/[gxemul]/trunk/doc/intro.html

This is repository of my old source code which isn't updated any more. Go to git.rot13.org for current projects!

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-revision 8 by dpavlin,
Mon Oct  8 16:18:19 2007 UTC
+revision 10 by dpavlin,
Mon Oct  8 16:18:27 2007 UTC
 Line 12
  <!--
- $Id: intro.html,v 1.47 2005/06/04 22:47:49 debug Exp $
+ $Id: intro.html,v 1.53 2005/06/26 08:42:26 debug Exp $
  Copyright (C) 2003-2005  Anders Gavare.  All rights reserved.
 Line 55 
 SUCH DAMAGE.
    <li><a href="#cpus">Which CPU types does GXemul emulate?</a>
    <li><a href="#accuracy">Emulation accuracy</a>
    <li><a href="#emulmodes">Which machines does GXemul emulate?</a>
-   <li><a href="#guestos">Which guest OSes are possible to run?</a>
+   <li><a href="#guestos">Which guest OSes are possible to run in GXemul?</a>
  </ul>
 Line 66 
 SUCH DAMAGE.
  <a name="overview"></a>
  <h3>Overview:</h3>
- GXemul is a machine emulator, which can be used to experiment with
+ GXemul is an experimental instruction-level machine emulator. It can be
- binary code for (among others) MIPS-based machines. Several emulation
+ used to run binary code for (among others) MIPS-based machines, regardless
- modes are available. For some emulation modes, processors and surrounding
+ of host platform. Several emulation modes are available. For some modes,
- hardware components are emulated well enough to let unmodified operating
+ processors and surrounding hardware components are emulated well enough to
- systems run as if they were running on a real machine.
+ let unmodified operating systems run as if they were running on a real
+ machine.
- <p>
+ <p>Devices and CPUs are not simulated with 100% accuracy. They are only
- Devices and CPUs are not simulated with 100% accuracy. They are only
+ ``faked'' well enough to make operating systems (e.g. NetBSD) run without
- "faked" well enough to make operating systems (eg NetBSD) run without
  complaining too much. Still, the emulator could be of interest for
  academic research and experiments, such as when learning how to write
  operating system code.
- <p>
+ <p>The emulator is written in C, does not depend on external libraries
- The emulator is written in C, does not depend on external libraries (except
+ (except X11, but that is optional), and should compile and run on most
- X11, but that is optional), and should compile and run on most Unix-like
+ Unix-like systems. If it doesn't, then that is a bug. (You do not need any
- systems. If it doesn't, then that is a bug.
+ MIPS compiler toolchain to build or use GXemul. If you need to compile
- (You do not need any MIPS compiler toolchain to build or use GXemul.
+ MIPS binaries from sources, then of course you need such a toolchain, but
- If you need to compile MIPS binaries from sources, then of course you need
+ that is completely separate from GXemul.)
- such a toolchain, but that is completely separate from GXemul.)
+ <p>The emulator contains code which tries to emulate the workings of CPUs
- <p>
+ and surrounding hardware found in real machines, but it does not contain
- The emulator contains code which tries to emulate the workings of CPUs and
+ any ROM code. You will need some form of program (in binary form) to run
- surrounding hardware found in real machines, but it does not contain any
+ in the emulator. For many emulation modes, PROM calls are handled by the
- ROM code. You will need some form of program (in binary form) to run in
- the emulator. For many emulation modes, PROM calls are handled by the
  emulator itself, so you do not need to use any ROM image at all.
- <p>
+ <p>You can use pre-compiled kernels (for example NetBSD kernels, or
- You can use pre-compiled kernels (for example NetBSD kernels, or Linux),
+ Linux), or other programs that are in binary format, and in some cases
- or other programs that are in binary format, and in some cases even actual
+ even actual ROM images. A couple of different file formats are supported
- ROM images. A couple of different file formats are supported (ELF, a.out,
+ (ELF, a.out, ECOFF, SREC, and raw binaries).
- ECOFF, SREC, and raw binaries).
- <p>
+ <p>If you do not have a kernel as a separate file, but you have a bootable
- If you do not have a kernel as a separate file, but you have a bootable
