Re: [9fans] Which PowerPC Architectures?

Re: [9fans] Which PowerPC Architectures?

[forsyth]

>>PowerPC architecture is supported, but I found no more than that. I have a
>>PowerPC Mac (an 8600 to be exact). Will Plan9 run on this machine?

the powerpc compiler (qa, qc, ql) should cope with any powerpc port.
at some point i'll merge any further changes i've got here compared
to the released version once i've had a chance to diff them.

there are many powerpc hardware implementations, with different architectures
at kernel level (just counting 32 bit -- i think there are 64 bit variants as well
that i've not had a chance to use).  in particular, the cache control and mmu
implementations are dramatically different between 8xx and 6xx.
glancing at a 750 manual, it looks to be 6xx style, but no doubt with
its own peculiarities.

the powerpc kernel support in the release is usable as a base
for ports to the powerpc 8xx (eg, 860, 821, 823, 850).
the example is for a specific configuration, using an 860 i think.
it's a good example of an embedded application of plan 9.
nice of them to include it, actually.

the 8xx kernel architecture is very far from the architecture of the mac,
which will be more along 6xx lines.

the distribution does not include kernel support for the powerpc
603/603e variants, but i've got it for old plan9, and inferno.
i've made it available to various people from time to time.

if the powermac is G3, i suspect you're out of luck.  i didn't think
hardware details of that had been released.  even if they have,
or if it's 604 based, you've still got a fair amount of work to do
for a plan 9 port.

Charles Forsyth

Re: [9fans] Which PowerPC Architectures?

[Wesley Felter]

in article 200006121315.JAA01416@cse.psu.edu, forsyth@vitanuova.com at
forsyth@vitanuova.com wrote on 6/12/00 8:46 AM:

>>> PowerPC architecture is supported, but I found no more than that. I have a
>>> PowerPC Mac (an 8600 to be exact). Will Plan9 run on this machine?

[snip]

> if the powermac is G3, i suspect you're out of luck.  i didn't think
> hardware details of that had been released.  even if they have,
> or if it's 604 based, you've still got a fair amount of work to do
> for a plan 9 port.

The 8600 is a 604 (unless it has an upgrade in it). But as for G3s, there
are several source-available operating systems available for Macs:

Linux - http://www.linuxppc.org/
NetBSD - http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/macppc/
Darwin - http://www.publicsource.apple.com/projects/darwin/

Between those three source trees there must be enough information to do a
Mac Plan 9 port.

Wesley Felter - wesf@cs.utexas.edu

Re: [9fans] Which PowerPC Architectures?

[forsyth]

>>The 8600 is a 604 (unless it has an upgrade in it). But as for G3s, there
>>are several source-available operating systems available for Macs:

>>Between those three source trees there must be enough information to do a
>>Mac Plan 9 port.

yes, given that, i'd say there was.

Re: [9fans] Which PowerPC Architectures?

[rob pike]

The document /sys/doc/port.ms (http://plan9.bell-labs.com/sys/doc/port.pdf)
talks about the PowerPC port. Here are the first two sentences about the compiler:

	The PowerPC compiler supports the 32-bit PowerPC architecture only;
	it does not support either the 64-bit extensions or the POWER compatibility instructions.
	It has been used for production operating system work on the 603, 603e, 821, 823, and 860.

More details can be found in the document.  In a later section, you'll
read that the kernel source provided is for a small custom machine
used as a network appliance.

-rob

[9fans] Which PowerPC Architectures?

[David Hoffman]

Hi,

I have heard about Plan9 for years, but until I saw the recent announcement
I had no idea that it was available outside of Bell Labs. I looked over the
information on the Bell Labs web site, and I saw a comment that ther
PowerPC architecture is supported, but I found no more than that. I have a
PowerPC Mac (an 8600 to be exact). Will Plan9 run on this machine?
David Hoffman
hoffman@insync.net