> What degree of runtime binary compatibility with OSF/1/DU will this
> newfangled ELF netbsd-alpha stuff have?

So, it's completely unrelated.

As Matt Thomas noted, OSF/1/DU uses ECOFF.  The use of ELF by
NetBSD/alpha doesn't affect that, nor does it affect NetBSD/alpha's
current (very limited) ability to run OSF/1/DU binaries.

The ability to run dynamically-linked ELF binaries says nothing about
dynamically-linked ECOFF binaries, or vice-versa.  There's also the
question of "where would you get your binaries and libraries?"  If
it's from an OSF/1/DU box (you are properly licensed to copy them,
right? 8-), then you'd be trying to run the OSF/1 shared loader, which
means that the problems enumerated in the compat_osf1 README files
still exist.


> Here's my big question: given that a stabilized ELF netbsd-alpha is
> installed and running (currently hypothetical), can I run DEC's X
> server with a powerstorm 4D20 framebuffer, using binary emulation?

No.


> Will the powerstorm work as a console, or will I need a weenie
> framebuffer to boot?

That depends on what it announces itself as.  If it acts like a PCI
VGA board, then yes it could work as console.  If not, no.


> I'm just trying to plan ahead; I've been stuck
> with a sparc IPX (netbsd-1.1) for almost a year now and it's time to
> get something faster, but I'm not going to move on without a
> reasonable expectation that the parts are all there and fit together.
> 
> My preference of course is a native open-source X server with full
> support for the 4D20, including cmaps and truecolor, GL, double-
> buffering, overlay, and stereo viewing. Likely story.

As Matt's answer and mine would indicate, the pieces are a long way
from being there and 'together' for what you want.


For what it's worth, I _don't_ think that 'the right answer' is to
bang the TGA driver/X-server into working properly on TGA2 boards.
TGA2 boards are PCI VGA boards, and should be treated as such by the
kernel and the X server.  There was some interest on the XFree86 lists
about getting the TGA2 boards supported, but i don't know if anything
came of it.




chris