NetBSD/alpha news archive

2004-03-01: NetBSD 1.6.2 released

NetBSD 1.6.2 released with support for 40 architectures. More information is available in the 1.6.2 release announcement.

2003-04-21: NetBSD 1.6.1 released

NetBSD 1.6.1 released with support for 40 architectures. More information is available in the 1.6.1 release announcement.

2002-09-14: NetBSD 1.6 released

NetBSD 1.6 released with support for 39 architectures. More information is available in the 1.6 release announcement.

2002-07-22: NetBSD 1.5.3 released

NetBSD 1.5.3 released with support for 20 architectures. More information is available in the 1.5.3 release announcement.

2001-12-13: PowerStorm 4d20 is supported

Roland Dowdeswell has added initial support for the PowerStorm 4d20 to NetBSD/alpha -current. The driver is capable of running X.

2001-09-13: NetBSD 1.5.2 released

NetBSD 1.5.2 released with support for 21 architectures. More information is available in the 1.5.2 release announcement.

2001-07-19: New -current snapshot available

A new -current snapshot based on 2001-07-19 sources is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server.

2001-07-19: SGMAP DMA improvements in NetBSD/alpha -current

Jason Thorpe has made some improvements to the SGMAP DMA code in NetBSD/alpha -current.

For those who have more memory than the direct-mapped DMA window can address (this is usually ">1G" or ">2G"). then you can now use all that memory. This is because Jason has implemented mbuf support in the SGMAP routines. Along with this, the SGMAPS routines have been made a bit more efficient.

A binary snapshot of NetBSD/alpha -current, including these changes, will be available shortly.

2001-07-11: NetBSD 1.5.1 released

NetBSD 1.5.1 released with support for 21 architectures. More information is available in the 1.5.1 release announcement.

2001-05-16: 1.5.1_BETA2 snapshot available

A NetBSD/alpha 1.5.1_BETA2 snapshot, based off of 1.5.1 sources as of 2001-05-16, is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5.1 was released on July 11th, 2001)

2001-05-04: New -current snapshot available

A new -current snapshot based on 2001-05-04 sources is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server.

2001-04-26: IEEE 754 code in NetBSD/alpha -current

Ross Harvey has committed IEEE 754 floating point completion code to NetBSD/alpha -current. More information is available in Ross' announcement in the port-alpha mail archive.

2001-04-20: NetBSD/alpha MP goes multi-user, code in NetBSD-current

Jason Thorpe has gotten multiprocessor NetBSD/alpha kernels to go multi-user, running both user and kernel code on multiple processors. So far, through a kernel build and full userland build, it seems pretty stable.

All the code to make this work has been committed to NetBSD-current, and testing so far has been on an AlphaServer 1200. This is the same systype as the AlphaServer 4100, so MP configurations of that should also work well.

Systems that should work in an MP configuration:

• AlphaServer 1200
• AlphaServer 4100
• DEC/Alpha Processor, Inc. DP264
• DEC/Alpha Processor, Inc. UP2000
• DEC/Alpha Processor, Inc. UP2000+
• API CS20
• Compaq DS20

The AlphaServer 8200/8400 won't work yet. There are a couple fixes which will need to be done before the 8200 and 8400 will work in an MP configuration.

More information, including dmesg output from Jason's system, is available in his announcement in the tech-smp mail archive.

2001-04-06: 1.5.1_BETA snapshot available

A NetBSD/alpha 1.5.1_BETA snapshot, based off of 1.5.1 sources as of 2001-04-06, is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5.1 was released on July 11th, 2001)

2001-03-16: NetBSD/alpha 1.5 available to try through Compaq Test Drive Program

The Compaq Test Drive Program has added NetBSD 1.5 to the list of operating systems available for you to try. The Test Drive Program is a free service of Compaq, with the main purpose of providing developers with access to new Compaq hardware running a variety of operating systems and applications. After you register, you can get a free shell account which you can use to log into the systems on their Test Drive network and try out the software and operating systems running on them. More information on what the Test Drive network is, and what you can do with your account, is located in the Test Drive FAQ.

