It has been a while since I setup networking on simh, so bear with me...

1) OK, so download the #netbsd #vax iso from https://cdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-10.0/images/
2) Create a #simh config file, with two virtual RA92 disks (In reality each 32kg of sharp cornered finger crushing metalwork), 512MB of memory & link to the ISO

set cpu 512m
set rq0 ra92
at rq0 /opt/vm/netbsd-10-vax.ra92
set rq1 ra92
at rq1 /opt/vm/netbsd-10-vax-pkgsrc.ra92
set rq2 cdrom
at rq2 /opt/vm/NetBSD-10.0-vax.iso
at xq0 tap:tap0
boot cpu

/3

#pkgsrc has no fewer than three different #simh packages. Lets pick #opensimh, because... it would take too long to explain (I also prefer my drama in non functional code and blinkenlights rather than human interactions)

With the config from the previous toot in netbsd-10.simh, the ISO in place, and permission and space to create the ra92 files, lets try "simh-vax netbsd-10.simh" and ... a complaint about the networking (oops, we'll come back to that), creating files and attaching and

/4

This... is the point I confess I forgot the DEC VAX device naming and had to faff a little while before I tried "SHOW DEV" which reminded me of DUA2 for the third device on the UQSSP Disk Controller (ahem)

/5

So, a quick "b dua2", entering "xterm" as a terminal type, and we have an install screen:

Apparently #NetBSD/#vax 10.0 running in an xterm in simh is unable to display French correctly. Fortunately I am not in Canada, so I am not required to stop the world until this is resolved (tempting though that yak may be to shave)

I'm just going to try to hammer through the defaults for everything and report back

/6

NetBSD/vax simh install continued...

This... is certainly faster than a real vax (filesystems all built and base.tgz extracting).

Still, time for a refreshing cup of tea. (American viewers may wish to follow along by putting a teabag in a cup of water into a microwave, heating it for two minutes, then pouring it away and buying a kettle or Breville One Cup)

[Yes, I'm aware of fine American Teas, but like excellent Chocolatiers, they are... not as common as they could be]

/7

The install of #netbsd/#vax is... done?

but... where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an Earth-Shattering Kaboom!?

(Have to go collect someone, will return to actually try to configure the host tap network and reboot a little later)

/8

OK, so we have an installed #simh #netbsd #vax, lets setup a useful tap0 on the host:

% cat /etc/ifconfig.bridge0:
create
!/sbin/ifconfig tap0 create
!/sbin/brconfig $int add bge1 add tap0 up

"boot dua0" from simh this time, wait f.o.r.e.v.e.r for fontconfig on the first boot, mount an nfs exported pkgsrc from the host, a good sized /var/obj and we're ready to build

/9

This #dillo build on #netbsd #vax could take a while (if it works)

We'll need to build at least:
- perl
- wget
- jpeg
- png
- fltk
- digest
- mktools
- automake
- autoconf
- gmake
- cwrappers
- checkperms
- x11-links

*wince*

OK, no time like the present, though if it builds, it will be a very different present

So, can everyone please go about the business of the world for ${time}, though if the most performatively awful among you could try to just... not... for a while, that would help

/10