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Plan 9 Second Edition

DRAFT: Plan 9 Second Edition from Bell Labs.
Tutorial [x] Guide [ ]
  • 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.

Chronology

Date Release Comment
1992Plan 9 1st editionReleased by Bell Labs to universities
1995Plan 9 2nd editionReleased by Bell Labs for non-commercial purposes History
2000Plan 9 3rd ed. (Brazil)Released by Lucent Technologies under an open source license
2002Plan 9 4th editionReleased by Lucent Technologies under a new free software license
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.
 
==== 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:
 
* Initial virtual disk settings after the default FreeDOS install to C: (Device 1).
* Initial virtual disk settings after the FDISK (6 MB, PRI DOS, FAT12) 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)
----
 
* 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
----
 
==== The Plan 9 Second Edition CD-ROM (plan9-2e.iso) Install Target [D:] is the ~569 MB non-partitioned area after the previously partitioned 1% (6 MB, PRI DOS, FAT12) 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 575
----
 
=== 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"
"... 1%"
 
"Total disk space is  575 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:
* C:\plan9\plan9.ini can configure the demo system.
(limited VGA settings?)
* D:\plan9\plan9.ini can configure the full system.
(less limited VGA settings?)
 
* 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 (only):
 
* 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, 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 plan9-2e.iso to a virtual hard 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
----
 
* Select /dev/hd2 to configure the D:\plan9\plan9.ini
 
** Example Second Edition /dev/hd2 plan9.ini:
----
mouseport=ps2
monitor=vga
vgasize=1280x1024x8
console=cga
 
bootfile=h!2
----
 
=== 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
----

Disk1.img

disk1 (rename to disk1.img) is a boot-able diskette that is used to configure plan9.ini.
C:\plan9\plan9.ini/dev/hd1
D:\plan9\plan9.ini/dev/hd2
  • The default settings are suitable for educational and informational purposes.
Plan 9 Second Edition screen for: Disk1
“System Instillation & Configuration”
Plan 9 is already installed on the filesystem you selected in \plan9
  1. Remove the instillation
  2. Reconfigure the system
  3. File System Installation

Select 2: “Reconfigure the system”

You must enter information about all devices every time you use this menu to configure a device. This is not an editor; it makes a new PLAN9.INI file each time
  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
1. VGA setup
640x480x1
640x480x8
800x600x1
800x600x8
1024x768x1
1024x768x8
1280x768x8
1376x1024x8
Continue the VGA setup
vga - Basic monitor or laptop LCD
multisync65 - Video bandwith up to 65MHz
multisync75 - Video bandwith up to 75MHz
multisync135 - Video bandwith up to 135MHz
2. Mouse type
COM1
COM2
PS2
3. Ethernet card
None
NE2000 - this card comes with Gateway & TI laptops
NE4100 - The National/IBM PCMCIA ethernet
WD8003 - includes SMC Elites & WD8013-based cards
3C509 - the 3COM ISA/EISA/PCI 10Mbps card
3C589 - the 3COM PCMCIA card
4. ATA (IDE) controller
None
secondary - Port 0x170
teritary - Port 0x1E8
quarternary - Port 0x168
5. SCSI controller
None
aha1542 - Adaptec 154x[BC]
bus745 - Buslogic 7[45]7[SD]
ultra14f - Ultrastor [13]4f
bus4201 - Buslogic 7[45]7[SD] in 32-bit mode
6. SoundBlaster
None
Port 0x220
Port 0x240
Port 0x260
Port 0x280
7. SoundBlaster CD-ROM
None
panasonic
matsushita
mitsumi
ATAPI (IDE)
8. File system console
None
CGA
COM1
COM2
9. Save configuration
Redo
Save
A "9. Save configuration" Redo Save menu snippet
mouseport=ps2
monitor=vga
vgasize=640x480x1
console=cga
bootfile=hd!1!/plan9/9dos
rootdir=/plan9
bootdisk=#H/hd1disk:63
Pick which configuration will boot by default. This can be overridden by supplying an argument to \PLAN9\B.
Menu
File System Installation
An active Plan 9 System
Choose the boot partition to mark as the active system.
Menu
/dev/hd1
/dev/hd2
Press the Esc key to see what happens.
Reconfiguration complete. Remove the boot floppy and press any key to reboot, allowing the new configuration to come into effect.
When you return to DOS, restart Plan 9 by typing PLAN9\B at the DOS prompt.

\PLAN9\B

  • b.com - PC bootstrap program
Remove Disk1 then reboot.
C:\PLAN9\BD:\PLAN9\B
Run FreeDOS 1.3 in Safe Mode (press #3).
3 - Load FreeDOS low with some drivers (Safe Mode)
Plan 9 Second Edition screen for: \PLAN9\B
“File System Installation”
File System Installation
1. Install 3 Diskette System to local drive
2. Install CD-ROM to local drive
3a.Make a PC file server boot disk
3b.Install CD-ROM to network file server
4. Make this PC a CPU and Authentication server

System console

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%
 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

ISO image

Manual

Manual pages - Section 8: system administration
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/8/

toobnix.org

games/fireworks
Windowing system is 8½ which is closer to UNIX mux
playground/plan_9_second_edition.1664261618.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/09/27 06:53 by hc9