> Do you know of anybody working on graphics support for VAXen on BSD?
> What obstacles are there, and is there any programming documentation on
> the graphics interfaces on VAXen? And isn't it so that the pmax
> workstations
> have the same graphics cards, so that effort on an X server could partly
> be
> re-used on their ports? And let's not forget Linux-vax and Linux-pmax...
> 
> Let these workstations be slow and awful, I want XFreeVAX anyway.

I've been keeping close watch on the NetBSD/VAX port.  The graphics display
support is already in place and working.  I can bring up X on my 3100/30
and start applications on it.  What's missing are the mouse and keyboard
drivers to work with the X server.  Hence, it is display-only at the moment.

My understanding is that the DECstation 2100/3100 (MIPS) port drivers for 
the keyboard and mouse will be used to implement the missing functionality 
on the VAXstation 2100/3100.  The graphics support is up and running fully
on the DECstations, which I have and use regularly.

As for the other graphical VAX machines, I'm not familiar with their
current capabilities with NetBSD.  Perhaps another will respond to your
inquiry with more information.

Just FYI, as I've been monitoring the respective linux hardware ports:

  Linux VAX http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~atp/linux-vax/ :

  Quote from page:

 	A port of Linux to the VAX Architecture. 

	If you want to run a free unix on your VAX right now may I suggest 
	    you check out The Netbsd Project. at http://www.netbsd.org/ 

    (and from the NEWS link there):

	7.  What VAXes run linux at the moment?
                  None.  It doesnt boot yet. 
                  The port target is a VAXstation 3100 M30 (WS42-A) with 
			16MB ram and a colour graphics card.
                  It is *VERY* unlikely that any of the "big" vaxes will 
			ever be supported. The long term plan is to get 
			the VAXstation 3100 M30/40 going, then the 3100 M76,
			then the 4000/60.   Anything that requires a Patchable 
			Control Store is unlikely to ever work.  Use NetBSD.
     (There is some indication on the banner page, however, that booting is
	possible now.  No clear indication on functionality though.)

  Linux DECstation http://decstation.unix-ag.org/ :

  Quotes from page:

	a port of Linux to the MIPS R2000/3000/4000-based DECstation workstations

	System support status: 
          System 			Ether	SCSI	serial	TurboChan	kbd/mouse
          DECstation 2100/3100 		yes 	?  	yes 	n/a 		no
          Personal DECstation 5000/xx	yes 	yes 	yes 	yes 		yes
		(20,25,33,50)
          DECstation 5000/1xx 		yes 	yes  	yes 	yes 		no
		(120,125,133,150)
          DECstation 5000/200 		yes 	yes 	yes 	yes 		no
          DECstation 5000/240,/260 	yes 	yes 	yes 	yes 		no
          DECstation 5100 		?  	?  	?  	?  		?

     (additionally, it is indicated that fb/graphics/console is in beta for many
	but not for the DECstation 2100/3100's)

I hope you find this information useful.

Regards,
-skots
--
Scott G. Akmentins-Taylor     InterNet: staylor@mrynet.com
MRY Systems			        staylor@mrynet.lv
    (Skots Gregorijs Akmentins-Teilors -- just call me "Skots")
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