Of course the Apple Network Server can be hacked into running Doom | Hacker News Reader

Of course the Apple Network Server can be hacked into running Doom

oldvcr.blogspot.com

I'm truly surprised that later versions of AIX like 4.3 can't be run on the ANS. How different is the close-to-Power-Mac hardware from real IBM hardware? I wonder...

This reminds me that I need to recap my close-to-ANS hardware Power Mac 9600...

Not especially similar, aside from the bus and CPU. IBM hardware of that era was straight-up PReP and later straight-up CHRP, but Apple never adopted either for Old World Macs, and even New World Macs are an incompatible mix of the two.

Would have been nice if IBM ported AIX to PowerMacs...

Itsamystery what Apple was thinking, but I suspect almost zero external customers actually bought an ANS. Apple probably used it internally (dogfood), and maybe some external partners got one.

Sorta like CHRP "Windows NT on PPC", it was printed on the CD-ROM, but the machines were never actually sold to the public.

Also edit to clarify: OP is about porting Doom to an old UNIX, not the usual small computer. The ANS was a big computer. (OP says IBM ported Quake.)

(author) The ANS 500 I have and that this was developed on was purchased by the University I used to work for to serve as the bookstore inventory management system. The vendor refused to support it anymore after Apple cancelled the line, but it was purchased retail, minus Apple's academic discount, of course. The University had no particular relationship with Apple otherwise.

Apple did use ANSes for many years after they were discontinued. Austin had a group of Shiners still in service for internal use as late as 2005.

The ANS does have "big computer" I/O options but it's still descended from the Power Mac 9500, which is its closest relative. Harpoon AIX has a lot of changes to support the different hardware.

Is there a collection somewhere of everything which can run Doom?

Found this https://canitrundoom.org/

I'll wait for canitruncrysis in 2050

Now I'm tempted to put up a variant that just says YES

On your... lawnmower? Hah, this is from the manufacturer and is ridiculous:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp3X4IL4_UA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Doom_ports

A list of things which can't would probably be shorter.

Unfortunately, these machines are incredibly hard to find.

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