Index: ports/sparc/faq.xml =================================================================== RCS file: /cvsroot/htdocs/ports/sparc/faq.xml,v retrieving revision 1.4 retrieving revision 1.5 diff -u -r1.4 -r1.5 --- ports/sparc/faq.xml 3 Apr 2009 02:14:10 -0000 1.4 +++ ports/sparc/faq.xml 20 Sep 2009 00:17:58 -0000 1.5 @@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ - - + + @@ -58,10 +58,9 @@ How do I change console options such as colour or font size? -You have to recompile a kernel for this. For example, for a white on black +You have to recompile a kernel to do this. For example, to get a white on black console, add the following to your kernel config file: - -options RASTERCONSOLE_FGCOL=WSCOL_WHITE +options RASTERCONSOLE_FGCOL=WSCOL_WHITE options RASTERCONSOLE_BGCOL=WSCOL_BLACK @@ -127,109 +126,17 @@ - -Why is NetBSD so much faster than SparcLinux on sun4c - -The memory management hardware on sun4c machines (SPARCstation -1, 1+, 2, IPC, IPX, SLC, ELC and clones) is not handled -particularly well by Linux. Until Linux reworks their MMU code -NetBSD will be significantly faster on this hardware. There was a -longstanding bug prior to NetBSD 1.6.2 on SPARCstation/server 1, -SPARCstation/server 1+, and Sun IPC models. We recommend updating these -models to the latest version of NetBSD to for improved stability and -speed. See sw flush: cache enabled. - - - - - -I get a <code><emphasis role="bold">ld: /usr/lib/c++rt0.o: illegal reloc type mix</emphasis></code> when compiling - -For versions older than 1.4.3, the default NetBSD/sparc /usr/lib/c++rt0.o -is compiled -fpic. This means it can only handle offsets up to a certain -size, and can fail to work in large programs. Compiling -fPIC allows -larger offsets and should permit large programs to function. - - - -If you're using a NetBSD release before 1.4.3, replacing /usr/lib/c++rt0.o -with a -fPIC version, located at ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/sparc/c++rt0/, -will solve this problem. - - - - - -Making install boot floppies - -To create install floppies for NetBSD/sparc, you first need to have the -release source. You also need to have the release files installed; you'll -find them under the - -NetBSD-release section. Note that the release source extracts to -the src directory, so be sure to extract the archive under /usr. -Next, create the INSTALL kernel: - -# cd /sys/arch/sparc/INSTALL; make -After the kernel has build, you can create the installation floppies: -# cd /usr/src/distrib/sparc/sysinst.ramdisk; make -# cd /usr/src/distrib/sparc/sysinst.bootfs; make - - - - - -Making a bootable CD-ROM - -See the NetBSD -Bootable CD ROM HOWTO. - - - - Using the <emphasis>nell</emphasis> sbus-to-PCMCIA bridge -NetBSD 1.6 and later support cardbus and PCMCIA cards with the SPARCstation +NetBSD supports CardBus and PCMCIA cards with the SPARCstation Voyager's on-board interface and with the nell sbus-to-PCMCIA bridge card. -Support was dramatically improved in NetBSD 2.0, fixing many longstanding -bugs. All PCMCIA devices listed on the +All PCMCIA devices listed on the Machine-independent PCMCIA drivers -page should work in NetBSD 2.0. Some have been tested. The GENERIC -kernel has the nell interface disabled by default. You'll need to build a -kernel with the nell and various pcmcia interfaces uncommented. - - -In NetBSD 1.6.x, there is a byte endian issue which currently prevents -16 bit devices from working. See the -post -by Martin Husemann on nell support. -This problem is fixed in NetBSD 2.0 and later. - - -In NetBSD 1.6.x, There is a conflict between the audioamd device -in sun4c and some sun4m models and the (nell) device. -This problem is fixed in NetBSD 2.0 and later. - - -If your 1.6.x system has the audioamd device on-board and you want to -use it and the nell interface, you need to build a new kernel with -the following option: - -options AUDIO_C_HANDLER - -This problem is fixed in NetBSD 2.0 and later. - - -If you wish to use the Lucent WaveLAN card on 1.6.x, you will need to -add the following hack to your kernel configuration: - -options WI_AT_BIGENDIAN_BUS_HACK -wi* at pcmcia? function ? # Lucent WaveLan IEEE (802.11) - - +page should work with NetBSD/sparc. Some have been tested, but many have +not. The GENERIC kernel has the nell interface disabled by default. +You'll need to build a kernel with the nell and various pcmcia interfaces +uncommented. @@ -242,9 +149,10 @@ What CPU modules are capable of running multiprocessor -Note: This capability was added in NetBSD 2.0. NetBSD 1.6.x and -earlier will only use one CPU if more than one is present. - +Note: multiprocessor support is currently broken in 5.0 and +-current. NetBSD 4.0 is the latest release to