NetBSD 1.5 is the latest formal release of NetBSD, which includes many significant new features and enhancements. You can try NetBSD/alpha 1.5 running on an AlphaServer DS-10L and see if NetBSD supports your software, or if it's something you'd like on your own system.

2001-02-26: NetBSD/alpha LKMs now work

Matthew Green has committed a tiny change to <sys/lkm.h> to fix LKM's on the NetBSD/alpha port. To take advantage of this, you will need to rebuild your kernel and modload(1) with the fixed <sys/lkm.h>. Trying to load a LKM on an old kernel will cause a panic, and using an old modload(1) will return ENOTTY (Inappropriate ioctl for device).

Update: This has been pulled into the netbsd-1-5 branch, so it will be available in NetBSD 1.5.1.

2001-02-25: New -current snapshot available

A new -current snapshot based on 2001-02-24 sources is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server.

2001-02-11: 1.4.3A snapshot available

A NetBSD/alpha 1.4.3A snapshot based off of netbsd-1-4 sources as of 2001-01-30 is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. This snapshot includes BIND 8.2.3.

2000-12-06: NetBSD 1.5 released

NetBSD 1.5 released with support for 20 architectures. More information is available in the 1.5 release announcement.

2000-11-25: NetBSD 1.4.3 released

NetBSD 1.4.3 released with support for 16 architectures. More information is available in the 1.4.3 release announcement.

2000-11-15: 1.5_BETA2 snapshot

A NetBSD/alpha 1.5_BETA2 snapshot is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5 was released on December 6th, 2000)

2000-10-31: New Mozilla port available

Charles Hannum has ported Mozilla to the Alpha CPU type. A prebuilt package for NetBSD/alpha 1.5 is available, see the mozilla page under the NetBSD Packages Collection. More information on this, and the other CPU types that there are new Mozilla ports for, is available in Charles' message in the netbsd-announce mail archive.

2000-10-23: 1.5_BETA snapshot

A NetBSD/alpha 1.5_BETA snapshot is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5 was released on December 6th, 2000)

2000-09-26: Booting off RAIDframe RAID1 mirrors

Simon Burge has added support for booting off RAIDframe RAID1 mirrors to NetBSD/alpha -current. This support has been pulled into the netbsd-1-5 branch, so it will be available in NetBSD 1.5.

2000-08-15: First 1.5_ALPHA2 snapshot

The first NetBSD/alpha 1.5_ALPHA2 snapshot is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5 was released on December 6th, 2000)

2000-08-11: Support for DEC DE422 Ethernet

Jason Thorpe has added support to NetBSD-current for DEC DE422 Ethernet, which is a DEPCA attached to the EISA bus. This board is commonly found on Alpha Jensen systems. This has been pulled into the netbsd-1-5 branch, so it will be available in NetBSD 1.5.

2000-07-14: Second 1.5_ALPHA snapshot

The second NetBSD/alpha 1.5_ALPHA snapshot is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. This snapshot includes support for the DECpc AXP150 (Jensen) system. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5 was released on December 6th, 2000)

2000-07-14: Support for Jensen systems

Jason Thorpe has gotten the Jensen systems (DECpc AXP 150 a.k.a. DEC 2000/300) working, thanks to some testing help from Gyenes Istvan. There was a kernel configuration error in the INSTALL kernel that prevented Jensen SCSI from working, but that has since been fixed and the code has been committed. Support for Jensen systems will be in NetBSD 1.5. More details are available in the port-alpha mail archive.

2000-07-13: First 1.4.3_ALPHA snapshot

The first NetBSD/alpha 1.4.3_ALPHA snapshot, based off of 1.4.3 sources as of 2000-07-07, is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.4.3 was released on November 25th, 2000)

2000-06-22: First 1.5_ALPHA snapshot

The first NetBSD/alpha 1.5_ALPHA snapshot, based off of 1.5 sources as of 2000-06-20, is now available in the NetBSD/alpha snapshot area of the ftp server. (snapshot deprecated. NetBSD 1.5 was released on December 6th, 2000)

2000-06-01: Support for Alpha Processor, Inc. UP1000

Jason Thorpe has added support for the Alpha Processor, Inc. UP1000 system. The UP1000 is a PC-like board with an EV6 and the AMD 751 core logic chipset (same as is used on AMD Athlon systems). SRM console software is available for it. These make a very economical 21264 system for anyone interested in a fast Alpha. Many thanks to Alpha Processor, Inc. for supplying a UP1000 system to do the port.

