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