Plan 9 Second Edition

DRAFT: Plan 9 Second Edition from Bell Labs.

Tutorial [x] Guide [ ]

System CPU Execution Cap: 40%

• For educational and informational purposes only. Networking is not supported.
• You're stuck with this small [VirtualBox FreeDOS] screen [display resolution].
• VirtualBox display scale factor setting is available.

An asciidoc version of Plan 9 Second Edition.

== Install summary
 
=== Start a recent version of VirtualBox.
 
* Install FreeDOS from the FD13LIVE.iso with the default VirtualBox settings.
* Install FreeDOS with the default install.
 
* Initial virtual disk settings after the default FreeDOS install to C: (Device 1).
* Initial virtual disk settings after the FDISK (17 MB, PRI DOS, FAT16) D: partition (Device 0).
----
IDE Primary Device 1: freedos-13.vdi (Normal, 500.00 MB)
IDE  Secondary Device 0: freedos-13_1.vdi (Normal, 500.00 MB)
----
 
=== CD-ROM Install
 
==== The Plan 9 Second Edition CD-ROM (plan9-2e.iso) Install Target [D:] is the ~568 MB non-partitioned area after the previously partitioned 3% (17 MB, PRI DOS, FAT16) and formatted disk space:
 
* Managed/modified disk (Device 0; D:) setting:
 
----
$ VBoxManage showmediuminfo 'freedos-13_1.vdi'
Capacity:       500 MBytes
----
----
$ VBoxManage modifymedium 'freedos-13_1.vdi' --compact
$ VBoxManage modifymedium 'freedos-13_1.vdi' --resize 586
----
 
=== Demo Install
 
* Postpone the Demo install if completing the CD-ROM install.
 
==== The Plan 9 Second Edition Floppy Diskette (2-4) Install Target [C:] is the non-partitioned 25 MB area after the previously partitioned 95% (A, 500 MB, PRI DOS, FAT16) and formatted disk space:
 
* Managed/modified disk (Device 1; C:) setting:
----
$ VBoxManage showmediuminfo 'freedos-13.vdi'
Capacity:       500 MBytes
----
----
$ VBoxManage modifymedium 'freedos-13.vdi' --compact
$ VBoxManage modifymedium 'freedos-13.vdi' --resize 525
----
 
=== Run FreeDOS 1.3  in "Safe Mode" (press #3).
 
* 3 - Load FreeDOS low with some drivers (Safe Mode)
 
=== Review with FreeDOS and FDISK
 
----
C:\> fdisk
 
Do you want to use large disk (FAT 32) support (Y/N).[Y]?
Enter choice: [4]
 
"... Usage"
"... 95%"
 
"Total disk space is  525 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)"
 
Press Esc to continue
Press Esc to exit FDISK
 
C:\> d:
D:\> fdisk
 
Do you want to use large disk (FAT 32) support (Y/N).[Y]?
Enter choice: [5]
 
Enter Fixed Disk Drive Number (1-2).....[2]
 
"Current Fixed Disk Drive: 2"
 
Enter choice: [4]
 
"... Usage"
"... 3%"
 
"Total disk space is  565 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)"
 
Press Esc to continue
Press Esc to exit FDISK
 
D:\> 
----
 
=== Floppy Diskettes and README file
 
/ plan_9 / 2nd_edition / plan9.att.com / pcdist
http://doc.cat-v.org/plan_9/2nd_edition/plan9.att.com/pcdist/
 
    README
    disk1
    disk1.orig
    disk2.vd
    disk2.vd.orig
    disk3.vd
    disk3.vd.orig
    disk4.vd
    disk4.vd.orig
 
** Copy README, disk1, disk2.vd, disk3.vd, and disk4.vd to the VirtualBox host machine.
** disk1 (rename to disk1.img) is a boot-able diskette, and used to configure the C:\plan9\plan9.ini or D:\plan9\plan9.ini
** disk2.vd, disk3.vd, and disk4.vd are files that must be copied to new diskettes (disk2.img, disk3.img and disk4.img).
 
=== Notes:
 
* Create a blank floppy.img with VirtualBox, for use with FreeDOS:
** Floppy Drive Device 0:
** Choose/Create A Virtual Floppy Disk...
** Floppy Disk Selector (Popup)
** Create Disk Image (Icon)
** File Path: (rename the floppy.img as needed)
** Size: 1.44
** Format disk as FAT 12
 
* Create three copies of the new blank floppy.img (disk2.img, disk3.img, disk4.img):
* Copy  disk2.vd to the disk2.img
* Copy  disk3.vd to the disk3.img
* Copy  disk4.vd to the disk4.img
 
=== A VirtualBox host copy example:
----
$ sudo mkdir /media/floppy1/
$ sudo mount -o loop disk2.img /media/floppy1/
$ sudo cp disk2.vd /media/floppy1/disk2.vd
$ sudo umount /media/floppy1/
----
 
=== Final VirtualBox guest Configuration Results:
 
