[Asterisk-Dev] Sparc Ultra Support

[Chris Albertson]

On a related issue.  I have a good supply of 32-bit SPARC hardware
I am not using.  THis is old but good enough to test build scripts and
the like.  If someone wants to suggest how I could put this hardware
to productive use let me know off line.  I'll sel it dirt cheap or
free to a good home  SPARC-% are not all that slow either, kind of
like a P-100  See my sig for contqct info  -- off list please.

--- dking at pimpsoft.com wrote:

> I'm not sure if this announcement is needed here or not but I know a
> large amount of people emailed me about it when I originally brought
> this up, and I also know this list is the general thing that pops up
> when people search for information on the topic. And with the release
> of 1.0 more people are getting interested  in asterisk and the system
> on non PC arch systems, so here I go.
> 
> The current version of Asterisk DOES support compilation on
> ultrasparc cpu based systems thanks to work done on the asterisk code
> branch pre 1.0 by Myself. It does not however compile to 64bit by
> default due to limitations of the compiler used in many sun4u
> specific linux distribution ports.  Currently I have it set to
> compile for version 8 of the instruction set. Since version 9 is the
> 64 bit version sun4u cpus are able to work with over time this will
> be changed but for now this is a good work around of the problem
> considering several things including the core asterisk application
> refused to compile on these systems before I did the work on it.
> 
> Also due to this zaptel does not currently compile for the correct
> kernel arch. The common linux kernel binaries available are built to
> make use of the 64 bit abilities of the version 9 cpu so modules
> built for a different arch (like the default of sparclite on most gcc
> installs in sparc distributions like debian-sparc) are trouble and
> refuse to load. This is one of the reasons many people who use sparc
> get the ‘invalid arch’ errors when they install the zaptel modules.
> 
> This could be fixed if the person was willing to make a custom kernel
> with little to no optimization and no benefits taken from the
> advanced hardware, But in my mind to do this would be to break a
> perfectly working system. You shouldn’t have to slow down your system
> or compile the kernel for a less functional hardware architecture
> subset to get asterisk and zaptel to work in my humble opinion. We
> also need a sunsparc 64 bit assembly base not unlike the k6 base that
> was causing me trouble in my work to port asterisk to sparc.
> 
> The reason better sparc support is needed is twofold.
> 
> One: Sparc based sun hardware has been used in the telecommunications
> industry for years now.  It’s always been a credit to sun that sparc
> based hardware has always been more reliable, functional, stable, and
> been able to provide more raw power under the hood then a similar
> speeded PC based cpu.
> Two: Due to the reliability issue Many telecomm’s continue to use any
> sparc based computer systems they can get there hands on. I have seen
> perfectly working systems as old as ultra 5’s in the field.  By
> providing support for more sun based hardware not only would
> Asterisks usage base expand more, not only with hobbyists but telcos
> as well.
> 
> So I am making a request of not only the asterisk developer
> community, but the open source community, To do the following:
> 
> Mirror asterisk releases and cvs. We never know when a gpl backup
> will be needed.
> Help with support of your favorite non i386 compatible hardware.
> Something as simple as adding the needed makefile info will help
> many.
> Help keep the sparc based linux distributions out there up to date in
> terms of compilers and development tools.
> Let me know if I’m wrong about something here so I can learn
> something and pass it on.
> 
> IT would be very nice to hear from others using sparc hardware. If we
> got together as a group I am sure more can be done.
> 
> I’m also currently working on a project of my own that I hope will
> end up to be a viable tool to replace many of the repetitive commands
> used in open source software development build environments like
> asterisks.  I request that if your working on non i386 compatible
> hardware you please let me know via email offlist what cpu your
> using, and the version of gcc you have installed. Thanks.
> 
>  - D
> 
> 
> 
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=====
Chris Albertson
  Home:   310-376-1029  chrisalbertson90278 at yahoo.com
  Cell:   310-990-7550
  Office: 310-336-5189  Christopher.J.Albertson at aero.org
  KG6OMK


		
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