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diff --git a/hurd/faq/old_hurd_faq.txt b/hurd/faq/old_hurd_faq.txt index e6c6cb5a..4ebe019b 100644 --- a/hurd/faq/old_hurd_faq.txt +++ b/hurd/faq/old_hurd_faq.txt @@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ Q2. Where can I get a copy? Q3. Why bother writing a new OS when we have Linux and 386/BSD? Q4. What's all this about Mach 3.0 (and Mach 4.0)? Q5. Where can I find more information? -Q6. What's a proper machine? Q7. What sort of machines will run Hurd in the future? Q8. What is the current development status? Q9. What sort of system would we have if the Hurd was bootable today? @@ -137,149 +136,6 @@ the University of Utah (for Mach 4.0): http://www.cs.utah.edu/projects/flux/mach4/html/ -Q5. Where can I find more information? - -The June 1995 GNU's Bulletin contains the following official -information: - - The GNU Hurd now runs programs native. We have implemented both - shared libraries using ELF, & the popular `ext2' file system used - by Linux. It can run GCC, `make', Emacs, & most other GNU - utilities. Progress is being made so rapidly that by the time you - read this it probably does much more. It is right on the verge of - being self-hosting (able to run on its own well enough to compile - its own source code, & be used for its own development). We have - much better device supportm [sic] & some new utilities, including a - fancy `ps' & `settrans'. For a complete system we still have much - more work to do, but we will make an alpha release as soon as the - network software is finished & shared libraries have been well - tested. We have a mailing list to announce progress; to be added - to it, ask `hurd-announce-request@gnu.org'. - -The Portland State University CS department (via Trent Fisher) -maintains a WWW server with various Hurd documents, including Michael -Bushnell's Hurd paper, all the collected GNU's Bulletins, and various -announcements posted to "gnu.misc.discuss". The top-level GNU page is - - http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~trent/gnu/gnu.html - -and the Hurd page is - - http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~trent/gnu/hurd/hurd.html - -People in Europe might want to try the GNU WWW server for DESY -Germany, first: - - http://info.desy.de/gnu/www - -This site lacks culled, Hurd-specific information at the moment, but -it does have the last two GNU's Bulletins plus lots of general -information. - -There is a snapshot of the Hurd development tree on -"alpha.gnu.ai.mit.edu" in the "/gnu" directory. It is updated as -significant changes are made, and not guaranteed to run. - -You can subscribe to the Hurd announcement list by sending a request -to "hurd-announce-request@gnu.org". This is a moderated list -for distributing Hurd info to ``all and sundry'', and anyone can join. -In addition, there is a private (invitation-only) list for developers -to coordinate their efforts. It's not even worth thinking about -unless you (a) have a lot of free time on your hands, (b) know Unix -internals and Mach very well, and (c) have a proper machine. - - -Q6. What's a proper machine? - -A ``proper machine'', at the moment, means an x86 box running Mach 3.0 -(or 4.0), with FreeBSD 2.x, NetBSD 1.x, or Linux. - -A single-server OS is no longer required for development because by -the time the Hurd bootstrap mechanism is finished, the Hurd will -probably be self-hosting. - -Linux, FreeBSD, or NetBSD will only be required to splat the Hurd -binaries onto a partition of some sort, and to provide a way of -transferring files to the Hurd until the networking code is ready. - - -Q7. What sort of machines will run Hurd in the future? - -The first thing a prospective Hurd machine needs is a Mach 3.0 port. -According to the most recent "comp.os.mach" FAQ (which hasn't been -updated since February 1994), the following chips have redistributable -Mach micro-kernels and device drivers: - - Intel 80x86 (ISA and PS/2 buses) - Motorola 68000 (Sun 3) - Motorola 88000 (Omron Luna) - DEC Vax - DEC Pmax (DECstation 3100) - DEC Alpha - MIPS R4000 (DECstation 5000 et al.) - IBM RS/6000 - Apple Macintosh - -IBM is planning to run WorkplaceOS (the OS/2 successor) over Mach 3.0 -on the PowerPC chip (closely related to the RS/6000), so the PowerPC -will likely be added to this list soon. The University of Utah has -ported Mach 4.0 to the HP700, but it is not yet stable. - -Sun Sparc machines have a redistributable Mach microkernel, but the -device drivers require a SunOS 4.1.1 source license. - -In addition, any prospective Hurd machine needs a port of the GNU C -library. Version 1.07.4 of the library can handle the following -chips: - - Intel 80x86 (BSD, Dynix, Hurd, SCO, SysV) - Motorola 68000 (HP BSD, NEWS, Sun 4) - MIPS R4000 (Ultrix) - Sun Sparc (Solaris 2, Sun 4) - DEC Alpha (OSF/1, mostly finished) - -So if the next Hurd snapshot is self-hosting, we will be able to run -it (in theory) on Intel 80x86s, Motorola 68000s, MIPS R4000s and DEC -Alphas. - -People who can port the Mach micro-kernel to new architectures are -encouraged to do so. People who can port the GNU C library to new -chips (a much larger group) are also encouraged to do so. You can -help out here without knowing anything about Mach or having any -special machine. Note that once the GNU C library exists for a new -chip, for _any_ OS, making a Hurd port later is simple (and making -ports to other chips becomes easier as well---the effects are -cumulative). - -By current indications, the other hardware requirements (RAM, disk -space, and the like) will be about the same as those of BSD 4.4. - - -Q8. What is the current development status? - -Please see Trent Fisher's Hurd pages for details. - - -Q9. What sort of a system would we have if the Hurd was bootable -today? - -Quite likely, if you already use an end-user system like Linux, -FreeBSD, or NetBSD, you'll be disappointed with the Hurd. It will -take some time before the OS hackers really get to work on -applications and major enhancements. - -But, rest assured, Hurd development should proceed very rapidly. - -Of course, if you think you can help, or you just enjoy neat stuff, -then you'll probably like the Hurd. When you actually understand a -fraction of what's going on behind the scenes, it's very impressive. - -All I'm saying is that I'm not expecting all the Windows '95 users in -the world to switch to the Hurd right away. Wait a little while, -maybe 5-6 years (ample time for GNUStep and Guile to be in use), and -GNU users everywhere will be very happy that the FSF proceeded with -the Hurd. :) - ============================== |