Annotation of www/vax.html, Revision 1.102
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1.99 tb 15:
16: <h2>
17: <a href="index.html">
18: <font color="#0000ff"><i>Open</i></font><font color="#000084">BSD</font></a>
19: <font color="#e00000">vax</font>
20: </h2>
21: <hr>
1.39 miod 22: <p>
23:
24: <a href="images/vax.jpg">
1.99 tb 25: <img src="images/vax.jpg" width="350" height="467" align="right" alt="VAX">
1.39 miod 26: </a>
1.98 deraadt 27:
1.39 miod 28: OpenBSD/vax runs on a large set of the VAX computers manufactured by
29: <a href="http://www.digital.com">Digital</a> (then Compaq, now Hewlett-Packard).
1.98 deraadt 30: <p>
1.39 miod 31:
32: A mailing list dedicated to the OpenBSD/vax port is available at
33: <u><font color="#23238e">vax@openbsd.org</font></u>.
34: To join the OpenBSD/vax mailing list, send a message body of <b>"subscribe
35: vax"</b> to <a href="mailto:majordomo@openbsd.org">majordomo@openbsd.org</a>.
36: Please be sure to check our <a href="mail.html">mailing list policy</a> before
37: subscribing.
1.98 deraadt 38: <p>
1.39 miod 39:
1.98 deraadt 40: <strong>The OpenBSD/vax port was discontinued after the 5.9 release.</strong>
1.1 deraadt 41:
1.98 deraadt 42: <br clear=all>
1.3 fn 43: <hr>
1.91 bentley 44:
45: <h3 id="history"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>History:</strong></font></h3>
1.28 hugh 46:
1.12 ericj 47: <p>
1.32 hugh 48: VAX has been a supported OpenBSD architecture since early 2000, when code was
49: synchronized with NetBSD's port. Being the second architecture to run BSD Unix
50: (in 1979!), it seems appropriate that these venerable vaxen should still have
1.39 miod 51: a modern OS.
52:
53: <p>
54: The current codebase is mostly from Berkeley, with contributions of free
55: code from Digital, Mt Xinu, NetBSD, OpenBSD and others.
1.12 ericj 56:
57: <p>
1.53 jolan 58: After the port was synchronized with the NetBSD codebase, fixes and improvements
59: were made, such as support for 16 partitions per drive, support for more VAX
1.39 miod 60: models, improved emulation of unimplemented instructions, and so on.
1.28 hugh 61:
1.39 miod 62: <p>
63: Development is ongoing, and changes are shared among VAX hackers even to
64: this day. The result of this work is an operating system that is stable
65: and familiar to any OpenBSD user.
66:
67: <hr>
1.91 bentley 68:
69: <h3 id="status"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Current status:</strong></font></h3>
1.39 miod 70:
71: <p>
72: Currently, all the hardware listed in the
1.55 nick 73: <a href="#hardware">supported hardware</a> section below boots
1.39 miod 74: multi-user, and supports enough of the on-board devices to be generally
1.54 pedro 75: usable.
1.39 miod 76: Some models can only run diskless at the moment, though.
1.35 hugh 77:
78: <p>
1.65 miod 79: As of OpenBSD 4.0, most of the VAXstation frame buffers are
1.74 miod 80: supported.
1.64 miod 81:
82: <p>
83: Of course, regardless of frame buffer support, a complete set of X clients
84: and utilities is available, allowing OpenBSD/vax machines to behave as X11
85: font servers, or run X clients on remote display.
1.35 hugh 86:
1.39 miod 87: <p>
88: There a few problems still left in the OpenBSD/vax port, though:
1.35 hugh 89: <ul>
1.39 miod 90: <li>The current compiler sometimes has optimizer issues (i.e. gcc -O2
91: produces incorrect code, while -O1 or -O0 work). They are slowly being
92: worked on as we are aware of them. Most code should work nowadays.
93: <li>Addressing limits in the pmap module. This can cause the kernel to panic.
1.42 david 94: Some of these situations have been taken care of and fail gracefully,
1.39 miod 95: but there might be unfixed cases.
