xref: /src/distrib/notes/pmax/hardware

NetBSD/pmax 1.2 runs on the following classes of machines:
	- sun4c (e.g. the SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, ELC, IPX, and SLC)
	- sun4 (e.g. the 4/100, 4/200, and 4/300.   note that support
		for the 4/400 processor is incomplete)
	- sun4m (e.g. Classic, LX, SS4, SS5, SS10, and SS20)

NetBSD/pmax 1.2 does *not* (yet) run on these machines:
	- Decsystem 5800 (xbi-based multiprocessor, a Vax 8800 with
		 Vax CPU boards replaced with Mips cpu boards)
	- Decstation 5100 (an r2000-based cousin of the Decstation 3100)
	- Decsystem 5400 and 5500 (Qbus-based systems, similar to 
 		a Vax 'Mayfair' and 'Mayfair II', but with an r2000a or r3000
		cpu instead of a CVAX cpu.)

The minimal configuration requires 8M of RAM and ~60M of disk space.
To install the entire system requires much more disk space, and to run
X or compile the system, more RAM is recommended.  (NetBSD with 8M of
RAM feels like Solaris with 8M of RAM.) Note that until you have
around 16M of RAM, getting more RAM is more important than getting a
faster CPU.)

Supported devices include:
	Decstation 2100 and 3100 baseboard video: 
		pm one-bit mono or 8-bit pseudocolour fraem buffers.

	Decstation 5000 series TurboChannel video:
		PMAG-DV Personal Decstation baseboard 1024x768 frame buffer.
		PMAG-BA	1024x768 8-bit colour frame buffer.
		PMAGB-BA  1024x768 8-bit colour frame buffer.
		PMAG-AA  1280x1024 four-bit greyscale frame buffer.

		NOTE:  All supported DECstation vide produces sync-on-green.
		Be sure to use either a DEC-compatible fixed-sync monitor
		or a multisync monitor that supports sync-on-green.

	serial ports: 
		ttya and ttyb (can be used as console if needed)

	ethernet: 
		on-board AMD Lance ethernet ("le0"), 
		TURBOchannel AMD Lance ethernet cards, 

	SCSI: 
		on-board DEC "sii" SCSI controller (2100 and 3100)
		on-board "asc" SCSI controller (5000 series machines)
		TurboChannel "asc" SCSI controller, 
	sun keyboard and mouse


Hardware the we do NOT currently support, but get questions
about from time to time:
	Q-bus Decsystem machines
	Decstation 5100 machines
	PrestoServe NVRAM on Decstation 5100 machines 
	audio drivers for  Personal Decstation machines
	floppy driver for Personal Decstation machines
	TurboChannel audio hardware (LoFi)
	PMAG-C 2-D accellerated framebuffers with onboard i860 processors

	NOTE: the primary obstacle to support  of all but the very
	last item is non-availability of sample hardware for development.
	The primary support for the i860-based framebuffers is that there
	is no documentation on the accelerator board.