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Release notes for GXemul 0.3.2 |
Release notes for GXemul 0.3.4 |
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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. It can be |
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used to run binary code for (among others) MIPS-based machines. Several |
used to run binary code for (among others) MIPS-based machines, regardless |
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emulation modes are available. For some emulation modes, processors and |
of host platform. Several emulation modes are available. For some modes, |
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surrounding hardware components are emulated well enough to let unmodified |
processors and surrounding hardware components are emulated well enough to |
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operating systems run as if they were running on a real machine. |
let unmodified operating systems (e.g. NetBSD) run as if they were running |
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on a real machine. |
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I have verified that the following "guest" operating systems can run |
I have verified that the following "guest" operating systems can run |
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inside the emulator: |
inside the emulator: |
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Guest operating system Emulated machine |
Guest operating system Emulated machine |
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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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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 |
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run entire guest operating systems. It is important to remember, though, |
run entire guest operating systems. (However, GXemul does not simulate |
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that GXemul does not simulate things smaller than an instruction; this |
things smaller than an instruction. What this means is that pipe-line |
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means that pipe-line stalls, penalties caused by branch-prediction misses, |
stalls, penalties caused by branch-prediction misses or cache misses, and |
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and other effects are not simulated. |
other micro-architectural effects are not simulated.) |
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Summary of changes between release 0.3.3.2 and 0.3.4: |
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x) When emulating a network of multiple machines, the emulated |
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machines can now be placed on different hosts. |
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x) NetBSD/evbmips can now be installed and run from a disk image. |
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(There is no INSTALL kernel for NetBSD/evbmips, so you need to |
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install using another OS, for example emulated NetBSD/pmax.) |
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x) NetBSD/sgimips can now be installed. Not onto a SCSI disk, |
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but the files can be exported via nfs from another emulated |
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machine. The sgimips machine can then netboot. (Read the |
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documentation for details.) |
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The most important/visible changes from 0.3.1 to 0.3.2 are: |
There have also been various other minor updates and bugfixes. |
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x) NetBSD/cobalt can run from a harddisk image. (Installation |
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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 |
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more stable. |
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Files included in this release are: |
Files included in this release are: |
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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, that is, this is in alphabetic order :-) |
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Joachim Buss, Juli Mallett, Juan RP, Alec Voropay, Alexander Yurchenko, |
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and everyone 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. |