theCaptain
Member that enjoys Meece
Just got a copy of Apple Unix. I cant explain to you how cool it will be to mess around with this ancient OS. This must be some kind of collectors item. I am going to install it on my old 6200 series Performa.
Apple A/UX (Apple's old Unix Software)
- Thread starter theCaptain
- Start date
RacerX
Old Rhapsody User
It had to do with the licensing of Unix (or BSD in the case of NEXTSTEP), the whole thing was way out of proportion with the rest of the OS market. When Linux became a viable alternative, everyone sorta woke-up and slash the prices on the licensing. For a while it looked like the different flavors of Unix were about to price themselves out of existence with Linux being free for the most part (perfect price for students who would become the future admins).
Also, NeXT had signed a settlement with Apple stating that they would not complete head to head, so NeXT was trying to complete with Sun in the low end workstation market (just above Apple's high end design systems in price).
Also, NeXT had signed a settlement with Apple stating that they would not complete head to head, so NeXT was trying to complete with Sun in the low end workstation market (just above Apple's high end design systems in price).
RacerX
Old Rhapsody User
And don't forget that Irix is based on SVR4 also.
The best way to characterize what A/UX uses would be SVR2.2+. The foundations are SVR2.2 with some libraries and extensions from R3 and R4 and the filing systems and NSF from 4.2/4.3BSD.
As for advantages for BSD, filing system and NSF are the top of most people's list. The main reason for Apple going with 4.4BSD was that NeXT use 4.3BSD in the original Mach kernel as the interface layer (though for NeXT it may have had something to do with the high price of licensing System V).
The best way to characterize what A/UX uses would be SVR2.2+. The foundations are SVR2.2 with some libraries and extensions from R3 and R4 and the filing systems and NSF from 4.2/4.3BSD.
As for advantages for BSD, filing system and NSF are the top of most people's list. The main reason for Apple going with 4.4BSD was that NeXT use 4.3BSD in the original Mach kernel as the interface layer (though for NeXT it may have had something to do with the high price of licensing System V).
RacerX
Old Rhapsody User
It was developed at Carnegie Mellon University in the mid 1980's. One of the people who worked on it was a graduate student named Avie Tevanian (who is currently Senior VP of Software at Apple now).
You can find more on it at:
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/project/mach/public/www/mach.html
You can find more on it at:
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/project/mach/public/www/mach.html
I don't care how it gets to me ... perhaps i can set up ftp to my Mac OS X box at a specified time, but I NEED THIS OS - This is exactly what I have been looking for for this 6300 I just purchased for $10. I was going to use NetBSD but I'd rather use an all-Apple solution if possible. How can I procure a copy?
kilowatt
mach-o mach-o man
I seccond that. I'll even setup the ftp server. Gotta have that. I nearly had a heart-attack when I saw that rather classic-looking os looking all unix-like. WOW.
So let me get this straight, because I get this mixed up frequently:
A/UX - Apple's unix
AIX - IBM's unix
right or what?
PS: So would a/ux include compilers and stuff? And how is the gui handled, in comparision to the x window system and mac os x?
man, I have alot of questions!
So let me get this straight, because I get this mixed up frequently:
A/UX - Apple's unix
AIX - IBM's unix
right or what?
PS: So would a/ux include compilers and stuff? And how is the gui handled, in comparision to the x window system and mac os x?
man, I have alot of questions!
RacerX
Old Rhapsody User
You can download images of the install CD and floppy to "replace damaged copies you already have" at:
ftp://ftp.geo.tu-freiberg.de/pub/incoming/
The Mac enviroment is classic System 7.0.1 (I'm using Aaron to get the Platinum theme you see in my screen shot), it comes with Apple's X Windows client called MacX (though I haven't actually used it for anything yet) which can run in rootless form (at least I know version 2.0 could). There should be all the libraries needed to compile apps and there are still a few binaries floating around out there. Apple had some of the manuals in pdf form a couple years ago (they still might, but they have been doing some house cleaning lately). Ideal systems are 68030 with 68882 FPU or 68040 (not the 68LC040). Apple never updated it to run on PPC systems, so only pre PPC systems can run it.
