FAQ: Sun3 in and out of the emulator
Q: How good is NetBSD
SunOS compatibility?
A: SunOS 4.1.1 executables are a.out format. Current NetBSD executables
are ELF format, and NetBSD 1.6 and above will run a fair number of SunOS a.out
executables. Pre-NetBSD 1.6 (such as NetBSD 1.5.3) executables are a.out
format, and will run a greater number of (but not all) SunOS a.out executables.
Q: I'm attempting to install NetBSD 1.5.3 from tape, and the install bombs
because the filesystem is read-only.
A: There's a problem
with the NetBSD 1.5.3 miniroot. When the install procedure prompts for
input after reporting that the filesystem is read-only, abort with control-c,
enter:
mount -t ffs -u /kern/rootdev /
then install.
Q: How do I set the hostid on my sun3?
A: The hostid is a combination of the machine-type (defined by the system type)
and serial number (stored in the idprom). Here's how
the hostid is calculated.
With a real sun3 you can't change the machine-type, and
you can't change the serial number (without changing or burning another idprom).
So do the following:
1) With NetBSD: sysctl -w kern.hostid=xxxx.
2) With SunOS use the change hostid utility linked on the
main page.
With an emulated Sun3 you can't change the machine-type (emulating a Carrera motherboard sets the machine type to 0x1100), but you can change the serial number by setting it in the idprom binary. Specifying a serial number may be sufficient to produce the desired hostid. But if not (i.e. you need another machine-type code), use the methods described above.
Q: What is the latest version of SunOS for Sun3/3x?
A: SunOS 4.1.1_U1 released
in 1991.
Q: What is the latest version of NetBSD for Sun3/3x?
A: Whatever the latest version of NetBSD is! NetBSD has current support
for the Sun3/3x series! Woot!
Get your cool ILVSUN3
paraphernalia!
I have a bet going on how many ILVSUN3 dog t-shirts I can sell by Christmas
2007. Oh YEAH!