IBM Xenix 2.0 setup on 86Box

IBM Xenix 2.0 setup.md

IBM Xenix 2.0 setup

Important

This setup requires emulating via 86Box/PCem

Important

This setup is specifically for the IBM version of Xenix. Not the SCO distribution

Machine configuration

• Machine: IBM AT
• CPU: 80286, increase frequency as you like
  • Xenix 2.0 supports 286 ONLY
• FPU: (Optional) 287
• Memory: 512K
• Time synchronization: Disabled
• Graphics: CGA
• Keyboard: AT
• Mouse, Sound, Network: None
• Hard drive controller: PC/AT IDE Controller
• Floppy controller: Internal
• Hard disk: 615C, 4H, 17S, 20MiB
  • IBM AT is very picky about hard drive types, for more types see https://www.pcjs.org/machines/pcx86/ibm/hdc/
• Floopy: 5.25" 1.2M
• ISA Memory Expanasion (Optional): IBM PC/AT Memory Expansion
  • Size: 1024 or above
• Post card: (Optional)

Initial BIOS configuration

Note

You need an IBM PC AT Diagnostics floppy for BIOS configuration. IBM AT PC does not offer BIOS configuration in ROM

Tip

Your floppy (360k) may not match the size of the drive (1.2M). Don't worry. No need to swap floppy drives

1. Boot with the the diagnostics floppy
2. The machine should warn you about running setup. Press F1
3. Follow the instructions on the screen
   • The configuration should match the ones in your machine configuration
   • For hard disk type, choose 2 if you are following the above machine configuration exactly
   • Choose 80 column mode
4. Reboot and swap to the Xenix install floppy

Initialize hard drive

Caution

The install disk has to be mounted as read/write or it will fail to boot properly

1. Mount the install disk as read/write
2. At the boot prompt

   > fd /etc/badtrack
   

3. Follow the on screen instructions
4. When it asks for additional bad tracks and cylinder, simply press enter without entering anything
5. Reboot

Maintenance mode install

1. At the boot prompt

   > fd /xenix.fd
   

2. You should be dropped into the maintenance shell
3. Run the following to start install

   # hdinit
   

4. Follow the on screen instruction
5. Once everything is done. Type haltsys to shutdown
6. Remove the floppy and reboot

Second stage install

Note

At this point, you have only installed the maintenace mode. Therefore, you only get a very small set of applications.

1. At the boot prompt

   > hd /xenix
   

2. You should be dropped into the maintenance shell, but this time from the hard drive. Run the following to start the second stage install

   # /etc/xinstall
   

3. Choose 1 for new install of base package
4. It should now prompt for floppys. Insert them one by one and let it copy
5. (Optional) Install the SDK (C compilers, libraries, make) the same as step 4
6. Once you are done, press n to exit the utility
7. Reboot with haltsys

First boot and user configuration

1. Simply use the default boot prompt and press Enter
2. Press Ctrl-D to continue normal boot. Do not enter maintenance mode
3. Login as root (no password)
4. Run the following to create a new user

   # mkuser
   

5. Follow the on screen instructions
6. Type exit and login as the user you created earlier

Final notes

• If you wish to enter maintenance mode again, simply enter the root password when it asks.
  • If you never set a root password, simply press Enter
• Shutdown the system with haltsys when you are in maintenance mode
• Shutdown the system with shutdown 0 when you are in normal mode
  • Running shutdown under su is not supported. You must login as root.
• Under maintenance mode, /usr is not mounted. You can mount it manually from the device /dev/usr if needed.
• Obviously IBM AT is not immune to Y2K problems. Don't set the date close to 1999 or beyond.
• The old Unix convention is to put user directories under /usr, /home was only added in late 80s.