2000-05-28: New snapshot available

A new snapshot based on 2000-05-27 sources is available at: ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/alpha/snapshot/.

2000-04-20: Improved TGA console support

The TGA console code has been revamped and now supports 32-bpp models (ZLXp-E2 and -E3) as text consoles, in addition to the 8-bpp models (ZLXp-E1 and 8-bpp TGA2). Accelerated text operations have also been added.

2000-04-12: 21264 and the CIX extension

In EGCS-current, CIX is not enabled for ev6/21264, but it is enabled for ev67/21264a. CIX has been disabled in the compiler for 21264 and -mcpu={ev67,21264a} has been added which enables CIX.

2000-03-19: NetBSD 1.4.2 released

NetBSD 1.4.2 released with support for 16 architectures.

2000-03-15: Improved video console support for DEC3000

DEC3000 models can use the MI sfb.c TC framebuffer driver. This will result in faster text rendering, assisted by the SFB hardware accelerator. A kernel image that takes advantage of this can be created using the TCWSCONS configuration file.

2000-03-04: TGA2 Supported

NetBSD/alpha supports 8 bit TGA2 cards, such as the PowerStorm 3D30, as both a console and an X Server.

2000-03-02: Jason Thorpe new NetBSD/alpha co-portmaster

Please welcome Jason Thorpe to the port-alpha-maintainer position. Jason has been using NetBSD since 1993 and has been involved in way too many things to even try to mention here. Jason joins Ross Harvey as co-portmaster of NetBSD/alpha.

2000-02-23: NetBSD-current snapshot

Based on 2000-02-15 sources is available at: ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/alpha/snapshot/.

2000-01-05: NetBSD-current snapshot

Based on 1999-12-23 sources, at: ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/alpha/snapshot/.

1999-06-30: EV6 Generation Supported

NetBSD/alpha now supports all popular 21264-based systems. This work was supported by Alpha Processor, Inc..

1999-05-21: NetBSD-1.4/alpha CD

Bob Nestor's non-profit CD operation now makes NetBSD-1.4/alpha CDs.

1999-05-12: NetBSD-1.4 released

The NetBSD 1.4 release supports sixteen architectures, and was distributed free by Usenix to all 1999 ATC attendees.

1999-05-05: COMPAT_OSF1 enhancements

NetBSD-current now has greatly improved OSF/1 (a.k.a. Digital UNIX, a.k.a. Tru64 UNIX) emulation, including support for dynamically linked binaries such as Navigator. Yes, you can now run the Tru64 Navigator.

1999-04-12: Digital Server 330x support

NetBSD now supports the Digital Server 330x models.

1999-02-23

New kernel features in NetBSD-current.

1. The floppy driver works now.
2. Scheduler revisions make the nice(1) command actually work now. Jobs run with nice +20 will take no CPU time away from nice +0 jobs.
3. A variety of bug fixes enable several sound cards and other ISA DMA devices to work correctly.

1998-10-22

New binary snapshot available. Besides all NetBSD-current new features documented elsewhere, this snapshot features several installation advances.

1. The screen-menu ``sysinst'' installer.
2. The extended two-floppy installer now works on all supported platforms and with all supported devices; for the first time the floppy will boot on the 3000/xxx TURBOchannel systems and on the 4100.
3. Much faster install floppy loading.
4. Bootable from magnetic tapes such as DAT or DLT.
5. Faster system startup with improved boot blocks.

1998-09-19

Network performance bug fix for NetBSD - current.

1998-07-10

Support added for IDE peripherals on Multia and AXPpci33 systems.

1998-07-06

Major binary snapshot with all the usual binaries, plus binaries for X, an updated toolchain, and updated installation instructions.

1998-05-07

Binary snapshot released.

1998-05-04

NetBSD/alpha -current is now built with UVM; the new, vastly improved virtual memory system.

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