[Qemu-devel] IBM makes AIX 6 beta available for download for everyone

[Martin]

IBM opened up a little bit and makes the beta of AIX 6 available to anyone.
Maybe this is an opportunity to get AIX running on QEMU.

At the moment QEMU does not yet understand the AIX cd boot format.
I tried to boot it using the -kernel option b
I tried to boot it in the following ways, but that doesn't work yet (as 
expected)
qemu-system-ppc -m prep -cdrom cd.AIX_6_OpenBeta.0723C1.V1.ISO -boot d

sudo mount -o loop cd.AIX_6_OpenBeta.0723C1.V1.ISO /mnt/loop
qemu-system-ppc -M prep  -kernel /mnt/loop/ppc/chrp/bootfile.exe

The -kernel option is meant for linux kernels but I hoped it would take an AIX 
kernel too.

You can download the AIX 6 beta from:
http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/aix/6/beta.html
(free registration required)

> Open beta now available
> 
> The open beta for AIX® 6 is now available. 
> Go to https://www14.software.ibm.com/iwm/web/cc/earlyprograms/ibm/aix6beta/
> for more information and to download the beta code.
> 
> Overview
> 
> Openness, such as compliance with open standards, has always been an integral 
> part of the AIX operating system (OS). The next release of AIX, Version 6.1, 
> extends this openness to the product release process with the first ever AIX 
> open beta. The open beta will allow a broad set of IBM clients to download 
> and gain experience with AIX 6 before it becomes generally available.
> 
> An "open" beta for the next AIX release differs from the traditional beta in 
> three key areas:
> 
>     * Almost anyone who is interested will be able to download and install a 
> pre-release version of AIX 6. By contrast, only a few clients would have the 
> opportunity to test a new AIX release in a traditional beta.
>     * Participants in the open beta will not receive traditional support from 
> IBM. Instead, you access a Web forum to discuss questions and issues.
>     * The only legal document required for participation in the open beta is 
> a "click to accept" license agreement that clearly states all program 
> conditions.