96: </ul>
1.28 hugh 97:
1.39 miod 98: <hr>
1.91 bentley 99:
100: <h3 id="hardware"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Supported hardware:</strong></font></h3>
1.16 hugh 101:
102: <p>
1.39 miod 103: The list of supported hardware below is not meant to be exhaustive.
1.74 miod 104: Due to a limited inventory of systems available to developers,
105: not all hardware combinations have been tested.
1.39 miod 106:
107: <p>
108: As a result, OpenBSD/vax may actually run on your machine even if it's not
1.32 hugh 109: listed here, and we rely on your testing and feedback to keep this list up
1.39 miod 110: to date.
111: To help us improve the accuracy of this list, <b>PLEASE</b>
112: <a href="faq/faq4.html#SendDmesg">send your dmesg</a> after installation
113: to <a href="mailto:dmesg@openbsd.org">dmesg@openbsd.org</a>.
114:
115: <p>
116: <h4>Supported models</h4>
1.12 ericj 117:
1.13 ericj 118: <p>
1.39 miod 119: <ul>
1.64 miod 120: <li>VAXstation 2000
1.39 miod 121: <li>VAXstation 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
122: <li>VAXstation 3100/{38,48} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
123: <li>VAXstation 3100/76 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.74 miod 124: <li>VAXstation 35x0 and 38x0 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 125: <li>VAXstation 4000/VLC (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
126: <li>VAXstation 4000/60 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
127: <li>VAXstation 4000/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 128: <li>VAXstation 4000/90A (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 129: <li>VAXstation 4000/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 130: <li>MicroVAX 2000
1.39 miod 131: <li>MicroVAX 3100/{10,20}{,e} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
132: <li>MicroVAX 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
133: <li>MicroVAX 3100/80 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.51 miod 134: <li>MicroVAX 3100/85 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 135: <li>MicroVAX 3100/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 136: <li>MicroVAX 3100/95 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
137: <li>MicroVAX 3100/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 138: <li>MicroVAX 3300
139: <li>VAX 4000 100 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
140: <li>VAX 4000 105 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.61 mickey 141: <li>VAX 4000 106 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 142: <li>VAX 4000 200
143: <li>VAX 4000 300
144: <li>VAX 4000 {400,500,600}
145: <li>VAX 4000 {500A,700A}
1.65 miod 146: <li>VXT2000 and VXT2000+
1.101 tedu 147: <li>Emulated SIMH VAX
1.39 miod 148: </ul>
149:
1.64 miod 150: <p>
151: <h4>QBUS devices</h4>
152:
153: <p>
154: <ul>
155: <li>KFQSA MSCP DSSI controller
1.97 sthen 156: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=uda&sektion=4&arch=vax">uda</a>)
1.64 miod 157: <li>Emulex UC08 MSCP SCSI controller
1.97 sthen 158: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=uda&sektion=4&arch=vax">uda</a>)
1.64 miod 159: <li>CXY08 DHV-11 emulating serial ports
1.97 sthen 160: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=dhu&sektion=4&arch=vax">dhu</a>)
1.64 miod 161: <li>DELQA Ethernet
1.97 sthen 162: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=qe&sektion=4&arch=vax">qe</a>)
1.64 miod 163: </ul>
164:
165: <p>
166: <h4>Ethernet controllers</h4>
167:
168: <p>
169: <ul>
170: <li>on-board MicroVAX or VAXstation LANCE Ethernet
1.97 sthen 171: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=le&sektion=4&arch=vax">le</a>)
1.64 miod 172: <li>DEC SGEC
1.97 sthen 173: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=ze&sektion=4&arch=vax">ze</a>)
1.64 miod 174: </ul>
175:
176: <p>
177: <h4>SCSI controllers</h4>
178:
179: <p>
180: <ul>
181: <li>NCR5380
1.97 sthen 182: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=asc&sektion=4&arch=vax">asc</a>)
1.64 miod 183: on-board SCSI
184: <li>NCR53C9x
1.97 sthen 185: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=ncr&sektion=4&arch=vax">ncr</a>)
1.64 miod 186: on-board SCSI
1.74 miod 187: <li>SII
1.97 sthen 188: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=sii&sektion=4&arch=vax">sii</a>)
1.74 miod 189: on-board SCSI on VAXstation 35x0/38x0 I/O module
1.64 miod 190: </ul>
191: <p>
1.74 miod 192: Either one of the first two controllers are found onboard most 3100s and
193: VAXstation 4000s, as well as the VAX 4000 10x series.