feature working multiprocessor +support for the sparc port. + The only NetBSD/sparc models capable of SMP are the Sun 4/600, SPARCstation/server 10, SPARCstation/server 20, and clones of these @@ -252,7 +160,7 @@ can be used in an SMP system. Briefly, two modules with the same speed and (non-zero) cache size will have no problems. Modules with different cache sizes and speeds have been reported to work, -but you run into trouble when using older (i.e. slower) modules and +but you run into trouble when using older (i.e., slower) modules and modules without caches. Check the following references: Sun CPU @@ -287,13 +195,13 @@ How do I hook up a VGA monitor to my Sun -Well, there are two ways, build your own cable, or purchase an +Well, there are two ways: build your own cable, or purchase an adapter. The adapters can be found for around US$30 and the framebuffer will typically "just work" at its default resolution. -To build your own cable, can follow the +To build your own cable, follow these instructions provided by Izumi Tsutsui. @@ -308,9 +216,9 @@ -What does a message similar to <code>"*** U0209 ***</code>" "<code>PMAP 000d5000, Exp = 00000000, Obs = 04000000</code>" from the PROM mean +What does a message similar to <code>"*** U0209 ***</code>" "<code>PMAP 000d5000, Exp = 00000000, Obs = 04000000</code>" from the PROM mean? -If the page map ram on a sparc2 fails the PROM will not initialise the +If the page map ram on a sparc2 fails, the PROM will not initialise the framebuffer, but will output a message similar to *** U0209 *** @@ -318,7 +226,7 @@ to the serial console. (the U0209 can also be U0208). The only options are to replace the chip, which requires exceptionally -delicate soldering work, or the entire motherboard. +delicate soldering work, or replace the entire motherboard. @@ -361,9 +269,9 @@ PROM/Booting Questions -How to abort to the prom +How to abort to the PROM -There are three ways to abort to the prom: +There are three ways to abort to the PROM: @@ -377,7 +285,7 @@ -Once at the prom you can continue with 'go' ('ok' prompt), or +Once at the PROM you can continue with 'go' ('ok' prompt), or 'c' (> prompt). @@ -414,35 +322,6 @@ - -<code>sw flush: cache enabled</code> - -Prior to NetBSD 1.6.2, there was a longstanding MMU bug in the sun4c -architecture. NetBSD 1.6 and 1.6.1 attempted to work around this bug by -using a slower caching mechanism on the SPARCstation/server 1, -SPARCstation/server 1+, and Sun IPC. All known problems are fixed in -1.6.2 and later. Read Paul Kranenburg's -post -for more information. - - - - - -<code>open netbsd: no such file or directory</code> - -D'oh. The NetBSD 1.6 installer does not install a kernel if you select -the default install. This is, of course, corrected in NetBSD 1.6.1 and -later. - - -The easy fix is to run the installer again and select Re-install -sets or install additional sets and chose the -kern-GENERIC.tgz package to install. - - - - How to speed up the framebuffer on sun4c hosts @@ -465,15 +344,15 @@ -Do I really have to have my partitions start and end on cylinder boundaries +Do I really have to have my partitions start and end on cylinder boundaries? -Yes and no. The prom only knows how to load a bootloader from the +Yes and no. The PROM only knows how to load a bootloader from the beginning of a cylinder. This means that your bootable partitions need to start on cylinder boundaries. The cylinder size in your disklabel does not have to bear any relation to the actual physical cylinder size of the -disk. You can't just set your cylinder size to 1 (i.e. the number of +disk. You can't just set your cylinder size to 1 (i.e., the number of cylinders = the number of sectors), since the number of cylinders is -stored as a 16 bit number (i.e. your disk could only be about 32 MB). +stored as a 16 bit number (i.e., your disk could only be about 32 MB). @@ -520,26 +399,6 @@ - -When booting from 1.4.2 floppies, you get "Data Access Exception" - -Unfortunately, the NetBSD 1.4.2 floppies, have a problem with the -bootloader on some machines (in particular, sun4c machines with -non-contiguous memory banks, such as the IPX). If you -encounter this error, then you will need to download the repaired -floppy -images or install a 16 MB SIMM in the first bank of your machine (4 MB -isn't large enough to hold the broken bootloader and the kernel). - - - -This problem is only present on 1.4.2 boot floppies. -It has been fixed in -current and will not be present in future -releases of NetBSD/sparc. - - - - How do I boot an RDI PowerLite 85 or 100 from a floppy disk? @@ -564,33 +423,6 @@ Serial Port Questions - -Problems running a serial console on a SPARCstation 2 prior to NetBSD 1.4.2 - -When booting a 