I asked if Linux was available for alphas, and many replies flooded in
from the OSF/1-oriented list.
The <A HREF="
ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com/pub/DEC/Linux-Alpha/README">
readme </A> file is a good place to start. There is also the
comp.os.linux usenet hierarchy and assocaited FAQ(s). A few lines of the
readme follows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linux/Alpha is a port of Linux 1.0 to Digital's Alpha CPU architecture.
Questions should be directed to: paradis_at_sousa.amt.tay1.dec.com
There's also a mailing list for Linux/Alpha discussions. To subscribe
to the list, send a message of the form:
subscribe alpha-linux [your-email-address]
to:
majordomo_at_sousa.amt.tay1.dec.com
----[stuff omitted]---------------------------------------------------------
Arrigo Triulzi and Tom Blinn pointed out that TURBOchannel support was
not present and probably not forthcoming (soon). Unfortunately, we only have
3000's so it looks a bit grim for us.
And a quick reply to an OSF/1 memory joke from Tom Blinn...
> It might even run in 32megs!
And in the not too distant future, DEC OSF/1 might run in less than 32 meg
and deliver reasonable performance for certain bounded uses. Stay tuned.
And finally, a comment from another DECdude...
As you may or may not have received word by now, Digital is in the
process of porting a 32-bit version of Linux to the Alpha processor.
Right now the port is in the (pardon the double meaning) alpha stage,
and the bits are on gatekeeper.pa.dec.com.
When I say "alpha stage", this means that they boot on *some* Alpha
machines, and there is minimal (very) support for a few devices. We
invite the Linux community to help provide more support for other
peripherals. We also have a project going to help with the support of
even non-Digital peripherals (particularly graphics boards).
In addition, Linus Torvalds is working on a 64-bit port (we
cooperate with him) and that is somewhat behind our 32-bit port.
Digital intends on helping the Linux community port Linux to our
processors without interfering with its development.
As we get further along with the port(s), we will make more information
available about how to buy low-cost Alpha systems without license
royalty, and with console code that makes more sense for the Linux
community.
Sincerely,
Jon "maddog" Hall
Senior Manager
UNIX Software Group
Thanks to
Jim Lawton <jim_at_ilo.dec.com>
Morten Hanshaugen <meh_at_usit.uio.no>
Dave Rawlinson <djr_at_star.rl.ac.uk>
Arrigo Triulzi <arrigo_at_ic.ac.uk, arrigo_at_dcs.qmw.ac.uk>
Johan Larsson <johanl_at_basys.svt.se>
Dave Sill <de5_at_sws5.ctd.ornl.gov>
Tom Blinn <tpb_at_zk3.dec.com>
David Warren <warren_at_atmos.washington.edu>
Steve Madsen <smadsen_at_cs.muohio.edu>
Jon "Maddog" Hall <hall_at_zk3.dec.com>
Kimberly Morrill <kim_at_sunova.pa.dec.com>
|<evin
--
Kevin J. Walters London Para||el Applications Centre
k.j.walters_at_lpac.ac.uk Queen Mary and Westfield College
+44 (0)171 775 3247 Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Received on Tue Feb 14 1995 - 09:19:30 NZDT