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Diff for /www/sparc.html between version 1.14 and 1.15

version 1.14, 1997/01/29 01:54:37

version 1.15, 1997/04/19 23:58:16

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</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.

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<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

Solaris have always had separate `kernel architectures', ie. sun4, sun4c,

sun4m, the same `GENERIC' OpenBSD kernel will run on all the models.

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>

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<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>

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<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>

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<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>