Annotation of www/vax.html, Revision 1.92
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15: <a href="index.html"><img alt="[OpenBSD]" height="30" width="141" src="images/smalltitle.gif" border="0"></a>
16: <p>
17: <h2><font color="#e00000">OpenBSD/vax</font></h2>
18:
19: <hr>
1.10 johns 20:
1.39 miod 21: <p>
22: <a href="images/vax.jpg">
23: <img src="images/vax.jpg" width="350" height="467" align="right" alt="[nothing sucks like a vax]">
24: </a>
25: OpenBSD/vax runs on a large set of the VAX computers manufactured by
26: <a href="http://www.digital.com">Digital</a> (then Compaq, now Hewlett-Packard).
27:
28: <p>
29: A mailing list dedicated to the OpenBSD/vax port is available at
30: <u><font color="#23238e">vax@openbsd.org</font></u>.
31: To join the OpenBSD/vax mailing list, send a message body of <b>"subscribe
32: vax"</b> to <a href="mailto:majordomo@openbsd.org">majordomo@openbsd.org</a>.
33: Please be sure to check our <a href="mail.html">mailing list policy</a> before
34: subscribing.
35:
1.91 bentley 36: <h3 id="toc"><font color="#0000e0"><i>Table of contents</i></font></h3>
1.39 miod 37: <p>
38: <ul>
1.41 jufi 39: <li><a href="#history">History of the port</a>
1.39 miod 40: <li><a href="#status">Current status</a>
1.55 nick 41: <li><a href="#hardware">Supported hardware</a>
1.39 miod 42: <li><a href="#hwdocs">Documentation wanted</a>
43: <li><a href="#install">Getting and installing OpenBSD/vax</a>
44: </ul>
1.1 deraadt 45:
1.3 fn 46: <hr>
1.91 bentley 47:
48: <h3 id="history"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>History:</strong></font></h3>
1.28 hugh 49:
1.12 ericj 50: <p>
1.32 hugh 51: VAX has been a supported OpenBSD architecture since early 2000, when code was
52: synchronized with NetBSD's port. Being the second architecture to run BSD Unix
53: (in 1979!), it seems appropriate that these venerable vaxen should still have
1.39 miod 54: a modern OS.
55:
56: <p>
57: The current codebase is mostly from Berkeley, with contributions of free
58: code from Digital, Mt Xinu, NetBSD, OpenBSD and others.
1.12 ericj 59:
60: <p>
1.53 jolan 61: After the port was synchronized with the NetBSD codebase, fixes and improvements
62: were made, such as support for 16 partitions per drive, support for more VAX
1.39 miod 63: models, improved emulation of unimplemented instructions, and so on.
1.28 hugh 64:
1.39 miod 65: <p>
66: Development is ongoing, and changes are shared among VAX hackers even to
67: this day. The result of this work is an operating system that is stable
68: and familiar to any OpenBSD user.
69:
70: <hr>
1.91 bentley 71:
72: <h3 id="status"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Current status:</strong></font></h3>
1.39 miod 73:
74: <p>
75: Currently, all the hardware listed in the
1.55 nick 76: <a href="#hardware">supported hardware</a> section below boots
1.39 miod 77: multi-user, and supports enough of the on-board devices to be generally
1.54 pedro 78: usable.
1.39 miod 79: Some models can only run diskless at the moment, though.
1.35 hugh 80:
81: <p>
1.65 miod 82: As of OpenBSD 4.0, most of the VAXstation frame buffers are
1.74 miod 83: supported.
1.64 miod 84:
85: <p>
86: Of course, regardless of frame buffer support, a complete set of X clients
87: and utilities is available, allowing OpenBSD/vax machines to behave as X11
88: font servers, or run X clients on remote display.
1.35 hugh 89:
1.39 miod 90: <p>
91: There a few problems still left in the OpenBSD/vax port, though:
1.35 hugh 92: <ul>
1.39 miod 93: <li>The current compiler sometimes has optimizer issues (i.e. gcc -O2
94: produces incorrect code, while -O1 or -O0 work). They are slowly being
95: worked on as we are aware of them. Most code should work nowadays.
