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<h2>OpenBSD/vax</h2>

<hr>
<h3><strong>History and Status:</strong></h3>

<a href="images/vax.jpg"><img src="images/vax.jpg" ALIGN=right alt="[nothing sucks like a vax]"></a>

<p>
VAX has been a supported OpenBSD architecture since early 2000, when code was
synchronized with NetBSD's port. Being the second architecture to run BSD Unix
(in 1979!), it seems appropriate that these venerable vaxen should still have
a modern OS. The codebase is mostly from Berkeley, with contributions of free
code from Digital, Mt Xinu, NetBSD, OpenBSD and others. Development is ongoing,
and changes are shared among VAX hackers even to this day. The result of this
work is an Operating System that is stable and familiar to any OpenBSD user.
</p>

<p>
<b>Significant changes post 3.1:</b>
</p>

<ul>
<li>Corrected handling of arithmetic fault allows SIGFPE, SIG_IGN to work
<li>Kernel debugger enhanced to recognise and disassemble two-byte opcodes
<li>Support for booting off MSCP disks integrated
</ul>

<p>
<b>Significant changes between 3.0 and 3.1</b>
</p>

<ul>
<li>Support for "Cougar" machines confirmed
<li>Support for "Legacy" machines added
<li>Binary logical page size changed to 4096 bytes
</ul>

<p>
<b>Significant changes between 2.9 and 3.0:</b>
</p>

<ul>
<li>Support for "Omega" machines added
<li>Event counters attached to most devices
<li>More addressing modes added to the emulation system
</ul>

<p>
<b>Significant changes between 2.8 and 2.9:</b>
</p>

<ul>
<li>Support for 16 filesystems per drive
<li>Emulation of the EMODD instruction
<li>Support for "Cheetah" machines added
<li>Interrupt signals no longer cause ksh subshells to core
</ul>

<p>
OpenBSD runs on a wide variety of VAX hardware, but our personal
<a href="want.html#vax">inventory of systems</a>
is limited. OpenBSD/vax may actually run on your machine even if it's not
listed here, and we rely on your testing and feedback to keep this list up
to date. After you finish installing your new system, consider running
"dmesg |mail dmesg@openbsd.org" to help us determine what types of
hardware people are using.
</p>

<table WIDTH="100%">
<tr VALIGN=top>
    <td WIDTH="40%">
	<p>
	<b>Tested systems:</b>
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>VAXstation/MicroVAX 2000
	<li>VAXstation 3100/{30,40} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAXstation 3100/{38,48} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAXstation 3100/76 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAXstation 4000/VLC (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAXstation 4000/60 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAXstation 4000/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAXstation 4000/96 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>MicroVAX 3100/{10,20}{,e} (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>MicroVAX 3100/80 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>MicroVAX 3100/90 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>MicroVAX 3300
	<li>VAX 4000 100 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAX 4000 105 (<font color="#009900">SCSI</font>)
	<li>VAX 4000 200
	<li>VAX 4000 300 
	<li>VAX 4000 {400,500,600}
	<li>VAX 4000 {500A,700A}
	</ul>
    </td>

    <td WIDTH="60%">
	<p>
	<b>Projects being worked on:</b>
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>VAXstation 2000's HDC9224 (floppy/mfm hard disk controller)
	<li>MSCP support may still be rough
	<li>Shared libraries? eventually...
        <li>Support for any new systems we encounter
	</ul>

	<p>
	<b>Documentation we're looking for:</b>
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>Programming info for LCG or SPGFX framebuffers
	<li>Software references for SHAC DSSI
	<li>Any edition VARM
	</ul>

 	<p>
	<b>Known problems:</b>
	</p>

	<ul>
	<li>toolchain issues - overzealous gcc optimizer
	<li>pmap - addressing limits
	</ul>
    </td>
</tr>
</table>

<p>
In addition to formal releases, snapshots that reflect our current work
are available for download from the <a href=ftp.html>ftp mirrors</a>,
and a mailing has been set up at
<a href="mailto:vax@openbsd.org"> vax@openbsd.org</a>.
To join the OpenBSD/vax mailing list, send a message body of <b>"subscribe
vax"</b> to <a href="mailto:majordomo@OpenBSD.org">majordomo@OpenBSD.org</a>.
Please be sure to check our <a href="mail.html">mailing list policy</a> before
subscribing.
</p>

<p>
The OpenBSD/vax port maintainers are
<a href="mailto:bjc@cvs.openbsd.org">Brandon Creighton</a>
and <a href="mailto:hugh@cvs.openbsd.org">Hugh Graham</a>.
</p>

<br><br>
<hr>
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