PowerPC Reference Platform: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Computer system architecture}}

{{Power Architecture}}

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{{POWER, PowerPC, and Power ISA}}

'''PowerPC Reference Platform''' ('''PReP''') was a standard [[system architecture]] for [[PowerPC]] -based computer systems (as well as a [[reference implementation]]) developed at the same time as the PowerPC processor architecture. Published by [[IBM]] in [[1994]], it allowed hardware vendors to build a machine that could run various operating systems, including [[Windows NT]], [[OS/2]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], [[Taligent]] and [[AIXIBM operating systemAIX|AIX]].

One of the stated goals of the PReP specification was to leverage standard PC hardware, and thus PReP was essentially a [[PC clone]] with a PowerPC CPU. [[Apple ComputerInc.|Apple]], wishing to seamlessly transition its [[MacintoshMac (computer)|Macintosh]] computers to PowerPC, found this to be particularly problematic. As it appeared no one was particularly happy with PReP, a new standard, the [[Common Hardware Reference Platform]] (CHRP), was developed and published in late [[1995]], incorporating the elements of both PReP and the [[Power Macintosh]] architecture. Key to CHRP was the requirement for [[Open Firmware]] (also required in PReP-compliant systems delivered after June 1, 1995), which gave vendors greatly improved support during the boot process, allowing the hardware to be far more varied.

'''PowerPC Reference Platform''' ('''PReP''') was a standard [[system architecture]] for [[PowerPC]] based computer systems (as well as a [[reference implementation]]) developed at the same time as the PowerPC processor architecture. Published by [[IBM]] in [[1994]], it allowed hardware vendors to build a machine that could run various operating systems, including [[Windows NT]], [[OS/2]], [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], and [[AIX operating system|AIX]].

PReP systems were never popular.{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=January 2016}} Finding current, readily available operating systems for old PReP hardware can be difficult. [[Debian]] and [[NetBSD]] still maintain their respective ports to this architecture, although developer and user activity is extremely low.{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=January 2016}} The [[RTEMS]] real-time operating system provides a board support package for PReP which can be run utilizing the [[QEMU]] PReP emulator. This provides a convenient development environment for PowerPC-based real-time, embedded systems.

One of the stated goals of the PReP specification was to leverage standard PC hardware, and thus PReP was essentially a [[PC clone]] with a PowerPC CPU. [[Apple Computer|Apple]], wishing to seamlessly transition its [[Macintosh (computer)|Macintosh]] computers to PowerPC, found this to be particularly problematic. As it appeared no one was particularly happy with PReP, a new standard, the [[Common Hardware Reference Platform]] (CHRP), was developed and published in late [[1995]], incorporating the elements of both PReP and the [[Power Macintosh]] architecture. Key to CHRP was the requirement for [[Open Firmware]] (also required in PReP-compliant systems delivered after June 1, 1995), which gave vendors greatly improved support during the boot process, allowing the hardware to be far more varied.

Power.org has a new [[Power Architecture Platform Reference]] (PAPR) that provides the foundation for development of [[Power ArchitectureISA]]-based computers based onrunning the [[Linux]] operating system. The PAPR specwas wasreleased in the fourth quarter of 2006.

PReP systems were never popular, and the only vendors to actually ship PReP implementations were IBM and Motorola. Finding current, readily available operating systems for old PReP hardware can be difficult. [[Debian]] and [[NetBSD]] still maintain their respective ports to this architecture, although developer and user activity is extremely low.

==See also==

Power.org has a new [[Power Architecture Platform Reference]] (PAPR) that provides the foundation for development of [[Power Architecture]] computers based on the [[Linux]] operating system. The PAPR spec was in the fourth quarter of 2006.

* [[PowerOpen Environment]]

* [[IBM ThinkPad Power Series]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

* [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/rs6000/technology/spec/ PReP Specification Version 1.1 and related documents]

* [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/rs6000/technology/spec/jointhrp.ps The PowerPC (TM) Hardware Reference Platform], an overview of [[CHRP]]

== External links ==

[[Category:Power Architecture]]

* [ftphttps://ftppublic.softwaredhe.ibm.com/rs6000/technology/spec/ PReP Specification Version 1.1 and related documents]

[[pl:PowerPC Reference Platform]]

* [ftphttps://ftppublic.softwaredhe.ibm.com/rs6000/technology/spec/jointhrp.ps The PowerPC (TM) Hardware Reference Platform], an overview of [[Common Hardware Reference Platform|CHRP]]

[[it:PowerPC Reference Platform]]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120201132638/http://www.rtems.com/wiki/index.php/Qemuprep QEMU PReP emulation for RTEMS operating system]

[[Category:PowerPowerPC Architecturemainboards]]

[[Category:IBM computer hardware]]