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Release notes for Gavare's eXperimental Emulator (GXemul), 0.3.5 |
Release notes for Gavare's eXperimental Emulator (GXemul), 0.3.6 |
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================================================================ |
================================================================ |
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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 used to |
GXemul is an experimental instruction-level machine emulator. Several |
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run binary code for MIPS-based machines, regardless of host platform. Several |
emulation modes are available. In some modes, processors and surrounding |
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emulation modes are available. For some modes, processors and surrounding |
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hardware components are emulated well enough to let unmodified operating |
hardware components are emulated well enough to let unmodified operating |
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systems (e.g. NetBSD) run as if they were running on a real machine. |
systems (e.g. NetBSD) run as if they were running on a real machine. |
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(Non-MIPS emulation modes are also under development, but so far none of those |
The processor architecture best emulated by GXemul is MIPS, but other |
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modes has reached the completeness required to run unmodified operating |
architectures are also partially emulated. |
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systems.) |
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I have verified that the following "guest" operating systems can run inside |
I have verified that the following "guest" operating systems can run inside |
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the emulator: |
the emulator: |
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NetBSD/cobalt 2.0.2 Cobalt |
NetBSD/cobalt 2.0.2 Cobalt |
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NetBSD/evbmips 2.0.2 Malta 5Kc/4Kc evaluation board |
NetBSD/evbmips 2.0.2 Malta 5Kc/4Kc evaluation board |
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NetBSD/sgimips 2.0.2 SGI O2 ("IP32") |
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 |
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, with |
others. The best supported mode is the DECstation 5000/200 emulation mode, |
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NetBSD/pmax as the guest operating system. |
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 working |
A couple of other emulation modes exist. Some of these modes are almost |
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well enough to run complete guest operating systems, but most are just |
working well enough to run complete guest operating systems, but most are |
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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 run |
The emulator can also be used in other experiments; it does not have to run |
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entire guest operating systems. (However, GXemul does not simulate things |
entire guest operating systems. (However, GXemul does not simulate things |
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penalties caused by branch-prediction misses or cache misses, and other |
penalties caused by branch-prediction misses or cache misses, and other |
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micro-architectural effects are not simulated.) |
micro-architectural effects are not simulated.) |
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The user-visible changes between release 0.3.4 and 0.3.5 are minor, and |
The most imporant user-visible change between release 0.3.5 and 0.3.6 is: |
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can be summarized as follows: |
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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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o) Updates to the (old) binary translation subsystem, resulting |
There are two minor issues with the ARM emulation: |
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in minor speed improvements. |
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o) 64-bit MIPS dmult/dmultu has been fixed. |
1) A bug is triggered at the end of the OpenBSD/cats installation, |
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so the MAKEDEV script must be run manually before booting for |
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the first time. |
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o) slt* instructions for 64-bit MIPS were incorrectly implemented |
2) I have not had time to do any performance optimizations yet, so |
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in the i386 backend. This has been fixed. |
the ARM emulation mode is not very fast. |
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There have been many other bug fixes and updates, most of which are not |
There have also been lots of other small changes, too small to mention here. |
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visible. |
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Files included in this release are: |
Files included in this release are: |
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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: |
Also, src/include/alpha_rpb.h requires the following: |
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Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 Carnegie-Mellon University. |
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 Carnegie-Mellon University. |
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software, derivative works or modified versions, and any portions |
software, derivative works or modified versions, and any portions |
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thereof, and that both notices appear in supporting documentation. |
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 (in no specific order) Joachim Buss, Juli Mallett, Juan RP, Alec |
Thanks to (in no specific order) Joachim Buss, Juli Mallett, Juan Romero |
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Voropay, Göran Weinholt, Alexander Yurchenko, and everyone else who has |
Pardines, Alec Voropay, Göran Weinholt, Alexander Yurchenko, and everyone |
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provided me with feedback. |
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. |