[indiana-discuss] Feedback requested! Which SPARC platforms to target first...

[James Cornell]

Jennifer Pioch wrote:
> On 10/8/08, Tim Cramer <Timothy.Cramer at sun.com> wrote:
>   
>> All,
>>    We're beginning work on getting a SPARC version of the OpenSolaris
>>  distro from Sun.  This version will target Q1 of CY '09 (hopefully early
>>  Q1).
>>     Although when doing a port much of this code will simply work on a
>>  number of SPARC hardware configs, we're going to make sure we focus on a
>>  couple (1 or 2) configurations/architectures as we get our first cut
>>  ready (and we'll expand/test on more configs over time).
>>     The 2 questions I have:
>>
>>  1. As a developer, which SPARC configuration would you be able/willing
>>  to utilize for creating applications?  Do you have old SPARC machines
>>  that you would repurpose for this?
>>     
>
> As a student the only affordable machine is a Sun Ultra 10, 512MB,
> Creator 3D from ebay.de. Or support cross compile of ON on x86 for
> SPARC. University Frankfurt is a very large university but finding a
> fast SPARC to conduct ON development is impossible, even here
>
>   
>> Or would you prefer to target some
>>  of the later offerings?  Would the non-existence of a liveCD hamper you
>>  (i.e. what if we could only use the automated installer to install the
>>  bits)?
>>     
>
> Yes, this would hamper me
>
>   
>> Do you absolutely need graphics capability (i.e. do you need a
>>  desktop environment or would just using compilers be ok for the first cut)?
>>     
>
> Yes, I need the graphics capability to run KDE (or GNOME if no KDE is installed)
>
>   
>>  2. As a deployer, which SPARC configuration would you believe we could
>>  target for applications/packages in the repository?   Mostly looking for
>>  old vs. new machine question above.
>>     
>
> Sun Ultra 10 with 512MB, Creator 3D
>
> Jenny
>   
Ultra 2 with 1GB ram and Creator 3D may also be an option.  4 years ago
I got mine off ebay for about $169 USD.

James