Jan. 13, 1998

Here are more improvements to both the kernel and server.

Before using the kernel and server in this work-in-progress directory, be sure
to read and _understand_ the README in the wip/971126 directory.  All tricky
issues mentioned then apply to this wip.  It's also worthwhile to read all
the README's in the "wip" directories since 971126, as well.

Added since "6m" wip 971224:

- New name: DR3alpha1
- Server brought up to Linux 2.0.33
- Support for the PPC750 processor (the "G3").
  This enables MkLinux to run on the G3 PowerBook.  It might also work on the
  third-party G3 processor cards that go into 7300,7500,7600,8500,8600,9500,
  9600 PCI machines, but we haven't tried those.  This kernel will _not_ work
  well on the G3 desktop or mini-tower.  That capability will come soon.
- The beginnings of a PCI framework (based on some FreeBSD code)
- Initial DEC "tulip" ethernet driver.
  This is the ethernet chip in the PB3400 and G3 PowerBook.  It also works on
  DEC Tulip based ethernet cards in the PCI class machines.  This driver works,
  but is slow because it is running polled, not interrupt driven.  Multiple
  ethernet interfaces in the same machine are not supported yet.
- Fix for "zip on mesh" problem.
  When a Zip drive was attached to the Mesh SCSI bus, the kernel would report
  tons of fifo errors and ultimately wouldn't boot.  May also enable Syquest's
  Syjet to work, but we haven't tried it.
- Fix to server that was aggravated by the latest versions of glibc which
  could cause the shared libraries (on the disk) to be written to.  Ouch.
  (This was in the 970112 wip yesterday)
- Multiprocessor capability.
  The file Mach_Kernel.mp.gz has the MP microkernel.  If you've got a
  dual-processor 604e card, put this kernel in your extensions folder like you
  would any other kernel.  Reboot, and you'll be running MP.  This works on
  the 2-processor MP cards from Apple, such as the 9500/180MP & 9600/200MP.
  It may also work on some of the third-party 2-processor cards, but we
  haven't tried those.  This kernel will run on uniprocessor systems, but
  you'll get the classic performance hit.  The additional sources required to
  build this kernel are not yet available due to licensing issues.  We hope to
  have these issues resolved by DR3.  However, for now we can make the binary
  of the MP kernel available.

Enjoy,
Gilbert