[Suns-at-Home] Ultra60 with Expert 3DLite and PS/2 mouse - best OS?

[n2vip@verizon.net]

>From: D G Teed <donald.teed@gmail.com>
>Date: 2008/01/26 Sat AM 08:19:21 CST
>To: suns-at-home <suns-at-home@net-kitchen.com>
>Subject: [Suns-at-Home] Ultra60 with Expert 3DLite and PS/2 mouse - best OS?

>I have an Ultra 60 set up with what is probably the best
>configuration of hardware for using it as a desktop.
>
>2GB RAM, Expert 3D Lite PCI video (VGA), dual 450 Mhz,
>and 2 10K 36GB drives.

That is a fine setup...

>I have a Startech KVM which supports the mouse wheel on PS/2
>fine in other operating systems than Solaris.  The PS/2
>also works pretty good in Solaris on my Ultra 60, except
>for the middle mouse button.

I don't think the mouse wheel makes any difference to the KVM - most KVMs 
simply pass on to the selected computer whatever the mouse presents it with, 
AFAIK.

>I had hoped to use Solaris as the desktop and get the
>performance of the Expert 3D video, which isn't supported
>in Linux, NetBSD.

I think the cards are supported, but there is no performance benefit...

>But it seems XSUN doesn't support the PS/2 features
>like the wheel mouse nor even the second button mouse
>function of paste in X.

What are you using to modify the PS/2 KVM port to Sun keyboard/mouse interface 
on the U60?

>I've looked at open solaris and variations, but I don't
>see any projects external to Sun, which work on sparc
>and support Expert 3D video.  There is a developer
>release of Solaris Express, but it has a disadvantage of not
>being 100% compatible with blastwave add ons,
>and no patches from Sun, etc.
>
>It looks like I have to fall back on Elite 3D and open source OS
>if I want my PS/s mouse to behave normally.

You must really like that mouse...

>Does anyone have a suggested OS which behaves well with
>PS/2 mouse, at least to paste, and also Expert 3D PCI video
>for X support?

Have you given any thought to looking for another mouse that is supported by 
Sun Solaris?

This Logitech mouse is reported as supported by Solaris on SPARC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104178

Here is the HCL listing:

http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl/data/components/details/2554.html

Finally, have you taken a look at this fellows handiwork:

http://www.bolthole.com/solaris/drivers/usb-usbsm.html

It appears from a cursory review to support wheel mice on SPARC Solaris.

Ken