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Release notes for GXemul 0.3.2 |
Release notes for Gavare's eXperimental Emulator (GXemul), 0.3.6.1 |
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Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Anders Gavare. |
Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Anders Gavare. |
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GXemul is an experimental instruction-level machine emulator. It can be |
GXemul is an experimental instruction-level machine emulator. Several |
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used to run binary code for (among others) MIPS-based machines. Several |
emulation modes are available. In some modes, processors and surrounding |
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emulation modes are available. For some emulation modes, processors and |
hardware components are emulated well enough to let unmodified operating |
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surrounding hardware components are emulated well enough to let unmodified |
systems (e.g. NetBSD) run as if they were running on a real machine. |
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operating systems run as if they were running on a real machine. |
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I have verified that the following "guest" operating systems can run |
The processor architecture best emulated by GXemul is MIPS, but other |
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inside the emulator: |
architectures are also partially emulated. |
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I have verified that the following "guest" operating systems can run inside |
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the emulator: |
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Guest operating system Emulated machine |
Guest operating system Emulated machine |
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---------------------- ---------------- |
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NetBSD/pmax 2.0 (and 1.6.2) DECstation 5000/200 |
NetBSD/pmax 2.0.2 (and 1.6.2) DECstation 5000/200 |
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OpenBSD/pmax 2.8-BETA DECstation 5000/200 |
OpenBSD/pmax 2.8-BETA DECstation 5000/200 |
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Ultrix 4.2-4.5 DECstation 5000/200 |
Ultrix 4.2-4.5 DECstation 5000/200 |
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Sprite demo harddisk image DECstation 5000/200 |
Sprite demo harddisk image DECstation 5000/200 |
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Redhat Linux 7.1 for mips DECstation 5000/200 |
Redhat Linux 7.1 for mips DECstation 5000/200 |
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NetBSD/arc 1.6.2 Acer PICA-61 |
NetBSD/arc 1.6.2 Acer PICA-61 |
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OpenBSD/arc 2.3 Acer PICA-61 |
OpenBSD/arc 2.3 Acer PICA-61 |
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NetBSD/hpcmips 2.0 NEC MobilePro 770, 780, 800, 880 |
NetBSD/hpcmips 2.0.2 NEC MobilePro 770, 780, 800, 880 |
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NetBSD/cobalt 2.0 Cobalt |
NetBSD/cobalt 2.0.2 Cobalt |
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NetBSD/evbmips 2.0.2 Malta 5Kc/4Kc evaluation board |
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NetBSD/sgimips 2.0.2 SGI O2 ("IP32") |
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NetBSD/cats 2.0.2 CATS (ARM) |
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OpenBSD/cats 3.7 CATS (ARM) |
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(Most of these are MIPS-based machines, except the CATS, which is an |
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ARM-based machine.) |
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Some of these guest operating systems are easier to install and run than |
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others. The best supported mode is the DECstation 5000/200 emulation mode, |
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with NetBSD/pmax as the guest operating system. |
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A couple of other emulation modes exist. Some of these modes are almost |
A couple of other emulation modes exist. Some of these modes are almost |
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working well enough to run complete guest operating systems, but most are |
working well enough to run complete guest operating systems, but most are |
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just skeletons. The modes that work are listed in the documentation. |
just skeletons. The modes that work are listed in the documentation. |
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The emulator can also be used in other experiments; it does not have to |
The emulator can also be used in other experiments; it does not have to run |
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run entire guest operating systems. It is important to remember, though, |
entire guest operating systems. (However, GXemul does not simulate things |
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that GXemul does not simulate things smaller than an instruction; this |
smaller than an instruction. What this means is that pipe-line stalls, |
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means that pipe-line stalls, penalties caused by branch-prediction misses, |
penalties caused by branch-prediction misses or cache misses, and other |
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and other effects are not simulated. |
micro-architectural effects are not simulated.) |
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The most imporant user-visible change between release 0.3.5 and 0.3.6 is: |
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x) The experimental ARM emulation mode is now working well enough |
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to install NetBSD/cats and OpenBSD/cats onto harddisk images. |
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The most important/visible changes from 0.3.1 to 0.3.2 are: |
There have also been lots of other small changes, too small to mention here. |
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x) NetBSD/cobalt can run from a harddisk image. (Installation |
The 0.3.6.1 release fixes some issues related to ARM emulation: |
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must be done using another OS though, for example NetBSD/pmax.) |
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x) Some minor fixes to make the binary translation system a bit |
x) The emulator can now be compiled inside NetBSD/cats or OpenBSD/cats, |
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more stable. |
inside the emulator itself. (In 0.3.6, some bugs prevented this.) |
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x) Performance increase: A non-scientific but realistic test, measuring |
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the real-world time it takes to do a full NetBSD/cats installation, |
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seems to indicate that 0.3.6.1 can be twice as fast as 0.3.6 was. |
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Files included in this release are: |
Files included in this release are: |
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doc Documentation. |
doc Documentation. |
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experiments Experimental code. (Usually not needed.) |
experiments Experimental code. (Usually not needed.) |
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src Source code. |
src Source code. |
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tests Regression tests. |
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To build the emulator, run the ./configure script, and then run make. |
To build the emulator, run the ./configure script, and then run make. |
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This product includes software developed by Marc Horowitz. |
This product includes software developed by Marc Horowitz. |
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This product includes software developed by Brini. |
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This product includes software developed by Mark Brinicombe |
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for the NetBSD Project. |
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Also, src/include/alpha_rpb.h requires the following: |
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Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 Carnegie-Mellon University. |
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All rights reserved. |
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Author: Keith Bostic, Chris G. Demetriou |
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Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this software and |
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its documentation is hereby granted, provided that both the copyright |
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notice and this permission notice appear in all copies of the |
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software, derivative works or modified versions, and any portions |
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thereof, and that both notices appear in supporting documentation. |
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See individual files for license details, if you plan to redistribute GXemul |
See individual files for license details, if you plan to redistribute GXemul |
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or reuse code. |
or reuse code. |
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Thanks to everyone who has provided me with feedback. |
Thanks to (in no specific order) Joachim Buss, Juli Mallett, Juan Romero |
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Pardines, Alec Voropay, Göran Weinholt, Alexander Yurchenko, and everyone |
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else who has provided me with feedback. |
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If you have found GXemul useful in some way, or feel like sending me comments |
If you have found GXemul useful in some way, or feel like sending me comments |
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or feedback in general, then mail me at anders(at)gavare.se. |
or feedback in general, then mail me at anders(at)gavare.se. |