Re: Q: Compaq, *BSD and 'Linux-only' AlphaBIOS

[Matthew Jacob <mjacob feral com>]

Questions in return:

1) Why are you asking about NetBSD on the axp-list instead of
netbsd-alpha@netbsd.org (or alpha@freebsd.org for FreeBSD/Alpha)?

With respect to your #1, there were/are people working on making AlphaBIOS
work (not with MILO) for FreeBSD/NetBSD, but as far as I know they haven't
gotten very far. I believe that the announcements with respect to Tru64
in the last couple of months have indicated that SRM isn't going away any
time soon so the perceived EOL crisis for booting an Alpha is a nonissue.



On Thu, 2 Dec 1999, warp@xs4all.nl wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> >From the NetBSD FAQ:
> (http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/alpha/faq.html#nt-firmware)
> 
> " NetBSD/Alpha requires the SRM Console firmware [...]
>   The Alpha port of Linux, can boot on systems with NT 
>   firmware not because they can use the NT PALcode,
>   but because MILO, the Alpha Linux loader, includes
>   its own PALcode. There is a possibility that this 
>   could be used for NetBSD, assuming someone wizardly
>   enough wants to do the work.... "
> 
> Now the questions:
> 
> 1) Is anybody planning to make MILO work with NetBSD*;
> 2) Is Compaq planning to document the NT Firmware 'way';
> 3) Will Compaq release SRM firmware for AlphaBIOS based
>    Alpha's like the XLT machines;
> 4) Can I trade my Alpha's for free at the local Compaq 
>    store for SRM based ones :^)
> 
> Since Compaq dumped NT/AXP support, AlphaBIOS based 
> Alpha owners only have one choise left... Linux.
> 
> Any other opinions, thoughts?
> 
> Thank you for your time,
> Antoine
> 
> * The OpenBSD and FreeBSD Alpha ports would also benefit
> 
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