96: <li>Addressing limits in the pmap module. This can cause the kernel to panic.
1.42 david 97: Some of these situations have been taken care of and fail gracefully,
1.39 miod 98: but there might be unfixed cases.
99: </ul>
1.28 hugh 100:
1.39 miod 101: <hr>
1.91 bentley 102:
103: <h3 id="hardware"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Supported hardware:</strong></font></h3>
1.16 hugh 104:
105: <p>
1.39 miod 106: The list of supported hardware below is not meant to be exhaustive.
1.74 miod 107: Due to a limited inventory of systems available to developers,
108: not all hardware combinations have been tested.
1.39 miod 109:
110: <p>
111: As a result, OpenBSD/vax may actually run on your machine even if it's not
1.32 hugh 112: listed here, and we rely on your testing and feedback to keep this list up
1.39 miod 113: to date.
114: To help us improve the accuracy of this list, <b>PLEASE</b>
115: <a href="faq/faq4.html#SendDmesg">send your dmesg</a> after installation
116: to <a href="mailto:dmesg@openbsd.org">dmesg@openbsd.org</a>.
117:
118: <p>
119: <h4>Supported models</h4>
1.12 ericj 120:
1.13 ericj 121: <p>
1.39 miod 122: <ul>
1.64 miod 123: <li>VAXstation 2000
1.39 miod 124: <li>VAXstation 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
125: <li>VAXstation 3100/{38,48} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
126: <li>VAXstation 3100/76 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.74 miod 127: <li>VAXstation 35x0 and 38x0 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 128: <li>VAXstation 4000/VLC (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
129: <li>VAXstation 4000/60 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
130: <li>VAXstation 4000/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 131: <li>VAXstation 4000/90A (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 132: <li>VAXstation 4000/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 133: <li>MicroVAX 2000
1.39 miod 134: <li>MicroVAX 3100/{10,20}{,e} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
135: <li>MicroVAX 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
136: <li>MicroVAX 3100/80 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.51 miod 137: <li>MicroVAX 3100/85 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 138: <li>MicroVAX 3100/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 139: <li>MicroVAX 3100/95 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
140: <li>MicroVAX 3100/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 141: <li>MicroVAX 3300
142: <li>VAX 4000 100 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
143: <li>VAX 4000 105 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.61 mickey 144: <li>VAX 4000 106 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 145: <li>VAX 4000 200
146: <li>VAX 4000 300
147: <li>VAX 4000 {400,500,600}
148: <li>VAX 4000 {500A,700A}
1.65 miod 149: <li>VXT2000 and VXT2000+
1.59 kettenis 150: <li><a href="vax-simh.html">SIMH VAX</a>
1.39 miod 151: </ul>
152:
1.64 miod 153: <p>
154: <h4>QBUS devices</h4>
155:
156: <p>
157: <ul>
158: <li>KFQSA MSCP DSSI controller
159: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=uda&sektion=4&arch=vax">uda</a>)
160: <li>Emulex UC08 MSCP SCSI controller
161: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=uda&sektion=4&arch=vax">uda</a>)
162: <li>CXY08 DHV-11 emulating serial ports
163: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=dhu&sektion=4&arch=vax">dhu</a>)
164: <li>DELQA Ethernet
165: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=qe&sektion=4&arch=vax">qe</a>)
166: </ul>
167:
168: <p>
169: <h4>Ethernet controllers</h4>
170:
171: <p>
172: <ul>
173: <li>on-board MicroVAX or VAXstation LANCE Ethernet
174: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=le&sektion=4&arch=vax">le</a>)
175: <li>DEC SGEC
176: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=ze&sektion=4&arch=vax">ze</a>)
177: </ul>
178:
179: <p>
180: <h4>SCSI controllers</h4>
181:
182: <p>
183: <ul>
184: <li>NCR5380
185: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=asc&sektion=4&arch=vax">asc</a>)
186: on-board SCSI
187: <li>NCR53C9x
188: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=ncr&sektion=4&arch=vax">ncr</a>)
189: on-board SCSI
1.74 miod 190: <li>SII
191: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=sii&sektion=4&arch=vax">sii</a>)
192: on-board SCSI on VAXstation 35x0/38x0 I/O module
1.64 miod 193: </ul>
194: <p>
1.74 miod 195: Either one of the first two controllers are found onboard most 3100s and
196: VAXstation 4000s, as well as the VAX 4000 10x series.
