solaris have always had `kernel architectures', ie. sun4, sun4c, and
-sun4m, the same `GENERIC' OpenBSD kernel will run on all the models. 
+Solaris have always had separate `kernel architectures', ie. sun4, sun4c,
+and sun4m, the same `GENERIC' OpenBSD kernel will run on all the supported
+models. 
 </p>
 
+<p>
+OpenBSD/sparc can be reasonably described as a continuation of the
+NetBSD/sparc development with improvements.  The current status is
+somewhere between under development and ready for gneral use, in that
+it does support many of the Sparc based systems and their peripherals,
+and can be quite reliable depending on the system configuration and
+usage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Most of the problems are believed to stem from the wide variety of sparc
+processor and cache implementations along with their undocumented bugs,
+rather then general kernal problems.
+Feedback on which models do and do not work reliably is
+appreciated, particularly with the newer sun4m implementations like the
+Fujitsu TurboSparc and Ross HyperSparc based systems and upgrades.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The installation tools and process as of the 2.0 release are currently not
+in user-friendly form, as most developers short-cut the process from running
+SunOS or OpenBSD systems.  This situation is currently being improved.
+</p>
+
 <hr>
 <p>
 <a href=ftp.html>Snapshots are made available from time to time.</a>
@@ -96,9 +117,8 @@
 <li> sun4: the 4/100, 4/200, and 4/300
 <li> sun4m machines: at least the LC, LX, 4, 5, 10, and 20. A few cpu
 	combinations do not work reliably.
-<li> Typically it works on clones of these machines
+<li> Typically it works on faithful clones of these machines
 </ul>
-
 <h4>Supported devices.  This list of basically declares that any `stock' sun4c
 "sparcstation" machine will probably work; for sun4 machines one must be more
 careful.</h4>
@@ -128,11 +148,18 @@
 <h4>OpenBSD/sparc does *not* run on these machines (yet):</h4>
 <ul>
 <li> 4/400 (lacks support for the I/O cache, and has ethernet problems)
+<li> older sun4m systems with Viking (TMS390Z55) processor modules without
+external cache chips, aka SuperCache, aka MXCC, aka PAC.
 <li> the VME sun4m model --4/600
 <li> sun4d: sparc center 1000/2000
 <li> the new Ultra sparc-64 machines...
 <li> It does not work on most Solbourne machines, which are quite different.
 </ul>
+<p>
+OpenBSD/Sparc on the 4c/4m machines is criticaly dependent on configuration
+information returned by the openboot prom.  A sparc clone that differs
+substantially from the Sun model as far as device names and properties will
+require additional work in this area.
 
 <h4>Unsupported Devices. First of all, there are MANY unsupported devices.
 A comprehensive list can probably not be written.</h4>
@@ -147,13 +174,16 @@
 <li> VME GP/GP2 Graphics Processor
 <li> sbus cgeight 24-bit video card (note: sbus cgeight is quite different from
     VME cgeight)
+<li> sbus cards other than the standard video/scsi/ethernet listed above
+<li> On-board Audio and ISDN hardware present on some sun4m systems
+<li> Multiple Processors/Modules in sun4m systems (OpenBSD will run, but only uses one processor)
 </ul>
 
 <hr>
 <a href=plat.html><img src=back.gif border=0 alt=OpenBSD></a> 
 <a href=mailto:www@openbsd.org>www@openbsd.org</a>
 <br>
-<small>$OpenBSD: sparc.html,v 1.14 1997/01/29 01:54:37 deraadt Exp $</small>
+<small>$OpenBSD: sparc.html,v 1.15 1997/04/19 23:58:16 grr Exp $</small>
 
 </body>
 </html>