Linux on Sparc (was:loading linux on old hardware)

[epsas at inflicted.net]

NetBSD and Debian.


On Wed, Oct 24, 2001 at 05:15:22PM -0700, Dusty wrote:
> Linux runs great on sparc hardware.  The only problem is that no one keeps an up to date distribution.  Redhat hasn't supported sparc since 6.2.  Suse is the most recent, the latest Suse version for Sparc is 7.1 with 2.4.2 kernel (i think).  Check out www.ultralinux.org for more info.  OpenBSD runs great on older sparcs, They are just getting around to porting to Ultrasparc, I need to test it on my Ultra2 and I let you know how it works.
> 
> Wether to use Linux or Solaris (or BSD) depends on what you are trying to do.
> 
> The E10k can run as one large system or can be divided up into 8 seperate domains (virtual systems).  Basically you assign processors and memory to a domain.  Each domain can have as few as four prcessors and as many as 64.  Processors and memory can be dynamically added and removed from each domain.  They are pretty cool to work with!
> 
> Dusty
> 
> 
> > > > Does anyone know how well linux runs on SPARC processors, and what distros
> > > > do this?  I heard that they ported linux over to run on SPARC, and I was
> > > > wondering if running linux on a SPARC would be better than running the
> > > > traditional Solaris...
> > > 
> > > Solaris is slower on Sparc hardware than Linux or BSD, unless you have a
> > > large number of processors.  Linux currently doesn't scale beyond 8
> > > processors
> > 
> > linux 2.4.x has run on a starfire E10K with 24 cpus,
> > it should be able to go higher than this. Although frankly Solaris
> > might be a better choice at that end.
> > 
> > Of course now there's a sunfire E15k with up to 106 processors..
> > tell you what.. send me one and I'll get it working with 2.4...
> > 
> >  - bri
> > -- 
> > Unix Staff, High Energy Physics Group   <brusso at phys.hawaii.edu>
> > Debian/GNU Linux! http://www.debian.org <wolfie at debian.org>
> > 
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> "Linux is for people who hate Windows. BSD is for 
> people that love unix."
> 
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