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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.

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.
* 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
----

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
PLAN9.INI(8) 1)http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/8/plan9.ini
  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
  • Save or redo
System Instillation & Configuration
mouseport=ps2
monitor=vga
vgasize=800x600x1
ata1=irq=15
auido0=type=sb16 port=0x220 irq=7 dma=5
console=cga
bootfile=hd!1!/plan9/9dos
rootdir=/plan9
bootdisk=#H/hd1disk:63
Redo
Save
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
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 2)
/dev/hd2 3)
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.

Disk1 re-config note

  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

\PLAN9\B

  • b.com 4) - PC bootstrap program
Remove Disk1 then reboot.
C:\PLAN9\BD:\PLAN9\B
:!: 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)
Plan 9 Second Edition screen for: \PLAN9\B
File System Installation
File System Installation
1. Install 3 Diskette System to local drive 7)
2. Install CD-ROM to local drive 8) 9)
3a.Make a PC file server boot disk 10)
3b.Install CD-ROM to network file server 11)
4. Make this PC a CPU and Authentication server 12)
  • Sufficient disc space
File System Installation
1. Install 3 Diskette System to local drive
2. Install CD-ROM to local drive
Select an ATAPI drive to load the distribution from:
#H/atapi2disk
  • Insufficient disc space
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
There is insufficient disc space after the DOS partitions to install the system. You need to free 64718336 bytes. Press almost any key to continue…

CD-ROM

Load FreeDOS in Safe Mode to view the CD-ROM (plan9-2e.iso) at the E:\>. While at the C:\> type E: then press the Return key.
  Volume in drive E is PLAN 9 2ND
  
  Directory of E:\

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%

How to halt or shutdown

Halt or shutdown the system.

Commands
disk/kfscmd sync
disk/kfscmd halt
  • 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% 

D:\>

xCD-ROM Install
  • 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.
  • 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>

D:\>plan9\b

  D:\>
  D:\>plan9\b
  root is from (local, 9600, 19200, il)[local!#H/hd1fs]:
  user[none]: tor
  password:
  Welcome to Plan9.
  This is rc.
  term%

file transfer to C:\

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%

create a new user

  • 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.
/usr/tor/lib/first.window
/usr/tor/lib/profile
/usr/tor/bin/rc/8½start

/bin

art, art2pic - edit line-art
ART(1)http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/1/art
tweak - edit bitmap files, subfont files, face files, etc.
TWEAK(1)http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/1/tweak
Manual pages - Section 1: Plan 9
http://man.cat-v.org/plan_9_2nd_ed/1/

ISO image

Manual

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

toobnix.org

games/fireworks 14) lc -l /bin/games
Windowing system is 8½ which is closer to UNIX mux
1) , 9)
You must now configure the devices. Look at plan9.ini(8) in the manual to help understand the choices
2) , 3)
Create notes for further review of the menu selection.
4) , 13)
It is safer not to install the Extended Memory Manager before running b.com.
5)
The FreeDOS EDIT.EXE cursor is missing; C:\PLAN9\B.COM works.
6)
Try FreeDOS text editors C:\APPS\EMACS\EMACS.EXE or VIM.EXE.
7)
Create notes for further review of the demo install.
8)
Create notes for further review of the CD-ROM install.
10) , 11) , 12)
Not reviewed in this tutorial.
14)
Included the CD-ROM install.
playground/plan_9_second_edition.1672124652.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/12/27 07:04 by hc9