1.64 miod 194:
195: <p>
196: <h4>Serial ports</h4>
197:
198: <p>
199: <ul>
200: <li>DZ*11 or compatible serial ports
201: (<a
1.97 sthen 202: href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=dz&sektion=4&arch=vax">dz</a>)
1.64 miod 203: <li>SC26C94 serial ports on VXT2000
1.97 sthen 204: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=qsc&sektion=4&arch=vax">qsc</a>)
1.64 miod 205: </ul>
206:
207: <p>
1.65 miod 208: <h4>Frame buffers</h4>
1.64 miod 209:
210: <p>
211: <ul>
212: <li>VAXstation 3100 on-board monochrome frame buffer
1.97 sthen 213: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=smg&sektion=4&arch=vax">smg</a>)
1.64 miod 214: <li>VAXstation 3100/{30,38,40,48} color frame buffer option
1.97 sthen 215: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=gpx&sektion=4&arch=vax">gpx</a>)
1.70 miod 216: <li>VAXstation 3100/76 SPX frame buffer, also available as an option for
217: VAXstation 3100/{30,38,40,48}
1.97 sthen 218: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.74 miod 219: <li>VAXstation 35x0/38x0 frame buffer
1.97 sthen 220: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=legss&sektion=4&arch=vax">legss</a>),
1.74 miod 221: without the 16 planes option
1.64 miod 222: <li>VAXstation 4000/60 and 4000/VLC frame buffer
1.97 sthen 223: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcg&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcg</a>)
1.64 miod 224: <li>VAXstation 4000/90 color frame buffer
1.97 sthen 225: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.64 miod 226: <li>VXT2000 color frame buffer
1.97 sthen 227: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.64 miod 228: </ul>
229:
230: <p>
1.74 miod 231: The VXT2000 monochrome frame buffer, the LEGSS 16 plane option and the
232: SPXg/SPXgt options for VAXstation 4000s are not supported yet.
1.64 miod 233:
234: <p>
1.65 miod 235: <h4>Input devices</h4>
1.64 miod 236:
237: <p>
238: <ul>
239: <li>LK201 and LK401 keyboards
1.97 sthen 240: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lkkbd&sektion=4&arch=vax">lkkbd</a>)
1.64 miod 241: <li>VSxxx mouse
1.97 sthen 242: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lkms&sektion=4&arch=vax">lkms</a>)
1.64 miod 243: </ul>
244:
1.3 fn 245: <hr>
1.91 bentley 246:
247: <h3 id="hwdocs"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Documentation wanted:</strong></font></h3>
1.40 miod 248:
249: <p>
250: <ul>
1.64 miod 251: <li>Programming info for LCG, SPX, and SPXg/SPXgt framebuffers
1.40 miod 252: <li>Software references for SHAC DSSI
253: <li>Any edition VARM
254: </ul>
255:
256: <hr>
1.91 bentley 257:
258: <h3 id="install"><font color="#0000e0">
1.40 miod 259: <strong>Getting and installing OpenBSD/vax:</strong>
260: </font></h3>
261:
262: <p>
263: The latest supported OpenBSD/vax release is
1.95 sthen 264: <a href="58.html">OpenBSD 5.8</a>.
1.40 miod 265: Here are the
1.102 ! tb 266: <a href="https://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/5.8/vax/INSTALL.vax">
1.95 sthen 267: OpenBSD/vax 5.8 installation instructions
1.40 miod 268: </a>.
269:
270: <p>
271: Snapshots are made available from time to time, in
1.102 ! tb 272: <a href="https://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/vax">this location</a>
1.40 miod 273: as well as in a few
274: <a href="ftp.html">mirrors</a>.
275: Here are the
1.102 ! tb 276: <a href="https://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/vax/INSTALL.vax">
1.40 miod 277: OpenBSD/vax snapshot installation instructions
278: </a> as well.
1.3 fn 279:
280: </body>
281: </html>