1.64 miod 197:
198: <p>
199: <h4>Serial ports</h4>
200:
201: <p>
202: <ul>
203: <li>DZ*11 or compatible serial ports
204: (<a
205: href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=dz&sektion=4&arch=vax">dz</a>)
206: <li>SC26C94 serial ports on VXT2000
207: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=qsc&sektion=4&arch=vax">qsc</a>)
208: </ul>
209:
210: <p>
1.65 miod 211: <h4>Frame buffers</h4>
1.64 miod 212:
213: <p>
214: <ul>
215: <li>VAXstation 3100 on-board monochrome frame buffer
216: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=smg&sektion=4&arch=vax">smg</a>)
217: <li>VAXstation 3100/{30,38,40,48} color frame buffer option
218: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=gpx&sektion=4&arch=vax">gpx</a>)
1.70 miod 219: <li>VAXstation 3100/76 SPX frame buffer, also available as an option for
220: VAXstation 3100/{30,38,40,48}
1.72 miod 221: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.74 miod 222: <li>VAXstation 35x0/38x0 frame buffer
223: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=legss&sektion=4&arch=vax">legss</a>),
224: without the 16 planes option
1.64 miod 225: <li>VAXstation 4000/60 and 4000/VLC frame buffer
226: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lcg&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcg</a>)
227: <li>VAXstation 4000/90 color frame buffer
228: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
229: <li>VXT2000 color frame buffer
230: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
231: </ul>
232:
233: <p>
1.74 miod 234: The VXT2000 monochrome frame buffer, the LEGSS 16 plane option and the
235: SPXg/SPXgt options for VAXstation 4000s are not supported yet.
1.64 miod 236:
237: <p>
1.65 miod 238: <h4>Input devices</h4>
1.64 miod 239:
240: <p>
241: <ul>
242: <li>LK201 and LK401 keyboards
243: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lkkbd&sektion=4&arch=vax">lkkbd</a>)
244: <li>VSxxx mouse
245: (<a href="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=lkms&sektion=4&arch=vax">lkms</a>)
246: </ul>
247:
1.3 fn 248: <hr>
1.91 bentley 249:
250: <h3 id="hwdocs"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Documentation wanted:</strong></font></h3>
1.40 miod 251:
252: <p>
253: <ul>
1.64 miod 254: <li>Programming info for LCG, SPX, and SPXg/SPXgt framebuffers
1.40 miod 255: <li>Software references for SHAC DSSI
256: <li>Any edition VARM
257: </ul>
258:
259: <hr>
1.91 bentley 260:
261: <h3 id="install"><font color="#0000e0">
1.40 miod 262: <strong>Getting and installing OpenBSD/vax:</strong>
263: </font></h3>
264:
265: <p>
266: The latest supported OpenBSD/vax release is
1.92 ! nick 267: <a href="57.html">OpenBSD 5.7</a>.
1.40 miod 268: Here are the
1.92 ! nick 269: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/5.7/vax/INSTALL.vax">
! 270: OpenBSD/vax 5.7 installation instructions
1.40 miod 271: </a>.
272:
273: <p>
274: Snapshots are made available from time to time, in
1.84 sthen 275: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/vax">this location</a>
1.40 miod 276: as well as in a few
277: <a href="ftp.html">mirrors</a>.
278: Here are the
1.84 sthen 279: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/vax/INSTALL.vax">
1.40 miod 280: OpenBSD/vax snapshot installation instructions
281: </a> as well.
1.3 fn 282:
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