Subject: Re: A question about architectures
To: None <abs@NetBSD.org>
From: Brad Spencer <brad@anduin.eldar.org>
List: netbsd-help
Date: 04/07/2005 20:13:16
   On Mon, 4 Apr 2005, Tracy Nelson wrote:

   > Thierry Lacoste wrote:
   >
   >> I'd like to study the low level details of modern OS features
   >> (Virtual memory, context switching, device drivers, etc...).
   >> Of course I plan to use NetBSD ;)
   >> 
   >> I'm looking for the simplest architecture.
   >> I'm aware of the inherent complexity of these topics but
   >> I want to avoid "unnecessary" complexities (like those of i386
   >> which is so encumbered with legacy issues).
   >> 
   >> 
   > You might want to look for a 68K Mac.  They're pretty cheap, pretty capable 
   > (I had an SE/30 that ran DNS, qmail and my firewall for years) and the 68K 
   > instruction set is pretty clean.  You'll want a 68030 or better (anything 
   > earlier than that didn't have an MMU built in), one of the '040-based Quadras 
   > (900 or 700) would be a good pick.

	   A variation might be a sun3/80 (m68k), nice firmware, serial
	   console...
   -- 
		   David/absolute       -- www.NetBSD.org: No hype required --






I very much second the 3/80.  I have had one running NetBSD for a number
of years with pretty good success.  I currently have it running 1.6.2.  If
you do find one, however, it is very likely that the battery powering the
original clock chip is dead.  These are pretty easy to replace and
reprogram, however.  Cross building the system from a NetBSD/i386 box
works just fine.




-- 
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