What is the OpenSolaris on PowerPC project all about?
This is the first of what we expect will be many efforts with porting OpenSolaris onto the PowerPC, Power architectures and their associated hardware platforms. This project however is a specific effort that is targeted towards the 32bit PowerPC architecture.
Why is there a specific project page, I thought there was already a PowerPC community?
Projects in OpenSolaris were created to allow specific developments a place to to be linked with an endorsing and perhaps multiple communities within OpenSolaris.org. This provides continuity with OpenSolaris in general. In the PowerPC, Power architecture we envision multiple projects ie: 32bit, 64bit, enterprise, embedded you name it.
Why is this project only targeted at 32bit?
Pretty much have to walk before you can run. This project's focus is 32bit based in part that the original Solaris port to PowerPC was also 32bit. Unlike Sparc there are quite a number of 32bit based PowerPC versions alive and well in the industry with a rich roadmap. However 64bit has been a consideration from the start and this source base does not prohibit it.
What is the current status of this contribution?
This release is best characterized as "work in progress", but enough functionality is there in order to allow hands on target development. There is a cross build environment where you can compile, download and run.
What the project is…
32bit – G4 class processor
big endian ordering
single processor
statically linked unix/genunix
kernel boot up to vfs_mountroot(), fork and exec
cross compile environment on x86 host to PPC based target
debug with printf(), PMDB or Metrowerks PowerTAP or ABI2000 w/GDB
will run on Genesi ODW with 7457, EFIKA, PowerMac G4, MacMini
GCC dependent
fully open source, no closed binaries in PPC platform, arch and psm
What it is not (at the moment)
64 bit
MP
legacy support for the 2.5.1 apps or targets
Sun Studio / Tools compatible
finished or complete
So what does Sun Labs plan to do going forward after this contribution?
Sun Labs will continue to contribute to the code base with the goal of a single user prompt on the target.
I can't find any of the 2.5.1 source in OpenSolaris, why?
Much has changed in Solaris since then and that source is extremely dated. Above all the amount of effort required to legally review the source in order to release it, was prohibitive, thus Sun chose not to include it in OpenSolaris. Additionally the relevant parts of that source have already been incorporated into the contribution.
When is the next release of source?
The Sun Labs contribution to the source base is not on a periodic schedule, it is subject generally to the progress being made. With that said the projects svn repository ppc-dev/ppc-dev is being constantly updated. The next tarball release will see a big step forward in functionality. See the target output listed at the end of the Kickstart page for the latest on the kernel boot progress.
How do I get an ODW target machine?
Unfortunately the Genesi Pegasos ODW has been discontinued. You can find the EFIKA board, a more embedded type of PPC platform here. Power Macs can also serve a low cost target since many are available, second hand.