>If you want to run on a VAX or Alpha, I don't think Linux even is an >option. You'll have to go with some BSD. NetBSD and OpenBSD both have >support, although if we talk VAXen, I think the support is slightly >better in NetBSD.
There is still Linux for Alpha, Johnny, though it's beginning to age from lack of supporters. Debian for Alpha exists up through "Sid" I think. CentOS also had an Alpha version last time I looked. I have run the Debian versions and they pretty much work as they should. I've never seen Linux for VAX at all, that's true. I'm not personally concerned with security patches, as my machines are not usually on the net at all. I live in a rural area where connectivity is costly and not to be wasted. I use the machines mostly for mathematical and engineering experiments and personal amusement. I'm a radio amateur, and the Alphas are real nice for circuit simulations and RF modeling, for instance. Fortran does pretty well there. I raised my question because though the "unsupported distribution tape" for ULTRIX 4.0 includes Gnu EMACS as a source archive, it was clearly not actually ported or tested (as in, make fails immediately despite README claiming otherwise.) Since downloading large files is next to impossible here, I try to know what I'm getting into before forking over $60 for a set of distribution CDs. One of the BSD flavors might suit, but it's very difficult to be sure from the descriptions that are offered. Clearly VAX or Alpha aren't exactly high on their priority lists. Current pages on both BSD sites link to non-existent pages on HP sites, for instance. _______________________________________________ Simh mailing list Simh@trailing-edge.com http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh