Opensource PPC emulation for Linux x86

[tormedhammaren]

@Karlos:

You sure? I keep seeing references to someone called Gwenole...

Yes, Bauer still maintains this project (at least 2.2). If you extract the archive and read SheepShaver-2.2/doc/Linux/contact.html the names of the authors are listed:

SheepShaver was brought to you by:
  *  Christian Bauer (kernel, disk I/O)
  *  Marc Hellwig (graphics, sound, networking)

[Argo]

Well, I think this should stay in the Forums for the moment. I've looked around and couldn't find anthing specifially about or from the author about it. Though I did find these nuggets of joy.

http://www.bebits.com/app/2103/

http://www.uni-mainz.de/~bauec002/

[Karlos]

@Argo

:lol: Just followed the second link. Not the cheeriest looking feller, is he?

[falemagn]

I wonder what the AROS x86 crowd will make of it?

Probably the same use we make of VMWare/Bochs ;-)

BTW, those this emulator emulate also the MMU? Does it run linux? Never mind, I'll check that myself...

[nyteschayde]

From what I understand, Gwenole is the author of the PowerPC emulation and he's ported SheepShaver from BePPC to Linux x86. I may be wrong but thats what I understood.

I think Christian Bauer is in the picture due to previous efforts with SheepShaver on BePPC. And I believe he is trying to integrate Gwenole's code into Basilisk II.

But I may have that all backwards. Some places that are good to check out on this subject are here.

I managed to get this up and running under Mandrake Linux under VPC on WindowsXP. It was fast enough to run at a speed that allowed me move the windows around well enough. I tried to install Warcraft II, since I doubt the emulator's graphics are going to be real speedy, but VirtualPC crashed.

I used a 4MB ROM image, which is required, from a PowerMac 8500. All things considered I am actually surprised it ran that well since I was running an unoptimized emulator in an unoptimized emulator running an OS that is not officially supported.

The only thing that bothers me is now I have to rearrange, repartition and install linux on my machine for real so I can see how fast it can really go.

Talk to you all later

[Karlos]

I'm pretty sure it doesnt do MMU emulation ;-)

[gnarly]

Anyhow, some feller has apparently got a working PowerPC emulation for linux x86, discussion here, called SheepShaver

Blimey, he kept working on it after all! I remember Christian Bauer mentioned it on his home page aeons ago, then sheepshaver.com popped up years ago, then faded into the ether. I'd completely forgotted about it...

[lempkee]

sounds too stupid to be true...

[bloodline]

lempkee wrote:
sounds too stupid to be true...

Stupid? Surely you mean interesting... Sounds too interesting to be true.

[Karlos]

lempkee wrote:
sounds too stupid to be true...

It looks real enough from the source code...

[dammy]

by lempkee on 2003/12/18 9:06:38

sounds too stupid to be true...

Let me guess, your going to Whoville for a late Christmas Even dinner?  :-D

Dammy

[nyteschayde]

Its real enough. I am pretty much the skeptic but I got it running OS 8.5 which is PowerPC only. That was proof enough for me.

There are also several screen shots. Its not perfect and I can get it to crash but it works nonetheless. And Karlos you're right. Gwenole even states that it currently is not emulating the mmu.

[bloodline]

nyteschayde wrote:
Its real enough. I am pretty much the skeptic but I got it running OS 8.5 which is PowerPC only. That was proof enough for me.

There are also several screen shots. Its not perfect and I can get it to crash but it works nonetheless. And Karlos you're right. Gwenole even states that it currently is not emulating the mmu.

Implying they plan to emulate it?

[Karlos]

@bloodline

That's an extremely tall order. Still, not long ago I said that about basic user model PPC emulation anyway, so you never know ;-)