NeXTstep on the HP 712 Part 2: Getting Software

It’s been a long time since my last pizzabox post - over a year! There’s been a lot going on in my life but I’m excited that lately I’ve had a lot more free time, which means more time to explore the world of workstations and share with you! I’m also excited announce that I’m trying out YouTube videos - not instead of these posts, but in addition...

In this post, I’m going to go through the process of setting up Apple’s A/UX on a Quadra 610. It’s been a long time in the making - I think I had the hardware for nearly a year before I finally got A/UX running properly! Wait, what is A/UX? I’m not misspelling AIX, the IBM Unix that ran on the Apple Network Server range. It is a hybrid of Unix...

Project status Phase Status Notes Powers on? ✅ Passes firmware self-test? ✅ Working serial console? ✅ standard DB9 Framebuffer works? ✅ OS boots? ✅ Installed Solaris 10 on to a CF/IDE adapter Working GUI? ✅ X Windows and Java Sun Desktop (GNOME) / CDE Working input devices? ✅ Uses USB Pictures sunblade150 front

Project status Phase Status Notes Powers on? ✅ Passes firmware self-test? ✅ Working serial console? ✅ Has a somewhat unusual DB25 socket instead of plug, otherwise standard Framebuffer works? ✅ use DB13W3-VGA adapter OS boots? ✅ Has Solaris 2.6 installed Working GUI? ✅ X Windows and CDE Working input devices?

Project status Phase Status Notes Powers on? ✅ Passes firmware self-test? ✅ Working serial console? ❔ haven’t tried Framebuffer works? ✅ standard VGA plug OS boots? ✅ HP-UX 9.1 installed on a SCSI2SD Working GUI? ✅ X-Windows and VUE Working input devices? ✅ Use HP-HIL peripherals Pictures hp425e front