Re: compiling very new gnu software on a very old machine

2008/8/14 Craig Dewick <[email protected]>
>
> I suspect the problem is that libraries with SunOS 4.1.1 are very old and don't have a lot of the more modern Posix compatibility. If you wanted to replace the OS with NetBSD (I think the sun3/3x port is still active?) you'd probably end up with more up to date libraries which should work out with much of the current GNU stuff. I've had NetBSD 1.5.2 (Sparc version) running on an old ss5 for a while without any dramas.
>
> Craig.

http://www.netbsd.org/ports/sun3/

The port is mature, stable and active, but I can't say anything about
hw support beyond netboot and a serial console. It's been a long time
since I played around with it and eventually gave the machine away due
to lack of space and interest. (NetBSD is NetBSD no matter what the
architechture.)

My own interest into the sun3 was inspired by the same idea of running
new software on an old OS, esp. since I was young and older (very much
older) guys were talking legends of SunOS. I never found a copy so I
gave netbsd/sun3 a spin.

It was a 3/60 with 24MB of RAM and a color framebuffer. I had no
compatible SCSI hw so I had to netboot, which was no problem. Also I
didn't have a monitor which would take the coaxial video-out so I used
a VT220. I can't exactly remember what release I used, atleast 1.5.2
though. Can't comment on the latest, unfortunately. It's worth a try
if the hw is supported, if the documents at the ports homepage are not
up-to-date you'll find help from the port-specific mailing-list.
NetBSD runs very well on m68k.

--
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Best regards. >
<
Jarto Nieminen >
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Of course it runs NetBSD!

http://www.netbsd.org/