M. Behr, Rice MEMS - Other Interests

This page deals with miscellaneous topics that occupy my attention at the moment, or rather, what occupied my attention in 1998 or so. The stuff was mostly related to computing:

MkLinux - Apple's implementation of Linux on Mach microkernel,
LinuxPPC - monolithic Linux for PowerPC machines,
ADSL - asymmeteric digital subscriber line service as provided by US West.

MkLinux News:

Dec 28, 1998	GENERIC #06 kernel / server pair: - floppy support, - miscellaneous fixes.
Nov 12, 1998	GENERIC #05 kernel / server pair: - new pair from David Gatwood.
Oct 21, 1998	Netscape Communicator 4.5: - final version in complete and Navigator standalone formats.
Oct 13, 1998	Java Development Kit 1.1.7 version 1: - based on Sun JDK 1.1.7 final, - includes new Metrowerks JIT compiler version 981013.
Jul 31, 1998	DR3 final release: - as far as I can see it's identical to the pre-DR3 from a month ago...
Jun 25, 1998	Java Development Kit 1.1.6 version 2a: - based on Sun JDK 1.1.6 final.
May 14, 1998	DR3 alpha 5 (980514) unofficial update: - eliminated ppp messages which were messing up the X display, - fixed colors in 16-bit mode on ATI displays, - unfortunately this server was compiled without support for bext2 file systems, and it does not include sources for recompilation...
Apr 28, 1998	PowerMac X server update: - added support for virtual consoles under X11.
Apr 21, 1998	DR3 alpha 5 (980421) unofficial update: - improved stability on AV Power Macs, - includes kernel and server sources.
Mar 30, 1998	DR3 alpha 4 (980330) unofficial update: - fixed problems with some tape drives and G3 ethernet, - fixed problems with IDE timeouts, - compiled with egcs -O2.
Mar 26, 1998	Java Development Kit 1.1.5 version 6: - now merged with JDK for Linux 386 source code base, - includes HotJava 1.1.2, - includes JFC 1.1 (i.e. Swing 1.0.1).
Mar 13, 1998	Booter 1.4: - added support for PB 1400 and PC 120 (in 1.3), - fixed problems with mixed HFS/HFS+ filesystems.
Feb 27, 1998	DR3 alpha 4 (980227) revisited: - rebuilt with egcs and optimization options.
Feb 12, 1998	DR3 (980211) prerelease: - in preparation for DR3... - set of updated RPMs, - uses RedHat installer.
Feb 7, 1998	DR3 alpha 4 (980207) unofficial update: - new support for PB 5300, - SCSI errors are recovered from instead of locking up the system (this helps when using Zip drive).
Jan 22, 1998	DR3 alpha 3 (980122) unofficial update: - new support for most G3 machines, - added MP kernel sources.
Jan 13, 1998	DR3 alpha 1 (980113) unofficial update: - new support for some G3 machines, - multiprocessor version of the kernel included, - other bug fixes.
Dec 24, 1997	DR2.1 Update 6m (971224) unofficial update: - new support for PowerPC machines booting from IDE (non-SCSI) hard disks (i.e. low-end Macs and Powerbooks), - other bug fixes.
Dec 4, 1997	Java Development Kit 1.1.4: - includes Metrowerks JIT compiler.
Nov 26, 1997	DR2.1 Update 6d (971126) unofficial update: - SCSI device numbering changed to match the brain-dead ways of PC Linux (argh!), - additional ATI and IMS video cards recognized (fixes console color problems on my PowerCenter Pro with ATY,mach64_3D_ppc), - other bug fixes.
Nov 17, 1997	DR2.1 Update 6 (971117) Mach kernel fix.
Nov 14, 1997	Netscape Communicator 4.04 Update 2: - fixed problems with editable Motif text fields, - fixed bus errors when exiting.
Nov 12, 1997	DR2.1 Update 6 for MkLinux: - better support for serial I/O.
Nov 11, 1997	Netscape Communicator 4.04 for MkLinux released.

LinuxPPC News:

Feb 20, 2000	LinuxPPC site at Apple: - links to major LinuxPPC distributions, - BootX 1.2fc1 and other utilities by B. Herrenschmidt.
Feb 8, 2000	Java Development Kit 1.2.2 release candidate 4.
Dec 29, 1998	Linux Kernel 2.2pre1: - pre-release of the next stable kernel from Linus Torvalds.
Dec 29, 1998	BootX 1.0.1: - an alternative to Open Firmware booting.

ADSL Tidbits:

The NetSpeed SpeedRunner 204 (a.k.a. Cisco 675) modem provided with US West ADSL service provides only a PC-style management cable. When the modem is in the bridging mode, as required by the US West service, there is not much need or opportunity for modem management. Nevertheless, some people are unable to leave any controls untouched, and they might find useful the following Mac-style connector:

The RJ-11 jack fits in the center of the RJ-45 management port on the NetSpeed (one can also use an RJ-45 jack of course, but they are not as widespread). To make this cable, find a serial cable no one likes, cut one end off, and crimp the RJ-11 jack on the three relevant leads; or splice it with a cut telephone cord. Continuity tester will most likely be needed to figure out the serial cable paths. Using such cable, and ClarisWorks terminal at 38400bps, no handshaking, gives good management connection to my NetSpeed.