Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:54:38 +0100 (CET) From: "Julien Gabel" <jpeg@thilelli.net> To: freebsd-amd64@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Sun U20 supported, fully/partially working... or not at all? Message-ID: <58155.192.168.1.20.1132174478.squirrel@webmail.thilelli.net> In-Reply-To: <20051116191255.GD33710@slackbox.xs4all.nl> References: <44611.145.248.192.30.1132154034.squirrel@webmail.thilelli.net> <20051116170611.GC33710@slackbox.xs4all.nl> <50693.145.248.192.30.1132163279.squirrel@webmail.thilelli.net> <20051116191255.GD33710@slackbox.xs4all.nl>
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>>>> I am currently looking for feedback on using a Sun U20 Workstation. >>>> [...] >>>> Any chance to get it working using FreeBSD? Many thanks in advance >>>> for reply(ies) and feedback(s). >>> It seems to run Linux, so I'd _guess_ that most things would work. Not >>> sure if Xorg supports PCI-express yet. >> This is what i would gess too at first, but since some additional >> "Driver and Diagnostics updates" are also provided[1], i am not sure >> anymore this kink of hardware (especially the motherboard and the SATA >> controller) may be supported "out of the box", based on the assumption >> of generic hardware or similar Linux support. On the other side, >> Windows is also supported and if i can imagine Sun to provide some >> binary driver(s) for Linux, i don't think it may be the case for >> Windows. So, i don't really know what to think... and ask the list ;) > Well, the thing comes with UNIX ((Open?)Solaris) installed, so unless > there is some functionality in FreeBSD that you can't do without, you > can always fall back on that. For sure! I just wanted to use FreeBSD on this kind of machine, but falling back to Solaris 10 will be the answer if that is not (yet?) an option. >> I think that PCI-Express is -- at least partially -- supported by Xorg >> via the 'Option "BusType" "PCIE"' configuration entry. The problem is >> more to know if a driver is provided by Xorg or in the binary updates >> on the downloadable ISO from Sun: i am pretty sure this one is a problem >> (i can't see any reference for the proposed cards on the release notes >> for Xorg 8.6.2...). > Most of the cards listed use NVidia chips. Most nvidia cards will work > in 2D in Xorg, but might not use much of the accelleration features > provided by the card. Hardware OpenGL will probably not work. I am not interesting in gaming here, so lack of 3D support isn't a problem. But because i had problem running an U10 (sparc64) in the past with a Creator graphic card, i am suspicious here -- maybe without reason (but nothing say the opposite). >>> But I bet you can have a no-name amd64 PC built to your specs for >>> less. >> Since this one is provided at work, it isn't an issue. > If there is already a machine in the house, just try booting the FreeBSD > install CD, and look at the dmesg output. That should give you an idea > what works and what doesn't. Right, unless it is just _planned_ to acquire some of this kind of machine, hence my questioning. -- -jpeg.
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