Hi Chase, Chase Rayfield wrote:
I think the main problem with Linux is getting larger kernels loading on old hardware... I'm not sure but I think the bootloader would have to setup the memory mapping and hand off to the kernel for this to be possible. Otherwise you have the 4Mb limit.
Oh bloat, bloat...
If someone wanted to look at that for a few bucks and get newer Linux kernel working also I'd be happy to chip in as I'd like to keep at least two modern OSs going on these. I suppose I
That was my point. More than one modern OS would help the exo-system would help bug-finding, comparison, etc.
And, anyway, fun.
should load up the latest NetBSD and make sure all the wierd graphics cards work since I have a couple (AG10E finally, Rasterflex HR, TGX, and SX 8MB). I want to get the expansion box working too. I have several SS1000e and enough parts to fully build at lease one fully kitted but haven't gotten around to it yet. I should be able to test on these more as I move in the next year or two and have more space to leave them setup.
I have several SPARCs, I could have devoted one to Linux.. I used to run Solaris, Linux Gentoo, NetBSD and OpenBSD.
Since I intend to test and compile software there to check that it works, Solaris went out of "fashion" for me, since it is too old and some dependencies do not compile at all, I have an UltraSPARC now and with Solaris 8 you can test something at least. OpenBSD left us...
But having e.g. two identical CPUs with NetBSD is useless for me now. 5 or 10 years ago I did use them as "main" machines, now not any longer, they are all headless.
If of interest, I could reserve one machine of testing snapshots or current kernels.
Riccardo