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A/UX (from Apple Unix) was Apple Computer's implementation of the Unix operating system for some of their Macintosh computers. The later versions of A/UX ran on the Macintosh II, Quadra and Centris series of machines as well as the SE/30. A/UX was first released in 1988, with the final version (3.1.1) released in 1995. A/UX required a 68k-based Macintosh with an FPU and a paged memory management unit (PMMU).
The operating system was based on UNIX System V Release 2.2, with some additional features from System V Releases 3 and 4, and 4.2 and 4.3 BSD. It was POSIX and System V Interface Definition (SVID) compliant and included TCP/IP networking from version 2 onward. There were rumors of a later version using OSF/1 as its primary code base, but this system was never released to the public, if it even existed.
Features
A/UX 3.x provided a graphical user interface with the familiar Finder windows, menus, and controls. The A/UX Finder was not the same program as the Mac OS 7 Finder, but a customized version adapted to run as a Unix process and designed to interact with the Unix kernel and file systems. A/UX 3.x also included a CommandShell terminal program, which offered a command line interface to the underlying Unix system, a feature which had never been available on Macintosh computers running the classic Mac OS Finder. An X Window System server application (called MacX) with a terminal program could also be used to interface with the system and run X applications directly in the Finder. Alternatively, the user could choose to run a full X11R4 session without the Finder.
By including a compatibility layer, A/UX could run Macintosh OS 7.0.1, Unix, and "hybrid" applications. A hybrid application used both Macintosh and Unix system functions: for example, a Macintosh application which called Unix system functions, or a Unix application which called Macintosh Toolbox (e.g. QuickDraw) functions. The compatibility layer used some existing Toolbox functions in the computer's ROM, while other function calls were translated into native Unix system calls.
A/UX included a utility called Commando (similar to a tool of the same name included with MPW) to assist users with entering Unix commands. Opening a Unix executable file from the Finder would open a dialog box that allowed the user to choose command-line options for the program using standard controls such as radio buttons and check boxes, and display the resulting command line argument for the user before executing the command or program. This feature was intended to ease the learning curve for users new to Unix, and decrease the user's reliance on the Unix manual.
Decline
Unfortunately for Apple and for A/UX users, the Unix niche was a costly business in the early 1990s. The last version of A/UX, 3.1.1, was released in 1995. A/UX ran only on 68k Apple machines with a floating point unit (FPU) and a paged memory management unit (PMMU).[1] Apple never ported A/UX to PowerPC Macintoshes (though A/UX 4.0 was rumored to have been an OSF/1 adaptation), and the company all but abandoned it by 1996, preferring to use a slightly modified version of IBM's AIX system on their mid-90s Apple Network Servers. After Steve Jobs returned to Apple, another Unix-like operating system was introduced in the form of Mac OS X, but it had very little in common with A/UX, instead being based on the BSD-derived NeXTSTEP.
A/UX users had one central source for most A/UX applications, a server at NASA called "Jagubox" administered by Jim Jagielski, who was also the editor of the A/UX FAQ. Although Jagubox is down, some mirrors are still maintained. Aside from a few isolated servers still running it, A/UX is essentially extinct, and is considered to be abandonware.
(from Wikipedia)
More at: http://www.aux-penelope.com/
Compatibility
Comments
I added disk images from the mirror website and an install disk that works in Shoebill (a new Macintosh Emulator: https://github.com/pruten/shoebill )
People were asking the same question 10 years ago. It's quicker to just buy an old Mac.
I just added another animated gif. This time of the about screen for the A/UX Startup app that launches A/UX from the Mac OS 7.1 boot system.
Edit: Changed 'xxx 7' to 'Mac OS 7' - IIGS User
I wonder that the MESS emulator will have the MMU emulation for Mac configuration soon.
I've no way to capture video from a SE/30 but the install process is documented pretty well here (and in colour).
Awesome, Protocol 7. How about the installation videos?
I have 3.0.2 running on my SE/30 so I took a bunch of screenshots earlier and uploaded an animated gif showing the boot sequence and some desktop shots.
I just checked my copy of the 3.1 update and it's the same bad image.
Mini vMac still needs PMMU emulation to get written down, but the newest build goes on to make it happen.
I have created a disk image of the updates from the recovery cd. I haven't tried it yet as I am still figuring out how to transfer everything to my Centris 650. As soon as I test it and verify it works I'll post a link to it.
According to aux.penolope.com/aux_3.0.htm the 3.1 update image provided here has a corrupt file on it. It will mount and try and install but won't work because the touchsec file in it is corrupt. I verified the size and md5sum of the one included here and it is the one on the aforementioned website.
I think there is a way to bypass it. If you copy the files to the hard drive and replace the file with an empty one you can get it to install. I haven't been able to find the site where I saw this so it may be wrong. I'll try and find out.
Mini vmac is working a MacII port that will run this (or a/ux 2.
http://minivmac.sourceforge.net/
Anyone know of an emulator that might be capable of running this?
I do know that Basilisk lacks the PMMU emulation, and therefore cannot run it.
I changed the link to an ftp server with AUX3
i don't dont have any of the CD cartridges for the drive and i don't want to pay $6.00 for two of them i want them for free and free shipping
This torrent is actively seeded and includes the A/UX installers (and a lot more):
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5043702/Apple_Legacy_Software_Recovery_CD
No, it doesn't work on any AV Mac and it can't be emulated from Basilisk II because it needs to access hardware. You can run Linux/mac68k on that machine, though.
never mind it won't work on a Quadra 660av