OpenBSD/mac68k

OpenBSD/mac68k runs on many of the Motorola 680x0-based Macintosh machines. It requires a Motorola 68020, 68030, or a 68040 processor. If you have a 68020, it will also need a Motorola 68851 PMMU (note that this is different from the 68881, which is an FPU). While the system is quite useful (it's being run as an internet server and router), there is still plenty of work to be done. Please jump in and become a part of the action!

History and Status:

The mac68k port of OpenBSD was derived from NetBSD/mac68k, and it supports most of the same hardware as NetBSD. This does not mean that OpenBSD is the same as NetBSD. Far from it. The kernel makes up only a small part of the full system.

Supported Hardware:

• 68020 with 68851 PMMU and 68881 FPU
• 68030 with 68882 FPU (most Macs have this)
• 68040 (not including the 68LC040)

The following Macintosh models are "fully" supported. This means that at least the SCSI controller, ADB (keyboard and mouse), and some sort of display will function on these models. On some of these machines, a PMMU and/or FPU are required if they are not provided by default with the machine.

• Mac II, Mac IIx, Mac IIcx, Mac IIci, Mac SE/30,
• Mac IIsi, Mac IIvx, Mac IIvi, Performa 600, Centris 650,
• Color Classic, Classic II, LC520, LC550, Mac LCIII, Performa 4xx,
• LCII, LCIII, MacTV, Quadra 610, Quadra 650, Quadra 840, Quadra
• 840AV, Quadra 800, Quadra 700, Duo Series,
• Powerbook 180 and 180c, PB140, PB145, PB145B, PB160, PB170, PB165,
• PB165c

Supported devices on all of the above systems include:

• Internal SCSI bus and most SCSI tapes, hard drives, and CD-ROMs
• Internal sound--enough to beep on some machines, anyway
• Most NuBus video cards (there have been some problems with some 24-bit color cards)
• Both internal serial ports
• ADB keyboards and mice
• Ethernet cards based on the Natl. Semiconductor 8390 (Asante, Apple, and a few others)
• Some ethernet cards based on the SONIC chip including internal Ethernet on many of Apple's Quadras.

Some systems will boot and are usable from an external terminal (serial tty or SL/IP):

• LC475, Performa 475, Quadra 605
• possibly others

What isn't supported, but often asked about:

• PowerPC-based Macs. Some of these are supported in the OpenBSD/powerpc port.
• Machines based on Apple's IOP technology including the Mac IIfx.
• Machines based on the 68LC040 processor. Unfortunately, the chip itself contains a major bug which is presently being worked on. However, machines such as the Centris 605 don't work right now.

Current information and help with installing can be found in the INSTALL.mac68k document distributed with the most recent release of OpenBSD. Also, be sure to see the most recent mac68k errata on the OpenBSD errata page. It contains some information vitally important to correctly installing the system from the CDROMs.

There is a list of changes in the machine-independent portions of the system. Check it out.

There is a mailing list devoted to OpenBSD/mac68k at mac68k@openbsd.org. To join the OpenBSD/mac68k mailing list, send a message body of "help" to majordomo@openbsd.org and you will receive a reply outlining all of your options.

To learn how to obtain the most recent release of OpenBSD/mac68k, please see the page we have on FTP'ing OpenBSD or ordering OpenBSD on CDROM.

There is currently no official maintainer for the mac68k port.