Annotation of www/vax.html, Revision 1.97
1.39 miod 1: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
2: "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
1.3 fn 3: <html>
1.1 deraadt 4: <head>
5: <title>OpenBSD/vax</title>
1.39 miod 6: <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
1.3 fn 7: <meta name="description" content="the OpenBSD/vax page">
1.85 miod 8: <meta name="copyright" content="This document copyright 1996-2013 by OpenBSD.">
1.93 sthen 9: <link rel="canonical" href="http://www.openbsd.org/vax.html">
1.3 fn 10: </head>
11:
1.39 miod 12: <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" link="#23238e">
13: <a href="index.html"><img alt="[OpenBSD]" height="30" width="141" src="images/smalltitle.gif" border="0"></a>
14: <p>
15: <h2><font color="#e00000">OpenBSD/vax</font></h2>
16:
17: <hr>
1.10 johns 18:
1.39 miod 19: <p>
20: <a href="images/vax.jpg">
21: <img src="images/vax.jpg" width="350" height="467" align="right" alt="[nothing sucks like a vax]">
22: </a>
23: OpenBSD/vax runs on a large set of the VAX computers manufactured by
24: <a href="http://www.digital.com">Digital</a> (then Compaq, now Hewlett-Packard).
25:
26: <p>
27: A mailing list dedicated to the OpenBSD/vax port is available at
28: <u><font color="#23238e">vax@openbsd.org</font></u>.
29: To join the OpenBSD/vax mailing list, send a message body of <b>"subscribe
30: vax"</b> to <a href="mailto:majordomo@openbsd.org">majordomo@openbsd.org</a>.
31: Please be sure to check our <a href="mail.html">mailing list policy</a> before
32: subscribing.
33:
1.91 bentley 34: <h3 id="toc"><font color="#0000e0"><i>Table of contents</i></font></h3>
1.39 miod 35: <p>
36: <ul>
1.41 jufi 37: <li><a href="#history">History of the port</a>
1.39 miod 38: <li><a href="#status">Current status</a>
1.55 nick 39: <li><a href="#hardware">Supported hardware</a>
1.39 miod 40: <li><a href="#hwdocs">Documentation wanted</a>
41: <li><a href="#install">Getting and installing OpenBSD/vax</a>
42: </ul>
1.1 deraadt 43:
1.3 fn 44: <hr>
1.91 bentley 45:
46: <h3 id="history"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>History:</strong></font></h3>
1.28 hugh 47:
1.12 ericj 48: <p>
1.32 hugh 49: VAX has been a supported OpenBSD architecture since early 2000, when code was
50: synchronized with NetBSD's port. Being the second architecture to run BSD Unix
51: (in 1979!), it seems appropriate that these venerable vaxen should still have
1.39 miod 52: a modern OS.
53:
54: <p>
55: The current codebase is mostly from Berkeley, with contributions of free
56: code from Digital, Mt Xinu, NetBSD, OpenBSD and others.
1.12 ericj 57:
58: <p>
1.53 jolan 59: After the port was synchronized with the NetBSD codebase, fixes and improvements
60: were made, such as support for 16 partitions per drive, support for more VAX
1.39 miod 61: models, improved emulation of unimplemented instructions, and so on.
1.28 hugh 62:
1.39 miod 63: <p>
64: Development is ongoing, and changes are shared among VAX hackers even to
65: this day. The result of this work is an operating system that is stable
66: and familiar to any OpenBSD user.
67:
68: <hr>
1.91 bentley 69:
70: <h3 id="status"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Current status:</strong></font></h3>
1.39 miod 71:
72: <p>
73: Currently, all the hardware listed in the
1.55 nick 74: <a href="#hardware">supported hardware</a> section below boots
1.39 miod 75: multi-user, and supports enough of the on-board devices to be generally
1.54 pedro 76: usable.
1.39 miod 77: Some models can only run diskless at the moment, though.
1.35 hugh 78:
79: <p>
1.65 miod 80: As of OpenBSD 4.0, most of the VAXstation frame buffers are
1.74 miod 81: supported.
1.64 miod 82:
83: <p>
84: Of course, regardless of frame buffer support, a complete set of X clients
85: and utilities is available, allowing OpenBSD/vax machines to behave as X11
86: font servers, or run X clients on remote display.
1.35 hugh 87:
1.39 miod 88: <p>
89: There a few problems still left in the OpenBSD/vax port, though:
1.35 hugh 90: <ul>
1.39 miod 91: <li>The current compiler sometimes has optimizer issues (i.e. gcc -O2
92: produces incorrect code, while -O1 or -O0 work). They are slowly being
93: worked on as we are aware of them. Most code should work nowadays.