* General
----
Name: freedos-13
Operating System: DOS
----
* System
----
Base Memory: 32 MB
Execution Cap: 40%
Boot Order: Floppy, Optical, Hard Disk
Acceleration: VT-x/AMD-V, Nested Paging
----
* Display
----
Video Memory: 9 MB
Graphics Controller: VboxVGA
Remote Desktop Server: Disabled
Recording: Disabled
----
* Storage
----
Controller: Floppy
   Floppy Device 0: Empty
Controller: IDE
   IDE Primary Device 0: [Optical Drive] plan9-2e.iso (375.27 MB)
   IDE Primary Device 1: freedos-13.vdi (Normal, 525.00 MB)
   IDE  Secondary Device 0: freedos-13_1.vdi (Normal, 575.00 MB)
----
* Audio
----
Host Driver: PulseAudio
Controller: SoundBlaster 16
----
* Network
* USB
----
Disabled
----
* Shared folders
----
None
----
* Description
----
None
----
 
* VirtualBox - Bugs: High CPU usage of FreeDOS machine
http://wiki.freedos.org/wiki/index.php/VirtualBox_-_Bugs:_High_CPU_usage_of_FreeDOS_machine
 
* System (CPU usage adjustment)
----
Base Memory: 32 MB
Execution Cap: 40%
[ ]
----
 
=== Boot the FreeDOS VM with diskette disk1.img to configure C:\plan9\plan9.ini:
 
Plan 9 Second Edition Menu: "System Instillation & Configuration"
 
==== Menu
"Select a disc containing a FAT-based filesystem." [If the disc you want does not appear...]
"/dev/hd1"
"/dev/hd2"
 
** Select /dev/hd1 to configure the C:\plan9\plan9.ini
** Select /dev/hd2 to configure the D:\plan9\plan9.ini
 
* Remove the floppy diskette before restarting the FreeDOS VM.
 
* Install the Plan 9 Second Edition Demo.
 
----
C:\>plan9\b
----
 
Plan 9 Second Edition Menu: "File System Instillation"
 
** Select /dev/hd1 to configure the C:\plan9\plan9.ini
 
Select: "1. Install 3 Diskette System to local drive"
** (The following menu steps may require several attempts before the "3 Diskette System" is installed [in a familiar way], and configured, without interruption.)
 
** Make the newly installed Plan 9 the default (avoid this option initially)
** Reconfigure the system (possible)
** Exit to system (avoid this option)
** Reboot (possible)
 
** Remove the floppy diskette from the virtual drive before restarting.
 
=== "Reconfigure the system" by booting with diskette disk1.img after installing disk2.img, disk3.img, disk4.img, or the plan9-2e.iso, to a virtual hard disk drive storage device.
 
** Avoid "File System Installation"
** Select "An active Plan 9 system"
 
* Start the Plan 9 Second Edition Demo.
----
C:\>plan9\b
root is from (local, 9600, 19200, il)[local!#H/hd1fs]:
(press return/enter)
 
user[none]
(press return/enter)
----
----
/bin/dossrv 19 serving #s/dos
Start window system (y/n)?
(type y, then  press return/enter.)
----
----
[]
Welcome to Plan 9.
This is rc.
term%
----
 
* (type 'disk/kfscmd halt' in a terminal window, then  press return/enter to cleanly halt the system.)
 
Menu configuration note:
 
* Select /dev/hd1 to configure the C:\plan9\plan9.ini
 
** Example Second Edition demo /dev/hd1 plan9.ini:
----
mouseport=ps2
monitor=vga
vgasize=800x600x1
console=cga
 
bootfile=h!1
----
 
Disk1 re-config note:
 
* VGA setup
** 640x480x1
** vga - Basic monitor or laptop LCD
* Mouse type
** PS2
* Ethernet card
** None
* ATA (IDE) controller
** None
* SCSI controller
** None
* SoundBlaster
** None
* SoundBlaster CD-ROM
** None
* File system console
** CGA
* Save configuration
** Save
 
=== Display configuration
 
9.6. Advanced Display Configuration
http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09.html#adv-display-config
 
FreeDOS small screensize
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=9816
"You're stuck with this small screen."
 
B.COM(8)
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/8/b.com
 
PLAN9.INI(8)
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/8/plan9.ini
 
VGA(8)
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/8/vga
 
Notes:
 
Adding a monitor to vgadb
https://plan9.io/wiki/plan9/adding_a_monitor_to_vgadb/index.html
 
/usr/web/sources/patch/applied/vgadb_additions/vgadb.orig
https://plan9.io/sources/patch/applied/vgadb_additions/vgadb.orig
 
Kfs file system configuration
https://plan9.io/wiki/plan9/Kfs_file_system_configuration/index.html
 
Papers
PLAN 9 RELEASE 2 (1995)
https://plan9.io/wiki/plan9/papers/
 
=== ISO image
 
Plan 9 Foundation
https://plan9foundation.org/
 
FreeDOS Wiki
http://wiki.freedos.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
 
=== Manual
 
Manual Sections
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/
 
Manual pages - Section 8: system administration
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/8/
 
=== toobnix.org
----
games/fireworks
"Windowing system is 8 1/2 which is closer to UNIX mux"
 
Plan9 2nd Edition
https://toobnix.org/w/qwV29JnoE9HCNmBEZutRn4
----

• The default settings are suitable for educational and informational purposes.

