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Installing IBM PC XENIX 1.0 using 86Box

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Jay Logue edited this page Oct 19, 2022 · 4 revisions

The following instructions show how to install IBM PC XENIX 1.0 using the 86Box IBM PC Emulator (v3.7.1, build 4032). IBM PC XENIX 1.0 was a port of Xenix 3.0 created by Microsoft and IBM in 1984 for the IBM PC/AT model 5170.

A NOTE ABOUT XENIX VERSIONS : Xenix version numbering can be quite confusing to the uninitiated. The instructions given here apply specifically to IBM PC XENIX 1.0, which was a variant of Xenix 3.0 based on AT&T UNIX System III that ran only on the IBM PC/AT. Sometime after this version was released, SCO produced a series of follow-on Xenix releases that were based on AT&T UNIX System V. These releases, which ran on 8086, 286 and 386 systems, were titled XENIX System V. Confusingly, the later XENIX System V releases had version numbers which overlapped the numbers used by earlier releases. For example, SCO XENIX System V version 2.1.3 for 8086, was released after SCO XENIX 3.0 for the IBM PC. These intstructions do not apply to the later XENIX System V releases.

Hardware Limitations

Being very old software, IBM PC XENIX 1.0 places a number of limits on the type and configuration of the hardware it can be installed on. Specifically:

  • IBM PC XENIX 1.0 must be installed on a true IBM PC/AT compatible machine containing a 80286 processor. It will not work on original PC or XT systems (8088) or on later 386 systems.

  • The machine must be configured with an MDA video card (IBM or compatible), or a CGA video card in 80 column mode. The Xenix kernel will hang if used with an EGA adapter or a CGA card in 40-column mode.

  • The machine must be configured with at least one 1.2MB 5-1/4" floppy drive connected to the standard IBM PC/AT floppy controller.

  • The PC/AT BIOS must be configured with the correct floppy and hard drive types prior to installation.

Prerequisites

Installation Steps

  • Start 86box using a dedicated configuration file

  # 86box ibm-pc-xenix-1.0.cfg

  • Choose Tools > Settings and configure the emulated machine as follows:

    • Machine Type: 80286

    • Machine: [ISA] IBM AT

    • Memory: 512 KB (or up to 1MB)

    • Time synchronization: Disabled

    • Display Video: [ISA] MDA (or [ISA] Hercules)

    • Storage Controllers / HD Controller: [ISA16] WD1003 AT MFM/RLL Controller

    • Storage Controllers / FD Controller: Internal controller

    • Floppy Drives / Floppy Drive #1: 5.25” 1.2M (Turbo: Off, Check BPB: On)

    • Floppy Drives / Floppy Drive #2 thru #4: None

  • Under Settings / Hard Disks, select New and add a hard disk with the following configuration:

    • File name: ibm-pc-xenix-1.0-sys.img

    • Type: 20MB (CHS 615, 4, 17)

    • Bus: MFM/RLL

    • Channel: 0:0

    • Image Format: Raw image (.img)

  • Exit the Settings dialog and save the settings

  • Choose Media > Floppy 1 > Existing Image… and mount the IBM PC/AT Diagnostics floppy image.

  • Reboot the system and use the diagnostics software to configure the BIOS settings as follows (see here for instructions on using the IBM diagnostics disk):

    • Diskette Drive A - High Capacity(1.2MB)

    • Diskette Drive B - Not Installed

    • Fixed Disk Drive C - Type 2

    • Fixed Disk Drive D - Not Installed

    • Base memory size - 512KB

    • Expansion memory size - 0KB

    • Primary display is attached to: Monochrome Display Adapter

  • Choose Media > Floppy 1 > Existing Image… and mount the IBM Xenix Installation floppy image. Reboot the system.

  • When the installation floppy boots, the system should show the Xenix boot loader screen:

IBM PC XENIX 1.0 boot loader screen

  • At the boot loader prompt, run the /etc/badtrack program to initialize the bad track table on the system drive. When prompted to start the program, press ENTER. When prompted to enter additional bad tracks, press ENTER.

  : fd /etc/badtrack
* At the boot program prompt, start the Xenix installation process by loading and running the installation kernel. When prompted to start the program, press ENTER. 
  : fd /xenix.fd

  • Once the installation kernel has booted, the system should show the installer shell screen:

IBM PC XENIX 1.0 install shell screen

  • Run the hdinit program to initialize the system disk. After the initial warning message, press ENTER. When prompted ‘Are you ready to continue?’, press Y and ENTER.

  # hdinit

  • When prompted to ‘Enter the desired partition option’, choose option 1.

  • When prompted to ‘Enter printer option’, choose option 1.

  • When prompted to ‘Enter timezone’, choose the appropriate timezone name for your location.

  • Once the initial root filesystem has been constructed, the system will display the message 'XENIX SYSTEM INSTALLATION COMPLETE'

  • At the installer shell prompt (#), run the haltsys program to halt the system.

  # haltsys

  • Choose Media > Floppy 1 > Eject to remove the Installation disk and reboot the system.

  • At the boot loader prompt (:), press ENTER to boot Xenix from the system drive.

  • At the shell prompt (#), run the xinstall program (argument: base) to install the remainder of the operating system files.

  # xinstall base

  • When prompted for the ‘First diskette’, use the Media > Floppy 1 > Existing Image… option to mount the first OS files floppy image (base1) and then press Y and ENTER.

  • When prompted for the ‘Next diskette’, mount the sencond OS files floppy and press Y and ENTER. Do the same for the third floppy when prompted.

  • Once the third floppy has been installed, press N and ENTER to complete the installation process.

  • Choose Media > Floppy 1 > Eject to remove the final floppy image.

  • At the shell prompt (#), run the passwd program (argument: root) to set the root user password.

  # passwd root

  • Run haltsys to reboot the system.

  • If desired, choose Settings > Machine / Time synchronization: Enabled to enable automatic time synchornization with the host system. Note however that this option may result in an error if the system is booted with the IBM PC/AT Diagnostics floppy again.

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