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A\UX
- Thread starter bluekatt
- Start date
II2II
Well-known member
A/UX is a fairly old AT&T based Unix implementation. It allows you to use a Mac like desktop, which is largely compatible with Mac software and has MacX to run X software. It also offers a straight X11(R5?) front-end.
The Unix end has at least one nice extension: a Commando interface that allows you to issue Unix shell commands by pointing and clicking. Even though it is annoying for regular use, it is a quick way to learn how these commands work and which options are available. If you want to see Commando in action, it's also available for MPW (a free download from Apple). Apple also provides compilers to keep developers happy. And lets face it, programming environments were one of the big reasons to use Unix systems back in the day.
The Unix end has at least one nice extension: a Commando interface that allows you to issue Unix shell commands by pointing and clicking. Even though it is annoying for regular use, it is a quick way to learn how these commands work and which options are available. If you want to see Commando in action, it's also available for MPW (a free download from Apple). Apple also provides compilers to keep developers happy. And lets face it, programming environments were one of the big reasons to use Unix systems back in the day.
MacMan
Well-known member
I used it on my Quadra 700 for a while but I found it a little limited for that particular Mac, which I re-installed with system 7.5. I never really explored A/UX very much but it looks and feels very much like System 7.1.
Might stick A/UX on my IIcx as I don't seem to be using it for much else at the moment.
Might stick A/UX on my IIcx as I don't seem to be using it for much else at the moment.
ChristTrekker
Well-known member
I've had it installed on a box for, oh, about 18-24 months now maybe??? I don't use the GUI though. I've installed bash, and from a command line it feels much like any other Unix, with "typical" variations on command paths and administrative commands. I released some new software for A/UX a couple months ago.
beachycove
Well-known member
It isn't compatible with the ppcs; A/UX runs on 68k only, and then only specific machines from among the 68k lineup.
I have it on a Q950, modified with the appropriate PDS card to be an AWS95 in all but the name badge.
Charlieman
Well-known member
More information, please. I don't suppose that release included Apache ;-) Has anyone updated A/UX so that it can securely face the internet as a web or FTP server?
ChristTrekker
Well-known member
No, it was a utility to allow setting 21st century dates from a command line, for those of us that don't use the GUI. The standard date command didn't account for that.
Someone recently compiled the latest Apache 1.x for A/UX. Still, I wouldn't consider it exactly "safe" to run a public A/UX server. It hasn't been updated since 1995, and there's no way to do so, either. It's a dead OS to Apple, and they're not going to release the source.
Have you read the FAQ? The software forum has a sticky post.
dualdflipflop
Active member
I too also have had experience with A/UX. I have it on a Mac IIci at the moment, however, I've been too busy to break it out for a while now. Last I recall though, setting up the networking card wasn't too easy. Oh, and the compiler that comes with the base install is total crap. I hope there is a more advanced gcc out there for it. Whatever...
ChristTrekker
Well-known member
I run NetBSD or A/UX on all my 68k Macs.
I may be the MLA's resident expert on 68k Unices.If you're asking about running A/UX in emulation, the answer is "you can't". Oddly, the reason for this is not in the FAQ (yet...I'll be adding it soon).
ChristTrekker
Well-known member
I can't say I've used Apple's cc. I have a copy of c89 too, but haven't tried to use it. You can get gcc 2.7.2, and in theory you could build 3.0 or 3.1 for A/UX too. After 3.[01] support for A/UX was removed from the gcc source tree.
OldBlueBear
New member
This my first post on 68klms net.
I have just bought a Mac Quadra 650 2118 as I understand it can run A/UX; (but has system 7.1 on it at the moment) I also have an iso file of A/UX 3.1 to burn a CD. Once it all arrives I need to get A/UX working . At the moment I do not know how close A/UX is to SVR4 or even V7 unix or if the standard build chain tools I need (cc, as, ld, ar, yacc, lex are onboard (not the gnu version the "real" AT&T/USL versions!).
Today I am picking up information suggesting A/UX may not run on this machine without an extra effort and an add-on board.
I know UNIX, have worked on it since mi-1970s off and on. But Mac is totally new ball game for me never seen one.
Any advice and pointers to information pointers to,, software tools etc to help me bring A/UX up appreciated.
regards,
OldBlueBear (Dave)
I have just bought a Mac Quadra 650 2118 as I understand it can run A/UX; (but has system 7.1 on it at the moment) I also have an iso file of A/UX 3.1 to burn a CD. Once it all arrives I need to get A/UX working . At the moment I do not know how close A/UX is to SVR4 or even V7 unix or if the standard build chain tools I need (cc, as, ld, ar, yacc, lex are onboard (not the gnu version the "real" AT&T/USL versions!).
Today I am picking up information suggesting A/UX may not run on this machine without an extra effort and an add-on board.
I know UNIX, have worked on it since mi-1970s off and on. But Mac is totally new ball game for me never seen one.
Any advice and pointers to information pointers to,, software tools etc to help me bring A/UX up appreciated.
regards,
OldBlueBear (Dave)
cheesestraws
Well-known member
A/UX is based on SVR2.2 but with a bunch of stuff from SVR3 and SVR4 and some 4.3BSD stuff backported (such as IP). I'm not sure what variants exactly the developments tools are off the top of my head (I'm the other end of the country from my A/UX machine at the moment) but I think they're some evolution of the System V ones.
If it's a Quadra 650 you have then I think you should be alright for running A/UX 3.0.1 or above (?) so long as you have enough RAM. The thing is the CPU: if it has a full 68040 on it (instead of the low-cost 68LC040) you should be fine.
By UNIX standards, installing A/UX is really, really easy. What it is a bit picky about is CD/ROM drives. But if you have a working/supported CD-ROM drive then it's pretty trivial. There's a walkthrough of the process here: http://www.aux-penelope.com/aux_3.0.htm
The one quirk about installing A/UX on a Quadra 650 that I remember is I think you need to put the apropos System Enabler for the Quadra 610/650 on both the boot floppy you use to install it and on the installed 7.1 partition that A/UX boots from. That process is covered in the A/UX FAQ and (having just checked) the link above. Other than that A/UX works fine on the Q650; it's probably one of the best machines that it runs on, with the one limitation (which again, is based on a very rusty memories) that only 256 color video modes are supported, at least with the native X11 server. (You need a Quadra 700 or 900/950 for 24 bit color, because those machines will handle more VRAM.)
Also, FWIW, it probably would have been okay for you to open a new thread instead of taking onto a 2007 vintage one. But the subject is the same, I guess, so no harm no foul.
Also, FWIW, it probably would have been okay for you to open a new thread instead of taking onto a 2007 vintage one. But the subject is the same, I guess, so no harm no foul.
Last edited by a moderator:
cheesestraws
Well-known member
I forgot I had Shoebill installed
cc, as, ld, ar, yacc and lex are all present. cc, as and ld claim descent from the 'Motorola SGS' tools. Yacc and lex don't specify their provenance but it's probably safe to assume that they're SVR2.
