About NetBSD/mac68k
NetBSD/mac68k is the port of NetBSD to Apple Macintosh computers that utilize the Motorola 68k-series processor. It should run on most Macintoshes with a 68040 or 68030 processor, and on Macs with a 68020 processor (provided that they also have a 68851 PMMU). For Macs using the PowerPC processor, please take a look at NetBSD/macppc.
The mac68k port was originally known as MacBSD. It began as a port of the Berkeley Networking Release 2 (more commonly known as Net/2) with 386BSD-0.1 filling in the cracks. This was running in a basic form in the late spring of 1992. About that time, it became obvious that 386BSD was a dead end, and NetBSD looked like the way to go. The initial NetBSD merge was into the 0.8 released sources. The first formal release of NetBSD/mac68k was as a part of NetBSD 1.0. NetBSD/mac68k was the first free OS to run on a 680x0-based Macintosh, and currently supports more of these systems than any free OS.
Development activity on NetBSD/mac68k continues at its usual pace (in other words, when the volunteers find time). Much progress has been made, however, and most desktop systems can boot to a usable state.
Release Info
- NetBSD/mac68k 10.0 via download
- NetBSD/mac68k 10.0 ISO
- NetBSD/mac68k 10.0 INSTALL notes
- NetBSD/mac68k 10.0 pre-built binary packages from pkgsrc
- NetBSD/mac68k 10.0 changes
- NetBSD/mac68k 11.0 changes
Mailing List
The NetBSD/mac68k mailing list, covering NetBSD's port to mac68k machine: [ subscribe | archive ]
Mail the NetBSD/mac68k port maintainer
Supported Hardware
- Mac II, IIx, IIcx, SE/30
- Mac IIci
- Mac IIsi, IIvx, IIvi
- Performa 400/405/410/430, 450, 460/466/467
- LC/Performa 520, 550/560
- Performa 600/600CD
- MacTV
- LC II, III, III+
- Classic II
- Color Classic
- Centris 650
- Quadra 700
- Quadra 610, 650, 800
- Quadra/Centris 660AV
- Quadra 840AV
- Quadra 630
- Centris 610[1]
- Quadra 610 DOS[1]
- Quadra 605[1]
- LC 475, Performa 475/476[1]
- LC 575, Performa 575/577/578[1]
- LC 580, Performa 580/588[1]
- LC 630/630 DOS, Performa 630/631/635/636/637/638[1]
- Performa 640 DOS[1]
- PowerBook 170
- PowerBook 160/165/180
- PowerBook 550c
[1]System is based on the Motorola 68LC040 and FPU functions are not yet fully supported.
Additional Info
- NetBSD/mac68k Meta-FAQ
- BSD/mac68k Booter Manual
- NetBSD/mac68k Supported hardware
- History of NetBSD/mac68k
- Matthew Theobald's NetBSD/mac68k Installation Guide
- Illustrated Installation Walkthrough by Erik Winkler