Help with old DG/UX machine, virtualizing?


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Top Forums UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users Help with old DG/UX machine, virtualizing?
# 1  
Old 08-01-2010
Help with old DG/UX machine, virtualizing?

Hey all,
We have an old Data General Unix system (DG/UX) on an old AViiON machine.
That DG system is Intel-based (PentiumPro) and we are trying to virtualize / emulate it.
DG was a clever system, as it cannot be installed on a 'regular' x86 machine, only on an AViiON box. I think I figured out why, and that is why I need your help.
This is my progress so far (after a lot of reading, searching and understanding who is who and what does it all mean) :
1. I've DD'ed an exact copy of the raw system disk as an image on my Linux box.
2. Loaded it up with most virtualization products out there - VMware, VirtualBox, Xen/KVM/Qemu, Bochs and such.
They all work, ie, bootloader works and getting a DG/UX menu to choose my proper kernel/system disk.
3. This is where they fail, as they cannot find the system's original
Adaptec PCI SCSI Controller (which is an AIC-7880 chip).
Most VM products only support LSI/BusLogic SCSI, and IDE of course.
As I see it, there are a few solutions for it to work:
1. write an Adaptec driver for a VM product.
2. write an LSI/BusLogic driver for DG/UX or implement virtio drivers into it.
3. get IDE support working.
1st 2 options, as I understand from software eng' and other professionals, are very difficult to implement.
The 3rd option is interesting :
On one hand, I have an config file with all of DG/UX's supported hardware, IDE is simply not there (would love for someone else to have a look if possible. Just say so and I'll send you the file).
_and_ docs say "Data General has not tested or qualified the use of IDE devices in AViiON AV 2100 systems".
_BUT_, on the other hand, BIOS seems to have plenty of IDE config options and also docs say:
"IDE Interface - Disabled/Auto" , "OnBoard IDE Controller - enabled".
" The AV 2100 board set consists of a system board with six PCI expansion slots, three ISA expansion slots, and several embedded controller devices (PCI video, SCSI, Network, and IDE).
and "..A SCSI-III AIC-7880 controller for connecting up to seven 8-bit narrow SCSI devices. You can also connect a mixture of fifteen 8-bit narrow and 16-bit wide SCSI devices to the controller-maximum of seven 8-bit narrow SCSI devices. PCI-enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk interface that supports two hard disk drives"
Also " Since the lower bay contains a SCSI CD-ROM drive, only one other SCSI device can be installed. You can install an IDE device in the remaining bay. "
And much more.
The question is, if I have an exact image of the primary disk and I did try to load it via an IDE drive (in Qemu/VirtualBox etc), didn't work out. Like last time, bootloader booted up and then hang after trying to load the kernel.
Is there something I can try and do as a different config in my image file?
Anything else you can think of?
Please let me know if you need any file sent over.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
D.
# 2  
Old 08-01-2010
Which version of DG/UX is on the box?
# 3  
Old 08-01-2010
R4.20MUO4

Pretty patched up. Thought about trying to install from scratch (if I could boot into it), but it'll be too much work and I dont think I have all the patches to get the system to it's production status.
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

7 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. What is on Your Mind?

Application for Virtualizing CyberSpace like Outer Space for Cyberspace Situational Awareness

Richard Zuech annotates his first experience flying in virtualized cyberspace hunting the bad guys! ... and he finds some! Application for Virtualizing CyberSpace like Outer Space for Cyberspace Situational Awareness (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: Neo
0 Replies

2. AIX

Virtualizing Physical Machine

Hi Experts - we have power710 (no VIOs) that is already connected to hmc and everything . I already have a Physical LPAR in there and network configured . Now I plan to delete that LPAR and then put Virtualization code (COD) to virtualize that machine by building VIO servers and stuff.Also ordered... (9 Replies)
Discussion started by: JME2015
9 Replies

3. Linux

Unable to connect to Server machine from a client machine using ftp service

Hi, Could you please help me with the below issue.. I'm running RHEL6 OS on both server (192.168.0.10) and client machines (192.168.0.1). I'm trying to connect to server from the client machine using ftp service. I have installed vsftpd daemon on both the machines. I'm getting... (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: raosr020
4 Replies

4. UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Virtualizing SCO v5 - interesting project/nightmare, could use some help

same old story, we have an important very old app running on SCO 5, box is only on LAN and as such was never updated by anyone etc.. box is nearing its end of life in a bad way (currently experiencing some SCSI issues) and it's time to do something when good advice of "lets upgrade" for years was... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: mc18
1 Replies

5. AIX

Virtualizing the Fiber card (VFC) on P595

Hi, We have a P595 machine with a dual port Fiber card per VIOs. We have two VIOs in the box. VIO1: ---> 2 port Fiber Card VIO2: ---> 2 port Fiber Card One port on each fiber card is utilized. Connected to SAN switches. We are getting all disks from SAN both for VIOs and LPARs. Now... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: aixromeo
0 Replies

6. Shell Programming and Scripting

How to transfer files from unix machine to local machine using shell script?

Hi All.. Am new to Unix!! Am creating a shell script in which a scenario is like i have transfer the output file from unix machine (Server) to local directory (Windows xp). And also i have to transfer the input file from the local directory to Unix machine (Server) Any help from you... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: vidhyaS
1 Replies

7. Red Hat

To find the LATEST file from a dir on REMOTE machine and SCP to local machine?

Hi All, URGENT - Please help me form a scipt for this: I need the LATEST file from a dir on REMOTE machine to be SCP'd to a dir on local machine. (and I need to execute this from local server) I know that the below cmd is used to find the LATEST file from a dir. But this command is not... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: me_ub
3 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question