  disk image, then it is sometimes possible to boot directly from that
  image. (This works for example with DECstation emulation, or when booting
  from ISO9660 CDROM images.)
-Line 111 
 from ISO9660 CDROM images.)
+Line 107 
 from ISO9660 CDROM images.)
  <p><br>
  <a name="free"></a>
  <h3>Is GXemul Free software?</h3>
-Line 249 
 program relies on self-modifying code, w
+Line 247 
 program relies on self-modifying code, w
  performance.)
- <h4>POWER/PowerPC</h4>
- There is some code for 64-bit (and 32-bit) POWER/PowerPC emulation, enough
- to run "Hello World", but not enough to run complete operating systems.
- This mode isn't really working yet.
  <h4>Other CPU types:</h4>
- Some other CPU architectures (such as x86) can also be partially emulated.
+ Some other CPU architectures can also be partially emulated. These are not
- These are not enabled by default though, because of their unstable-ness.
+ working well enough yet to run guest operating systems.
-Line 315 
 are emulated well enough to run at least
+Line 307 
 are emulated well enough to run at least
    <p>
    <li><b>Cobalt</b>
          <br>Serial controller and PCI IDE.
+   <p>
+   <li><b>Malta (evbmips)</b>
+         <br>Serial controller and PCI IDE.
+   <p>
+   <li><b>SGI O2 ("IP32")</b>
+         <br>Serial controller and ethernet.&nbsp;&nbsp;<small>(Enough for
+         root-on-nfs, but not for disk boot.)</small>
  </ul>
- <p>
+ <p>There is code in GXemul for emulation of many other machine types; the
- There is code in GXemul for emulation of many other machine types;
+ degree to which these work range from almost being able to run a complete
- the degree to which these work range from "almost" being able to run
+ OS, to almost completely unsupported (perhaps just enough support to
- a complete OS, to almost completely unsupported (perhaps just enough
+ output a few boot messages via serial console).
- support to output a few boot messages via serial console).
+ <p>In addition to emulating real machines, there is also a "test-machine".
- <p>
+ A test-machine consists of one or more CPUs and a few experimental devices
- In addition to emulating real machines, there is also a "test-machine".
+ such as:
- A test-machine consists of one or more CPUs and a few experimental
- devices such as:
  <p>
  <ul>
-Line 335 
 devices such as:
+Line 332 
 devices such as:
    <li>a very simple linear framebuffer device (for graphics output)
  </ul>
- <p>
+ <p>This mode is useful if you wish to run experimental code, but do not
- This mode is useful if you wish to run experimental code, but do not
  wish to target any specific real-world machine type, for example for
  educational purposes.
- <p>
+ <p>You can read more about these experimental devices <a
- You can read more about these experimental devices
+ href="experiments.html#expdevices">here</a>.
- <a href="experiments.html#expdevices">here</a>.
-Line 352 
 You can read more about these experiment
+Line 347 
 You can read more about these experiment
  <p><br>
  <a name="guestos"></a>
- <h3>Which guest OSes are possible to run?</h3>
+ <h3>Which guest OSes are possible to run in GXemul?</h3>
  This table lists the guest OSes that run well enough to be considered
  working in the emulator. They can boot from a harddisk image and be
-Line 433 
 interacted with similar to a real machin
+Line 428 
 interacted with similar to a real machin
                  <br>Cobalt</td>
          </tr>
+         <tr><td height="10"></td></tr>
+         <tr>
+           <td></td>
+           <td align="center"><a href="20050626-netbsd-sgimips-netboot.png"><img src="20050626-netbsd-sgimips-netboot_small.png"></a></td>
+           <td></td>
+           <td><a href="http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/sgimips/">NetBSD/sgimips</a>
+                 <br>SGI O2 ("IP32")</td>
+           <td></td>
+           <td align="center"><a href="20050622-netbsd-evbmips-malta.png"><img src="20050622-netbsd-evbmips-malta_small.png"></a></td>
+           <td></td>
+           <td><a href="http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/evbmips/">NetBSD/evbmips</a>
+                 <br>5Kc (and 4Kc) Malta<br>evaluation boards</td>
+           <td></td>
+         </tr>
  </table></center>

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