1.4 or 1.4.1 kernel from a serial console, the following -messages may appear: -Warning: unparseable stdin-path property -Warning: unparseable stdout-path property -cninit: invalid inSource 0xffffffff - -This is a know problem when booting with a serial console on a -SPARCstation 2 -with a PROM revision prior to 2.4. The full details can be found under - -PR/7409. The problem has been solved in NetBSD 1.4.2. If you need a -patched 1.4.1 GENERIC kernel, try - -this one. A patch which alters src/arch/sparc/dev/zs.c to force -/dev/ttya as the only serial console can be found as - -zs.diff. -Note that this patch does not prevent a standard keyboard and monitor from -being the console; it forces /dev/ttya to be the console should a -serial console be selected. - - - - Whenever I unplug the serial console, my machine reboots! @@ -652,7 +484,7 @@ (such as 76800 bps and 51200 bps). der Mouse has patched things in the attempt to run the serial chip in an even faster -mode, but it is very unreliable (i.e. very error-prone). +mode, but it is very unreliable (i.e., very error-prone). @@ -696,11 +528,11 @@ Ethernet address or hostid are all ones -If a machine boots up with with an all-ones ethernet address (i.e. +If a machine boots up with with an all-ones ethernet address (i.e., ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff) or hostid, it is most likely because the NVRAM has reached the end of its life cycle. This is especially common on sun4c class machines because the NVRAM used in those systems have relatively -short life spans many of which are currently ending now. +short life spans, many of which are ending now. @@ -731,8 +563,8 @@ Check the media type in the output of "ifconfig le0". -it should read 10Base5 to use the external transceiver, if -not issue a "ifconfig le0 media 10base5" command. +It should read 10Base5 to use the external transceiver; if +not, issue a "ifconfig le0 media 10base5" command. @@ -774,7 +606,7 @@ What was the Fox? -The Fox is probably best described as a brick sized SS4. Among it's features: +The Fox is probably best described as a brick sized SS4. Among its features: @@ -808,7 +640,7 @@ Kinda. If Solaris 5 or later created a filesystem with access control lists (ACL), NetBSD's &man.fsck.8; will render the superblock unusable to -Solaris (i.e. Solaris can't mount the filesystem again). +Solaris (i.e., Solaris can't mount the filesystem again). You should either mount your Solaris filesystem read-only or have @@ -864,58 +696,6 @@ - -Can NetBSD/sparc run Netscape - -There are three 'Netscape' browsers in the NetBSD packages collection: - - - - -www/communicator - complete Netscape communicator install including email. (requires SunOS or Solaris libraries) -www/navigator - Standalone Navigator browser (requires SunOS or Solaris libraries) -www/mozilla - Free version of the Netscape -browser. - - - - -Both the communicator and navigator packages will run faster and -provide more features than mozilla, but they require either Solaris -libraries in /emul/svr4 (see &man.compat.svr4.8;) or SunOS-4.1 libraries in -/emul/sunos (see &man.compat.sunos.8;). All of the SunOS-4.1 libraries -except libdl.so are -available from Sun(see above). If anyone is interested in putting together a libdl it would -be greatly appreciated :) - -The Solaris-2.5.1 versions of communicator and navigator are the defaults as -current netscape versions are available for Solaris. It appears that netscape-4.61 -was the last SunOS-4.1 version available. If you wish to use the SunOS-4.1 -version of netscape, set the NS_USE_SUNOS variable in /etc/mk.conf. - - - - - -Under SunOS emulation, Netscape fails with `Error: Can't open display: :0.0' - -Solaris Netscape (at least, version 4.51 attempts to use a pipe rather -than a Unix domain socket to connect to the X server. Put -DISPLAY=unix:0.0 into netscape's environment before starting it -and it will work ok. The easiest way to do this, as well as the other -variables you need to set up for it, is to have a shell script that does -this before executing netscape: - - - -#!/bin/sh -export XKEYSYMDB=/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XKeysymDB -export MOZILLA_HOME=/usr/local/netscape.svr4 -export XNLSPATH=$MOZILLA_HOME/nls -exec $MOZILLA_HOME/netscape $* - - - @@ -1007,17 +787,17 @@ Other sources of information from NetBSD.org -NetBSD 2.0 install notes +NetBSD &release.latest; install notes - - NetBSD 2.0 install notes - supported hardware and how to -install. + + NetBSD &release.latest; install notes - supported hardware and +how to install. -port-sparc mail list +port-sparc mailing list - port-sparc mail list + port-sparc mailing list - if you have any additional questions please subscribe.