Solaris 9 x86 - not for the 8890

Well, after much fussing about, I began to try and put Solaris x86 on my 8890. It appears, however, that this version of the OS is currently too fussy for it. I found a HCL note from Sun here after several failed config atempts:

http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl/data...tails/156.html

Summary:

- Ethernet drivers do not work or exist, a generic PC Card version was used to compensate.

- Hyperthreading needed to be shut off (no thanks ).

- Video card driver was from xfree86.org and was only avail for 1024x768. Again, no thanks.

Oh well, guess I'll try again when 10 comes out. In the meantime, off to Gentoo....

--TSK

Does HT need to be turned off there as well? And have they finished fixing the issues with Solaris x86 in general (i.e. could not compare in features and robustness to SPARC version).

I was offered a copy of 10 from a co-worker who was configuring a test system. I declined since I had Gentoo half-finished (well, 9/10ths, but work has shelved the project well until Sept at this point) and a couple other things:

- Until Uru server processes only work in Linux. Would be cool to say I'm running an Uru shard on a notebook.

- Wanted a true dual-boot situation, so ANY BIOS changes needed between boots would be a show-stopper.

- Apparently the VPN software we use has a version for Linux but not Solaris (figures). Also the WebEx connection format used by Legato in support situations does not work with Mozilla for Solaris.

- I already own a Sparc CPU system (upgrade board that turned a Sparc-5 to an Ultra-5, and there's that Sparc-10 with the ROSS CPU lying around somewhere), so can fiddle with the Real Solaris there. Or try to get Gentoo for Sparc running on that too, if I ever get some time.

My main motivation for trying to get Solaris to run on a notebook was to have CDE desktop and Legato Networker console in a native environment (and since then, I'd now like Veritas VEA and STK SANTricity GUI as well). I've learned since that Linux and/or Windows can do that and more, so Solaris an stay where I'm happy with it - on Sparc Systems.