OpenBSD on Motorola 88000 Processors
2 days ago
- #OpenBSD-port
- #Motorola-88000
- #computer-architecture
- The Motorola 68000 architecture was widely used in early Apple Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST, and workstations, but its CISC design couldn't compete in speed.
- Motorola developed the 88000 (m88k) architecture to improve performance, but it was short-lived and less successful than the 68000 or PowerPC.
- First-generation m88k used the 88100 CPU with optional external 88200 CMMUs for cache and memory management, enabling multiprocessor support and flexible designs.
- Second-generation m88k integrated cache and MMU into the 88110 processor, aiming for higher speeds but faced hardware issues and limited production.
- The m88k architecture had a short lifespan (1988-1994) and limited adoption due to system design complexity and the rise of PowerPC.
- Motorola's VME boards (e.g., MVME181, MVME187, MVME188, MVME197) were key systems using m88k processors, with varying configurations for different needs.
- OpenBSD ported to m88k starting in 1995, with efforts from developers like Nivas Madhur and Steve Murphree, but faced toolchain and stability challenges.
- Compiler issues with GCC 2.95 broke the m88k port, and development stalled due to lack of a working toolchain and developer interest.
- Historical documentation and hardware for m88k systems are scarce, with efforts like Paul Weissmann's 'badabada' site and OpenPA helping preserve information.