SunOS 4.1.4 was the last version of the BSD based SunOS for the SPARC platform. Â I had received an email earlier asking if Qemu could run SunOS. Â Earlier it was ‘capable’ however there were issues with the serial ports. Â And the framebuffer stuff that the SUN Proms recognized was never mainlined (please tell me I’m wrong?).
But then with a quick google search I came across this wikibook page with detailed instructions on how to install SunOS 4.1.4.
SunOS on Qemu 1.7.0rc2
So I quickly built a sparc version of Qemu 1.7.0rc2, and followed the instructions. Â I was amazed that now we are able to boot off the CD (still attached as a HD though) but label the main hard disk, and install SunOS. Â I have to say it is very impressive.
Another hint I came across is the more correct way to boot the Sparc Station 20’s
-bios /usr/local/share/qemu/ss20_v2.25_rom -M SS-20 -smp 2,cores=4 -cpu “TI SuperSparc 60”
Sadly there is no graphical output, but the PROM won’t crash. Â I think you can have 512MB of ram on the SS-20.
I need to get this done on my SS1+. I’m having difficulties with disk and and SCSI cables, though…
Even when they were new, I always found SCSI stuff to be rather finicky. I remember my first SCSI disk, a monster of a drive, 700MB 5 1/4″ full height, only ran correctly with no terminating resistors on the drive & the card on my old Trantor T-128. But the Trantor T-130b card did need the resistors….
It is indeed very picky. It becomes tougher when your stockpile of 50-pin SCSI drives is dwindling.
Time to stage in QEMU and image on to the SS1+ with a VAX!