Linux/sun3

This page contains some pointers and references to getting Linux running properly on the Sun 3/xx line of workstations/servers.

Current version -- 2.6.16

Tested Hardware Configurations

I've personally tested the following configurations to be working properly as of 05/11/2006, using the m68k CVS kernel sources+20060511 patch, and the 20060511 bootloader:

3/50Serial, Ethernet, SCSI
3/60Serial, Ethernet, SCSI
3/80Serial, Ethernet, SCSI

The following systems should also work, but have not been tested recently (sorry, my 3/1xx and 3/2xx are on the fritz):

3/1xx (excl. 3/110)Serial, On-board Ethernet, Sun3 VME SCSI
3/2xxSerial, On-board Ethernet, Sun3 VME SCSI

Other systems may also function, ymmv.

Known Issues

The VME scsi driver appear to have problems when more than one scsi device is attached to the controller. :(

Software resources (kernel)

The Sun3 kernel tree is not currently synchronized with the m68k CVS repository. To compile a working kernel, you will need:

2.6.16 m68k CVS sources Consult the m68k CVS site for information on checking out the source.
2.6.16 (20060511) sun3/3x patch (available here)

Previous version -- 2.6.5

Tested Hardware Configurations

I've personally tested the following configurations to be working properly as of 04/29/2004, using the m68k CVS kernel sources+20040429 patch, and the 20031221 bootloader:

3/60Serial, Ethernet, SCSI, CGthree graphics, keyboard, mouse
3/80Serial, Ethernet, SCSI

The following systems should also work, but have not been tested recently (sorry, my 3/50 and 3/2xx are on the fritz):

3/50Serial, Ethernet, SCSI
3/1xx (excl. 3/110)Serial, On-board Ethernet, Sun3 VME SCSI
3/2xxSerial, On-board Ethernet, Sun3 VME SCSI

Other systems may also function, ymmv.

Known Issues

The VME scsi driver appear to have problems when more than one scsi device is attached to the controller. :(

Software resources (kernel)

The Sun3 kernel tree is not currently synchronized with the m68k CVS repository. To compile a working kernel, you will need:

2.6.5 m68k CVS sources Consult the m68k CVS site for information on checking out the source.
2.6.5 (20040429) sun3/3x patch (available here)

Network bootloader (booting from disk is still a bit preliminary...)

Software resources (userland)

There is currently an ongoing effort to rebuild Debian/m68k packages to run on both Sun3 and standard m68k. Packages are available here

Base root filesystem -- This can be untarred to a directory exported as an NFS root filesystem, or can be placed onto a disk partition. This filesystem is roughly equivalent to a Debian base install. This would be the a good starting point for adding more of the packages above.

Old FTP Site

Other/various sun3 stuffs can be found at here.

Other information

http://merman.tal.org/sun3/ -- Another sun3/linux user's description of getting linux running on his sun3

http://www.ee.oulu.fi/~pp/sun3/ -- Old (obsolete) linux/sun3 home page


Sam Creasey
Last modified: Wed Nov 14 17:53:04 EST 2012