Modern BSD Computing for Fun on a VAX!
Trying to use a VAX in today's world
Jeffrey Armstrong
NetBSD 8 on a VAX
Retrocomputing
- Modern OS
- Modern Packages
- Modern Workflow
Limitations
- Last VAX: ~2000
- 32-bit Architecture
- Single Processor (generally...)
VAX 4000/200
- KA660 CPU @ ~32MHz
- 32MB RAM
- Emulex UC08 SCSI
- 10Mb/s Ethernet
- Pure Qbus System
- Introduced January 1991
- Codenamed Spitfire
- Fastest pure Qbus computer ever
- Entry-level server
VAXstation 3100 m38
- KA42-B CPU @ ~16MHz
- 32MB RAM
- 10Mb/s Ethernet
- Monochrome Framebuffer
- Introduced ~1993
- Codenamed PVAX rev 7
- Desktop Workstation
Setting Up a VAX
Setting Up a VAX
- Install NetBSD 8
- Bootstrap pkgsrc
- Install packages
VAX as a Client
Client Necessities
- Web Browser
- Text Editor
- Languages...
- Source Control
Client Necessities
- No Framebuffers
- Fixed-frequency Monitors
- Toolkits...
VAX as a Server
Server Necessities
- Web Server
- Remote Shell
- Languages...
- Database
- Samba