The blog post details the integration of a limited, pre-C89 compliant TCP/IP stack into the PRO/VENIX operating system using Slirp-CK, a small footprint networking library. This allows PRO/VENIX, a vintage Unix-like system, to connect to modern networks for tasks like downloading files. The implementation focuses on simplicity and compatibility with the system's older C compiler, intentionally avoiding more complex and modern networking features. While functional, the author acknowledges its limitations and describes it as "barely adequate," prioritizing the demonstration of networking capability over robust performance or complete standards compliance.
This blog post details the author's endeavor to implement a functional, albeit rudimentary, TCP/IP stack on the PRO/VENIX operating system, specifically targeting a pre-C89 standard compliant environment. Recognizing the limitations imposed by this older C standard, the author opted to utilize Slirp-CK, a compact and portable TCP/IP stack emulator designed for embedded systems. Slirp-CK itself is a fork of the popular Slirp user-mode networking project, chosen for its smaller footprint and compatibility with resource-constrained systems. The author emphasizes the "barely adequate" nature of the implementation, prioritizing functionality over performance or completeness.
The post walks through the process of integrating Slirp-CK with PRO/VENIX, outlining the necessary modifications and configurations. This involves adapting Slirp-CK's build process to conform to the pre-C89 compiler and linker toolchain available on PRO/VENIX. The author highlights specific challenges encountered during this adaptation, such as dealing with differences in header file availability and the absence of standard library functions present in later C revisions. These challenges necessitated modifications to both Slirp-CK's source code and the PRO/VENIX build environment.
The author's primary objective was to enable basic network connectivity within the PRO/VENIX environment, allowing for tasks such as transferring files via FTP or accessing remote systems through Telnet. While acknowledging that the resulting implementation lacks the performance and feature richness of modern TCP/IP stacks, the author considers it a successful proof-of-concept, demonstrating the feasibility of network communication even on a system as constrained as PRO/VENIX. The post concludes with a brief demonstration of the implemented stack, showcasing its ability to handle simple network operations. It also subtly hints at the possibility of future improvements and enhancements to the integration, although no concrete plans are outlined.
Summary of Comments ( 2 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43741849
Hacker News users discuss the blog post about porting a TCP/IP stack (Slirp-CK) to the PRO/VENIX operating system. Several commenters express excitement and nostalgia for PRO/VENIX, sharing personal anecdotes about using it in the past. Some question the practical use cases, while others suggest potential applications like retro gaming or historical preservation. The technical details of the porting process are discussed, including the challenges of working with older hardware and software limitations. There's a general appreciation for the effort involved in preserving and expanding the capabilities of vintage systems. A few users mention interest in contributing to the project or exploring similar endeavors with other older operating systems.
The Hacker News post titled "Let's give PRO/VENIX a barely adequate, pre-C89 TCP/IP stack, featuring Slirp-CK" sparked a small but interesting discussion with a few compelling points.
One commenter expressed excitement about the project, particularly the use of Slirp-CK and its potential to bring TCP/IP networking to older systems. They also raised the question of whether this implementation could be adapted to other historical operating systems, specifically mentioning DEC RT-11/TSX, which predates even PRO/VENIX. This comment highlights the wider implications of the project beyond just PRO/VENIX and the potential interest in networking capabilities for vintage systems.
Another commenter, seemingly familiar with PRO/VENIX, discussed the challenges of running TCP/IP on the system due to its limited resources. They pointed out that while the original PRO/VENIX could technically run TCP/IP, it struggled to do much beyond basic telnet and FTP. They mentioned that later versions of PRO/VENIX, running on more powerful hardware like the 80386, were better suited for networking. This comment provides valuable context about the historical challenges of running TCP/IP on resource-constrained systems like the original PRO/VENIX.
The discussion also touched upon the practical limitations of using older hardware. One commenter mentioned the scarcity of suitable hardware, such as PDP-11 systems with working Ethernet controllers, and the difficulty of maintaining such systems. This practical consideration underscores the challenges involved in reviving and working with these older technologies, even with advancements like the Slirp-CK implementation.
Finally, a commenter shared a personal anecdote about their experience working with a PDP-11/70 running BSD UNIX in the late 1980s, noting the significant performance limitations even on that relatively powerful hardware compared to modern systems. This comment reinforces the point about the resource constraints of older systems and provides a historical perspective on the evolution of networking performance.
While the number of comments is limited, they provide valuable insights into the challenges and potential benefits of bringing modern networking capabilities to vintage operating systems like PRO/VENIX. They highlight the enthusiasm for such projects, the practical limitations of older hardware, and the historical context surrounding the development of TCP/IP on resource-constrained systems.