Brief introduction to PC-98

OContents

OWhat is PC-98?
OFreeBSD(98) project
ORelase mechanism
OHow to contact with us?
ORelated Servers

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OWhat is PC-98?

NEC PC-98 and its compatible machines are Intel x86 based personal computers which are common in Japan. The word `PC-98' includes PC-9801, PC-9821, H98, and its compatible, which was made by Seiko-EPSON.

Some part of PC-98 architecture is similar to that of IBM-PC: both of them have 640KB conventional RAM, Intel CPU, µPD 765 FDC, i8237 DMAC, i82591 PIC, and so on. The 16-bit bus of PC-98 (C-bus) is similar to ISA-bus on IBM-PC. However, PC-98 is different in many parts of hardware stuff and BIOS I/F from IBM-PC: I/O port address assign, graphic system, wd33c93 based SCSI card, and so on. Hardware and BIOS architecure is described else where.

FreeBSD has been ported to PC-98 machine by FreeBSD(98) porting team since 1994. FreeBSD(98), which means `FreeBSD for PC98' may become most common free UNIX system like OS for PC-98 in Japan.

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OFreeBSD(98) Project

PC-98 specific part of FreeBSD is developed by FreeBSD(98) porting team with support by FreeBSD(98) beta tester group. FreeBSD(98) porting team has their technical mailing list, `FreeBSD98-hackers.' We discuss new feature there before disclosing it. After well consideration by FreeBSD(98) developer, new code is brought into CVS repository on freefall.FreeBSD.ORG.

Our slogan is `Same As IBM-PC', that is, we are always trying to keep similarity of FreeBSD(98) to FreeBSD. This sometimes applied to bug, but we can share bug information, too.

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ORelease mechanism

FreeBSD(98) is released by FreeBDS(98) porting team separated from IBM-PC version by FreeBSD core team.

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OHow to contact with us?

We have two mailing list. FreeBSD98-hackers is an internal mailing list for use by the FreeBSD(98) porting team members. This mailing list would accept any techincal comment, suggestion and bug report but its member will not provide an answer for `How To' question. `How to' question should be submitted to suitable mailing lists (e.g. FreeBSD-questions, and FreeBSD-users-jp).

We don't have enough time to answer How-To question, sorry.

FreeBSD98-core is also an internal mailing list for use of non-technical but important subject (e.g., donation and hardware contribution).

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ORelated Servers

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