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FAQ

updates in red
1  Isn't some one else also doing this?
 No. Both projects have merged their efforts.
2. How far have you got?
It doesnt boot yet! 
Sorry to get your hopes up, but it really is still early days...

Work is progressing on several fronts at once
Check the status page for details. The main projects are;

  • Writing VAX assembly code for arch/vax/* (bootloader, memory & process management)
  • Fixing up include files in include/asm-vax/* & getting linux to compile.
  • Writing an ELF aware toolchain (binutils, egcs)
3. Can I help?
Sure. You'll need a VAX station 3100, and a i386 linux box as the cross compile host, a VTxxx series terminal attached to the VAX, and a network. You can get the rest of the software here at this site.  Please contact me first before randomly hacking, because I've sort of got a plan here, which might not be 100% obvious from the code.
  Beware - the memory management subsystem is mine. Feel free to offer suggestions,  but beware that it is now into personal vengeance territory as far as I'm concerned.
4. Anyone else helping you? (aka: are you a lone loony?) 
Yes. If you want to help out, subscribe to the linux-vax mailing list and let us know what you would like to take a crack at. 
To the guys at Florida Atlantic who have also expressed an interest in helping out. Their server was here.  -- Jeff drop me a line if you are still interested.
5. Why port Linux, why not just use  *BSD, ULTRIX,  {Free|Open}VMS?
*BSD are fine systems. My first UNIX boxes were BSD derived, and Ive followed the free ones since 386BSD.  They are the first choice for running a free UNIX on VAX hardware. 
ULTRIX. I can't afford, nor OpenVMS. I scan the FreeVMS list, and eagerly wait for code to appear. I may help out there at some point.  Some stuff from this effort might be useful to them. (Linux already has DECnet, and a partial read-only implementation of the VMS ODS-2 Filesystem.)
6. Why are you doing this?

 
  •  It is about time I did something constructive.
  •  I want to learn how Linux/UNIX works.HURD sounds a bit much for my simple brain. 
  •  As a side effect, I'm learning how the i386 and alpha processors work, and I've never learnt assembly at this level before
  •  I've got several VAXes kicking around with out an OS.
  •  I like VAXes. I wrote a fair chunk of my PhD thesis and learnt to program on them. 
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.
8. What Books/References are you using?
  • VAX Architecture Reference Manual.  Leonard, T. (2nd ed) 1987 Digital Press                   Part No  EY-3459Y-DP
  • VAX VMS  Internals and Data Structures. Goldenberg R. (for VN 5.2) 1991 Digital Press.     Part No  EY-C171E-DP
  • VAX Assembly Language. Baase, S, 1992 Prentice Hall
  • Alpha Architecture Handbook. Sites, R. 1992. Digital Press                                               Part No. EY-L520E-DP
  • The "Great Gray Wall"
  •  &Others as they arrive from various places around the planet.

 

Page last updated 16/3/99