94: <li>Addressing limits in the pmap module. This can cause the kernel to panic.
1.42 david 95: Some of these situations have been taken care of and fail gracefully,
1.39 miod 96: but there might be unfixed cases.
97: </ul>
1.28 hugh 98:
1.39 miod 99: <hr>
1.91 bentley 100:
101: <h3 id="hardware"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Supported hardware:</strong></font></h3>
1.16 hugh 102:
103: <p>
1.39 miod 104: The list of supported hardware below is not meant to be exhaustive.
1.74 miod 105: Due to a limited inventory of systems available to developers,
106: not all hardware combinations have been tested.
1.39 miod 107:
108: <p>
109: As a result, OpenBSD/vax may actually run on your machine even if it's not
1.32 hugh 110: listed here, and we rely on your testing and feedback to keep this list up
1.39 miod 111: to date.
112: To help us improve the accuracy of this list, <b>PLEASE</b>
113: <a href="faq/faq4.html#SendDmesg">send your dmesg</a> after installation
114: to <a href="mailto:dmesg@openbsd.org">dmesg@openbsd.org</a>.
115:
116: <p>
117: <h4>Supported models</h4>
1.12 ericj 118:
1.13 ericj 119: <p>
1.39 miod 120: <ul>
1.64 miod 121: <li>VAXstation 2000
1.39 miod 122: <li>VAXstation 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
123: <li>VAXstation 3100/{38,48} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
124: <li>VAXstation 3100/76 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.74 miod 125: <li>VAXstation 35x0 and 38x0 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 126: <li>VAXstation 4000/VLC (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
127: <li>VAXstation 4000/60 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
128: <li>VAXstation 4000/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 129: <li>VAXstation 4000/90A (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 130: <li>VAXstation 4000/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 131: <li>MicroVAX 2000
1.39 miod 132: <li>MicroVAX 3100/{10,20}{,e} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
133: <li>MicroVAX 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
134: <li>MicroVAX 3100/80 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.51 miod 135: <li>MicroVAX 3100/85 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 136: <li>MicroVAX 3100/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.64 miod 137: <li>MicroVAX 3100/95 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
138: <li>MicroVAX 3100/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 139: <li>MicroVAX 3300
140: <li>VAX 4000 100 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
141: <li>VAX 4000 105 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.61 mickey 142: <li>VAX 4000 106 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
1.39 miod 143: <li>VAX 4000 200
144: <li>VAX 4000 300
145: <li>VAX 4000 {400,500,600}
146: <li>VAX 4000 {500A,700A}
1.65 miod 147: <li>VXT2000 and VXT2000+
1.59 kettenis 148: <li><a href="vax-simh.html">SIMH VAX</a>
1.39 miod 149: </ul>
150:
1.64 miod 151: <p>
152: <h4>QBUS devices</h4>
153:
154: <p>
155: <ul>
156: <li>KFQSA MSCP DSSI controller
1.97 ! sthen 157: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=uda&sektion=4&arch=vax">uda</a>)
1.64 miod 158: <li>Emulex UC08 MSCP SCSI controller
1.97 ! sthen 159: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=uda&sektion=4&arch=vax">uda</a>)
1.64 miod 160: <li>CXY08 DHV-11 emulating serial ports
1.97 ! sthen 161: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=dhu&sektion=4&arch=vax">dhu</a>)
1.64 miod 162: <li>DELQA Ethernet
1.97 ! sthen 163: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=qe&sektion=4&arch=vax">qe</a>)
1.64 miod 164: </ul>
165:
166: <p>
167: <h4>Ethernet controllers</h4>
168:
169: <p>
170: <ul>
171: <li>on-board MicroVAX or VAXstation LANCE Ethernet
1.97 ! sthen 172: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=le&sektion=4&arch=vax">le</a>)
1.64 miod 173: <li>DEC SGEC
1.97 ! sthen 174: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=ze&sektion=4&arch=vax">ze</a>)
1.64 miod 175: </ul>
176:
177: <p>
178: <h4>SCSI controllers</h4>
179:
180: <p>
181: <ul>
182: <li>NCR5380
1.97 ! sthen 183: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=asc&sektion=4&arch=vax">asc</a>)
1.64 miod 184: on-board SCSI
185: <li>NCR53C9x
1.97 ! sthen 186: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=ncr&sektion=4&arch=vax">ncr</a>)
1.64 miod 187: on-board SCSI
1.74 miod 188: <li>SII
1.97 ! sthen 189: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=sii&sektion=4&arch=vax">sii</a>)
1.74 miod 190: on-board SCSI on VAXstation 35x0/38x0 I/O module
1.64 miod 191: </ul>
192: <p>
1.74 miod 193: Either one of the first two controllers are found onboard most 3100s and
194: VAXstation 4000s, as well as the VAX 4000 10x series.
