Re: (native build & other issues - Was: xvfb not built on vax...)

[David Brownlee <abs%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

On Wed, 4 Feb 2009, Johnny Billquist wrote:

> >     Some NetBSD users do not care about how long a vax takes
> >     to build NetBSD - why is that surprising? I think you'll
> >     find quite a few users on port-vax who really don't care
> >     about x86, or arm, or 3d graphics support for example.
>
> You should perhaps differentiate between NetBSD users and NetBSD developers. 
> That users don't care is no surprise, and I would not expect otherwise.
> Developers on the other hand should atleast care a little.

        The logic still applies somewhat there. Should a developer
        working on embedded headless network appliances care at all
        about graphic console support?

> >     I would expect most people building NetBSD/vax for a headless
> >     system are going to skip building x11 altogether.
>
> No. Why should they? All (well, most) X applications are still useable even 
> if you don't have a frame buffer.

        Granted, but I would have expected a definite minority of
        NetBSD/vax usersto be running X apps on their vas and sending
        the display to a non vax box. I could well be underestimating the
        "because its there" factor :)

> >     As I understand ther are two issues:
> >     a) Some vax models seem to 'go to sleep' under load
>
> Very deep sleep. As in stops altogether. Not sure if it's just some VAX 
> models, or if it's just that some people haven't manage to reproduce the 
> conditions.

        I'm pretty sure Matt and some of those who could track it down are
        not seeing it. Could you try to narrow down a sequence to
        reproduce it and then update http://wiki.netbsd.se/vax with
        the details and the machines (CPU/memory/disk/nfs? etc) on which
        you can reproduce? Then maybe if some others can try to see if
        they can duplicate and add their notes?

> >     b) Groff chokes building certain .ps files - I thought Brad had
> >        tracked that down to a hypot issue, what ever happened with
> >        that?
>
> Very good question. I'd like to know as well.

        I think Brad is on the case on this again :)

> >     Could I suggest we need a central location to record the
> >     current state of NetBSD/vax, what people have found and/or
> >     are working on?
> >
> >     Can people please take a look at http://wiki.netbsd.se/vax
> >
> >     If you have even a little time and any interest in NetBSD/vax,
> >     take a couple of minutes to add something to that page, be
> >     it something you really want changed, some extra details
> >     on a problem, or some trick you've found to get it installed.
>
> Maybe that would work. I don't know. But we could try...

        Lets give it a go  :)

--
                David/absolute       -- www.NetBSD.org: No hype required --