As for AIX and A/UX, yes AIX is IBM's version of Unix, but Apple use that version on the high end work servers they used to make (because IBM made sure that it ran great on PPC systems). If you have ever seen one of these in action you most likely saw Apple's MAE (Macintosh Application Environment) running to let them run Mac apps. Apple made it Unix only and I think there were versions made for both AIX and Solaris (under OpenWindows), but it was very expensive.
ftp://ftp.geo.tu-freiberg.de/pub/incoming/
The Mac enviroment is classic System 7.0.1 (I'm using Aaron to get the Platinum theme you see in my screen shot), it comes with Apple's X Windows client called MacX (though I haven't actually used it for anything yet) which can run in rootless form (at least I know version 2.0 could). There should be all the libraries needed to compile apps and there are still a few binaries floating around out there. Apple had some of the manuals in pdf form a couple years ago (they still might, but they have been doing some house cleaning lately). Ideal systems are 68030 with 68882 FPU or 68040 (not the 68LC040). Apple never updated it to run on PPC systems, so only pre PPC systems can run it.
As for AIX and A/UX, yes AIX is IBM's version of Unix, but Apple use that version on the high end work servers they used to make (because IBM made sure that it ran great on PPC systems). If you have ever seen one of these in action you most likely saw Apple's MAE (Macintosh Application Environment) running to let them run Mac apps. Apple made it Unix only and I think there were versions made for both AIX and Solaris (under OpenWindows), but it was very expensive.
RacerX
Old Rhapsody User
I don't know. 
The last system that I saw it run on was an IBM 604e system. I think their is also some problems with compatibility of the motherboards. The Network Server 500 and 700 series were never able to run any version of the Mac OS (someone in another forum ask if they could run any version of Mac OS X Server, I told him I didn't think so).
It is the same reason that you couldn't run NEXTSTEP for 680x0 systems on Macintosh hardware, or the MacOS on NeXT hardware. I believe Apple licensed the motherboard spec from IBM specifically for those systems.
I did see a AIX system from IBM running with a 604e/200 (I think that was the clock speed) on ebay a few month ago. I dont remember the price though. I have never thought of looking for AIX by itself, but Im sure you could find it.
The last system that I saw it run on was an IBM 604e system. I think their is also some problems with compatibility of the motherboards. The Network Server 500 and 700 series were never able to run any version of the Mac OS (someone in another forum ask if they could run any version of Mac OS X Server, I told him I didn't think so).It is the same reason that you couldn't run NEXTSTEP for 680x0 systems on Macintosh hardware, or the MacOS on NeXT hardware. I believe Apple licensed the motherboard spec from IBM specifically for those systems.
I did see a AIX system from IBM running with a 604e/200 (I think that was the clock speed) on ebay a few month ago. I dont remember the price though. I have never thought of looking for AIX by itself, but Im sure you could find it.
Jim Paradise
Registered
Was there any software for A/UX? I've always been curious about this OS (thanks RacerX for the screenshot!) and would love to load it up on an old system... but what could I do with it (since I'm not really good with unix geekiness)?
AdmiralAK
Simply Daemonic
Just came back from ebay, wow! AIX costs A LOT !!!
I just re-read you post, and my Performa has a 68LC040 cant load A/UX on it... oh well
Hey racer X, I am thinking of becoming the PDA counterpart of you I wonder if I could network up PDAs like you have your desktops he he he ;-)
Admiral
I just re-read you post, and my Performa has a 68LC040
cant load A/UX on it... oh well Hey racer X, I am thinking of becoming the PDA counterpart of you
I wonder if I could network up PDAs like you have your desktops he he he ;-)Admiral
RacerX
Old Rhapsody User
Jim,
Yes there is software out there, mainly because A/UX has System 7 running on it. I have Word 5.1a, Theorist 1.0, Mosaic and MacDraw 1.0 installed and all run great. You could think of it as a super stable version of System 7 if you didn't use any of the unix stuff. There is even a free version of Eudora mail server and a web server app called httpd4Mac (if you didn't want to deal with Apache)that should be able to run on it if you wanted it to do some server duty. Both are easy to use (and free) and you don't need to play with the unix stuff to much (actually these should work nicely on almost any 7.x Mac). I'll see if I can find my copies of them and check if they work on A/UX.
Important thing to note is that it has two systems folders, one to boot the system and then start A/UX, and a second designed to run on top of A/UX after it is started. If you are going to change anything (add extensions or put aliases in the Apple Menu) make sure you are using the correct system folder or you won't see the changes.
