A/UX 2K14 Notes

Since AUX Penelope has been shut down, I’m going to jot down some details about where you can get A/UX software and commands you need to get going with your shiny old A/UX system.

Hardware:

  • At this point you want a full 68040 Mac like the Quadra 650, 700, 800, or 9xx, they can still be had on eBay relatively easily.  If you want to use a luggable you’re stuck with an SE/30 which is B&W.  Get yourself a decent amount of RAM and a supported CD-ROM.
  • KB/Mouse: Any ADB KB & mouse you can find should work like a champ.  Im toying with picking up the GeeThree PS/2->ADB adapter so I can eliminate the old physical mouse as my KVM does support PS/2.
  • Video: Unless you want to have a dedicated monitor for it, grab a DB15 to HD15 (AKA VGA) adapter from eBay as well.

Software:

  • Boot from the boot floppy (yes, remember those?) and put the CD you burned in the drive.  TODO: document writing the floppy image.  For now, Google It!
  • Configure the network:
    • Run newconfig
    • Add default route cmd to /etc/rc:  “/usr/etc/route add default 192.168.1.1 1”
    • Add nameserver to /etc/resolv.conf:  “nameserver 192.168.1.1”
    • Enable the telnetd server, by changing the inetd line in /etc/inittab to: “net9:2:respawn:/etc/inetd               # set to “respawn” for networking”
  • Get the pre-compiled /usr/local installation from  ftp://ftp.asty.org/pub/mirrors/aux/robbraun/ using the default A/UX ftp program (make your life easier with “prompt off”, “mget *”).  Put it somewhere out of the way, like /root.
  • Extract the tarball, first getting gzip, tar and bzip2 setup

cd /
 tar xvf /root/gzip-1.2.4a.tar
/usr/local/gzip-1.2.4a/bin/gzip -dc /root/bzip2-1.0.6.tar.gz | tar xvf –
gzip -dc /root/tar-1.12.tar.gz | /usr/bin/tar xvf –
/usr/local/bzip2-1.0.6/bin/bzip2 -dc /root/aux-usr.local-10172010.
tar.bz2 | /usr/local/tar-1.12/bin/tar xvf –

  • Disable auto-login: rm /mac/sys/Login\ System\ Folder/Preferences/Autologin
  • Enable color (glorious color!) if possible in Control Panels > Monitors
  • Sharing files to your system over AppleTalk (won’t work over IP!) using netatalk:
    • Debian/Ubuntu: set “ATALKD_RUN=yes” in /etc/default/netatalk.
    • Uncomment the default info on the last line of /etc/netatalk/afpd.conf.  Make sure to remove “-noddp” and use either “-ddp” or “-transall” to use both DDP and IP. You also have to add “uams_clrtxt.so” to the -uamlist arguments to even be able to login from A/UX, and if you want Guest login you also need to add “uams_guest.so”.  Then restart: /net/init.d/netatalk restart and be prepared to wait.
  • Configure SSH
  • Get some fun apps and control panels

 

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