Apple A/UX with BlueSCSI

[billbucks060]

Hi,
I came across a site mentioning Apple A/UX , a Unix based OS for Apple Macs.
I'd like to test it with my BlueSCSI but cannot find a suitable image. Has anyone tried it and could send a working link ?

I know Linux and I'm curious of the advantages of running it in comparison with Mac OSes

Thanks

 

[robin-fo]

http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/aux-apple-unix-68k-version-301-31-update

AUX_3_1_1GB_Use_In_Shoebill.zip

Should work out of the box if your Mac is A/UX compatible.

 

[Mk.558]

There are four nominal versions of A/UX: 0.97, 1.1.1, A/UX 2.0.x and A/UX 3.0.x.

A/UX 0.97 only runs on the original Macintosh II. Good luck.

A/UX 1.1.1 runs on most 68020/68030 boxes. However there is very little to actually do with it. If the CD is working correctly, you boot in to System 6, launch the SASH program, which starts A/UX in a SASH (stand-alone shell) session. This is where you decide what shell you want and a few other minor things. By few minor things, there's only two GUI programs you can use: hfx and term. Everything else is command line. Not a recommended experience. But if you did want to see it for yourself, load it in Shoebill.

A/UX 2.0.0 is what I recommend for an A/UX experience. It runs fine on my IIci, but that is going to be a *little* sluggish but nothing intolerable or out of the ordinary. It's neat.

A/UX 2.0.1 introduced some updates and added support for the IIsi. Recommendation: If you do not have a IIsi, do not use A/UX 2.0.1. I've found it unstable and unreliable.

A/UX 3.0 is built with System 7 and this is where you really want a 68040 processor. If you don't, you'll notice a noticable performance hit, kind of like running Mac OS 8 on a 68030. It will work, and it is the most flexible of the A/UX systems, but it's not for everybody.

If you want to install A/UX 2.0.0, make sure you read the manual. It has a very specific way that it is installed. You will need 800KiB disks ready.

On the next major revision of the Guide, a fully bootable A/UX 2.0.0 .HDA file will be included, with some programs to help you "get out" of the hole you start in.

 

[davidg5678]

I am also trying to install A/UX 2.0.0 on my SE/30 right now, but am confused about the process. Ideally, I'd like to do this only using my SCSI2SD 5.1 as I don't have a SCSI CD drive, and would like to avoid burning a dozen 800k floppy disks if I don't have to.

I am struggling to find a copy of the installer CD for A/UX 2.0.0, although I have found copies of the floppies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

On the next major revision of the Guide, a fully bootable A/UX 2.0.0 .HDA file will be included, with some programs to help you "get out" of the hole you start in.

@Mk.558 do you have a A/UX 2.0.0 disk image that you could share with me? This would be super helpful!

 

[Mk.558]

I did the install floppy route the first time because I didn't have a BlueSCSI on hand. Only had 3 fully working 800KiB disks -- yeah, not recommended.

Disk image? sure.

 

[davidg5678]

Thank you @Mk.558! I imaged a 2GB SD card with the A/UX image you made and it worked straight out of the box! I am looking forward to having lots of fun with A/UX 2.0.0 now

I am using a SCSI2SD 5.1 rather than a BlueSCSI, but I just used dd to copy the .hda file to my SD card and that worked fine.

This machine is a mostly stock SE/30 with 8MB of RAM and an Ethernet card. Speed-wise, A/UX 2.0.0 seems acceptable.

 

[Mk.558]

happy to help

I'd recommend bumping that SE/30 to 20 - 32MiB of RAM for better usability. Beyond 32 is a waste imo. My IIci has 64 and the boot time is annoying.