Admiral,
You can actually pull the 68LC040 out and replace it with a 68040 (not a job for the faint at heart). The two are the same, only Motorola turned off the FPU for the "LC" version so they could charge less and to cut down on the overall heat it produced.
As for networking, didn't I see a Newton commercial that had people sending info back and forth across a board room table on a couple Newtons? I still have to spend some more time with the one you gave me, but it really seems like the sky is the limit with it. I'm completely impressed.
Yes there is software out there, mainly because A/UX has System 7 running on it. I have Word 5.1a, Theorist 1.0, Mosaic and MacDraw 1.0 installed and all run great. You could think of it as a super stable version of System 7 if you didn't use any of the unix stuff. There is even a free version of Eudora mail server and a web server app called httpd4Mac (if you didn't want to deal with Apache)that should be able to run on it if you wanted it to do some server duty. Both are easy to use (and free) and you don't need to play with the unix stuff to much (actually these should work nicely on almost any 7.x Mac). I'll see if I can find my copies of them and check if they work on A/UX.
Important thing to note is that it has two systems folders, one to boot the system and then start A/UX, and a second designed to run on top of A/UX after it is started. If you are going to change anything (add extensions or put aliases in the Apple Menu) make sure you are using the correct system folder or you won't see the changes.
Admiral,
You can actually pull the 68LC040 out and replace it with a 68040 (not a job for the faint at heart). The two are the same, only Motorola turned off the FPU for the "LC" version so they could charge less and to cut down on the overall heat it produced.
As for networking, didn't I see a Newton commercial that had people sending info back and forth across a board room table on a couple Newtons? I still have to spend some more time with the one you gave me, but it really seems like the sky is the limit with it. I'm completely impressed.
AdmiralAK
Simply Daemonic
Well, My Perform 635 is just gathering up dust in my storage area Some experimenting at teh end of the semster might be in order.
So, do I need to buy a whole new 68040 chip or is there a way to modify my LC040 to make it into a regular 040 ?
As for the newton, newtons can communicate with each other, beaming mostly. There are ethernet cards out there as well to bring em into a network (someone actually made a web server out of a newton with a regular out of the box newton, no special mods he he). I was wondering if I could create some netwoek between a Newotn 2100, a zaurus Linux Pda, a Psion Revo (or 5mx) and an iPaq he he.
Admiral
Some experimenting at teh end of the semster might be in order.So, do I need to buy a whole new 68040 chip or is there a way to modify my LC040 to make it into a regular 040 ?
As for the newton, newtons can communicate with each other, beaming mostly. There are ethernet cards out there as well to bring em into a network (someone actually made a web server out of a newton with a regular out of the box newton, no special mods he he). I was wondering if I could create some netwoek between a Newotn 2100, a zaurus Linux Pda, a Psion Revo (or 5mx) and an iPaq he he.
Admiral
AdmiralAK
Simply Daemonic
dang, oh well, maybe I will play around with it before it bites the dust (for good)
As for the newton take a look here:
http://homepage.mac.com/LightyearDesign/Software.html#NewtonOS
Admiral
As for the newton take a look here:
http://homepage.mac.com/LightyearDesign/Software.html#NewtonOS
Admiral
This is an awesome thread. Just had to mention that.
As far as hardware goes for a/ux, what size HD would u need as a bare minimum? RAM? I think I have a machine that would be fairly good at this, a Quadra660 w/ 52MB of RAM and 700MB HD. Would this make a good lightweight server? I also have an LCIII with ethernet, 32MB of RAM, and 160MB HD. Would it be worth putting it on there too? I also have a Centris660 w/ 24MB RAM and a 270MB HD with a 1GB external. How would that fare? I'm just full of questions!!!!!! and as soon as Anarchy is done d/l'ing the images, i'll be chock full of answers
zeb
As far as hardware goes for a/ux, what size HD would u need as a bare minimum? RAM? I think I have a machine that would be fairly good at this, a Quadra660 w/ 52MB of RAM and 700MB HD. Would this make a good lightweight server? I also have an LCIII with ethernet, 32MB of RAM, and 160MB HD. Would it be worth putting it on there too? I also have a Centris660 w/ 24MB RAM and a 270MB HD with a 1GB external. How would that fare? I'm just full of questions!!!!!! and as soon as Anarchy is done d/l'ing the images, i'll be chock full of answers
zeb