1. Remove the instillation
2. Reconfigure the system
3. File System Installation

Select 2: “Reconfigure the system”

1. VGA setup
2. Mouse type
3. Ethernet card
4. ATA (IDE) controller
5. SCSI controller
6. SoundBlaster
7. SoundBlaster CD-ROM
8. File system console
9. Save configuration

• Save or redo

Another "Save Redo" configuration menu snippet

mouseport=ps2
monitor=vga
vgasize=640x480x1
console=cga
bootfile=hd!1!/plan9/9dos
rootdir=/plan9
bootdisk=#H/hd1disk:63

1. VGA setup
   • 640x480x1
   • vga - Basic monitor or laptop LCD
2. Mouse type
   • PS2
3. Ethernet card
   • None
4. ATA (IDE) controller
   • None
5. SCSI controller
   • None
6. SoundBlaster
   • None
7. SoundBlaster CD-ROM
   • None
8. File system console
   • CGA
9. Save configuration
   • Save

• b.com ⁴⁾ - PC bootstrap program

Run FreeDOS 1.3 in Safe Mode (press #3, if not press #4).

3 - Load FreeDOS low with some drivers (Safe Mode)

4 - Load FreeDOS without drivers (Emergency Mode) 5) 6)

• Sufficient disc space

• Insufficient disc space

  Volume in drive E is PLAN 9 2ND
  
  Directory of E:\

failure, with console snippets

[]
init: starting /bin/rc
controller not in /lib/vgadb
[]
/bin/dosserv 19: serving #s/dos
init: rc exit status: rc 8:false
 
init: starting /bin/rc
term%

Halt or shutdown the system.

• Demo install

 term%
 term% cd /
 term% lc readme
 readme
 term% grep halt readme
 To halt the system cleanly, type: disk/kfscmd halt
 term% disk/kfscmd halt
 kfs: file system halted

• CD-ROM install

 term% man kfscmd|grep halt
           halt      write all changed blocks and stop the file system.
 term% 

• Postpone the Demo install if completing the CD-ROM install.
• The user is tor until user files are added to the CD-ROM installed files.
  • A note about /usr/tor is located in the 2. Install CD-ROM to local drive section (external link).
• The Setting up a stand-alone machine section suggests that you should create a user name for yourself (external link).

  D:\PLAN9>more plan9.ini
  mouseport=ps2
  monitor=vga
  vgasize=800x600x1
  ata1=irq=15
  auido0=type=sb16 port=0x220 irq=7 dma=5
  console=cga
  
  bootfile=h!1
  D:\PLAN9>

From B.COM:

From FreeDOS:

  D:\>
  D:\>plan9\b

From B.COM:

  root is from (local, 9600, 19200, il)[local!#H/hd1fs]:
  user[none]: tor
  password:

From 8½ rc:

  Welcome to Plan9.
  This is rc.
  term%

Create the FreeDOS directory C:\FD9C

  term% cd /n/c:
  term% mkdir fd9c
  term% cd fd9c
  term% pwd
  /n/c:fd9c
  term%

  term% lc -l /bin/games >/n/c:fd9c/bingames.txt
  term% cd /n/c:/fd9c
  term% lc -l
  --rw-rw-rw- M 8 bill trog 699 Dec 15 05:52 bingames.txt
  term% cat bingames.txt
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  70817 Apr  5  1995 4s
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  73424 Apr  5  1995 5s
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  30113 Apr  5  1995 ana
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  66994 Apr  5  1995 catclock
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  52998 Apr  5  1995 clock
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  82700 Apr  5  1995 festoon
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  43496 Apr  5  1995 fireworks
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys 224453 Apr  5  1995 fsim
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  47330 Apr  5  1995 life
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  61145 Apr  5  1995 mandel
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys 123862 Apr  5  1995 plumb
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  98862 Apr  5  1995 road
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  61740 Apr  5  1995 smiley
  --rwxrwxr-x M 3 sys sys  78238 Apr  5  1995 swar
  term% pwd
  /n/c:/fd9c
  term%

From 8½ rc:

• Create user none (for the CD-ROM install).

  term% pwd
  /usr/tor
  term% lc ..
  tor
  term% /sys/lib/kfsuser none
  add user ’2:none:none:
  ’term% 

• Cause kfs to reread the /adm/users file.

  term% disk/kfscmd user
  term% pwd
  /usr/tor
  term% lc ..
  none tor

• Login as the new user and copy the mentioned files from /usr/tor.
• Even if you're planning to be the only person to use the machine, you should create a user name for yourself.
• Don't use [user] none, which has special meaning in Plan 9.

• The sequence for entering 8 1/2 on an IBM keyboard is 8-ALT-1-2.
• For educational and informational purposes only. Networking is not supported.