1.64 miod 195:
196: <p>
197: <h4>Serial ports</h4>
198:
199: <p>
200: <ul>
201: <li>DZ*11 or compatible serial ports
202: (<a
1.97 ! sthen 203: href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=dz&sektion=4&arch=vax">dz</a>)
1.64 miod 204: <li>SC26C94 serial ports on VXT2000
1.97 ! sthen 205: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=qsc&sektion=4&arch=vax">qsc</a>)
1.64 miod 206: </ul>
207:
208: <p>
1.65 miod 209: <h4>Frame buffers</h4>
1.64 miod 210:
211: <p>
212: <ul>
213: <li>VAXstation 3100 on-board monochrome frame buffer
1.97 ! sthen 214: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=smg&sektion=4&arch=vax">smg</a>)
1.64 miod 215: <li>VAXstation 3100/{30,38,40,48} color frame buffer option
1.97 ! sthen 216: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=gpx&sektion=4&arch=vax">gpx</a>)
1.70 miod 217: <li>VAXstation 3100/76 SPX frame buffer, also available as an option for
218: VAXstation 3100/{30,38,40,48}
1.97 ! sthen 219: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.74 miod 220: <li>VAXstation 35x0/38x0 frame buffer
1.97 ! sthen 221: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=legss&sektion=4&arch=vax">legss</a>),
1.74 miod 222: without the 16 planes option
1.64 miod 223: <li>VAXstation 4000/60 and 4000/VLC frame buffer
1.97 ! sthen 224: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcg&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcg</a>)
1.64 miod 225: <li>VAXstation 4000/90 color frame buffer
1.97 ! sthen 226: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.64 miod 227: <li>VXT2000 color frame buffer
1.97 ! sthen 228: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lcspx&sektion=4&arch=vax">lcspx</a>)
1.64 miod 229: </ul>
230:
231: <p>
1.74 miod 232: The VXT2000 monochrome frame buffer, the LEGSS 16 plane option and the
233: SPXg/SPXgt options for VAXstation 4000s are not supported yet.
1.64 miod 234:
235: <p>
1.65 miod 236: <h4>Input devices</h4>
1.64 miod 237:
238: <p>
239: <ul>
240: <li>LK201 and LK401 keyboards
1.97 ! sthen 241: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lkkbd&sektion=4&arch=vax">lkkbd</a>)
1.64 miod 242: <li>VSxxx mouse
1.97 ! sthen 243: (<a href="http://man.openbsd.org/?query=lkms&sektion=4&arch=vax">lkms</a>)
1.64 miod 244: </ul>
245:
1.3 fn 246: <hr>
1.91 bentley 247:
248: <h3 id="hwdocs"><font color="#0000e0"><strong>Documentation wanted:</strong></font></h3>
1.40 miod 249:
250: <p>
251: <ul>
1.64 miod 252: <li>Programming info for LCG, SPX, and SPXg/SPXgt framebuffers
1.40 miod 253: <li>Software references for SHAC DSSI
254: <li>Any edition VARM
255: </ul>
256:
257: <hr>
1.91 bentley 258:
259: <h3 id="install"><font color="#0000e0">
1.40 miod 260: <strong>Getting and installing OpenBSD/vax:</strong>
261: </font></h3>
262:
263: <p>
264: The latest supported OpenBSD/vax release is
1.95 sthen 265: <a href="58.html">OpenBSD 5.8</a>.
1.40 miod 266: Here are the
1.95 sthen 267: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/5.8/vax/INSTALL.vax">
268: OpenBSD/vax 5.8 installation instructions
1.40 miod 269: </a>.
270:
271: <p>
272: Snapshots are made available from time to time, in
1.84 sthen 273: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/vax">this location</a>
1.40 miod 274: as well as in a few
275: <a href="ftp.html">mirrors</a>.
276: Here are the
1.84 sthen 277: <a href="http://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/vax/INSTALL.vax">
1.40 miod 278: OpenBSD/vax snapshot installation instructions
279: </a> as well.
1.3 fn 280:
281: </body>
282: </html>
![[BACK]](/icons/back.gif){kind=icon}
Return to vax.html CVS log ![[TXT]](/icons/text.gif){kind=icon}
![[DIR]](/icons/dir.gif){kind=icon}
Up to [local] / www