At 08:30 PM 8/17/98 , J.S. Havard wrote:
>
>> >> 1) It may seem trivial but it would be nice instead of backplane0,
>> >>    mainbus0 was used (like most other ports).  Mostly for consistency
>> >>    but also because I don't consider the latter VAXen to have
>> >>    backplanes (that a big iron concept).
>> >> 
>> >This comes from 4.x BSD kernel source and probably earlier.  If that's
>> >how they had it there, lets keep it in NetBSD kernel source.  :-)  Maybe
>> >the others should change?  I like it as it is.
>> 
>> It comes from 4.4.  It makes no sense to change 12 ports for 1 port.
>> I have the BSD 4.2, 4.3, 4.3Tahoe, 4.3Reno sources.  And I've worked
>> on all those.
>> 
>Well, why not? 
>> Remember that 4.xBSD only ran on BIG VAX.  95% or more VAX users will be
>> using little VAXes.
>> 
>And what about if I get an 11/750?  Hopefully I can get one or two this 
>spring.  Any idea about power requirements?  I know they run on single phase.

The more important reason (that I thought of later) is documentation.
The documentation of generating custom kernels should not have to deal
with the vax port using backplane0 instead of mainbus0.
-- 
Matt Thomas               Internet:   matt@3am-software.com
3am Software Foundry      WWW URL:    http://www.3am-software.com/bio/matt/
Sunnyvale, CA             Disclaimer: I avow all knowledge of this message