TL;DR
NeXTSTEP 3.3 was released with an official port to a select set of 32-bit HP 9000 PA-RISC workstations in 1994, developed specifically on the HP 9000 712 pizza‑box. The port offered broad onboard hardware support but saw limited third‑party software adoption and remained confined to release 3.3.
What happened
NeXTSTEP, the Mach‑kernel Unix system with an integrated GUI and Display PostScript, was extended beyond NeXT's own hardware in the early 1990s. In 1994 NeXT released version 3.3 with official support for several HP 9000 700 series PA‑RISC workstations (models 712, 715, 725, 735 and 755). The RISC port was developed on the HP 9000 712 "pizza‑box" workstation and provided drivers for most onboard components, graphics subsystems and SCSI storage on the supported machines. Memory and storage expectations of the era are reflected in the supported configurations (typical RAM 32–64 MB, up to 256 MB; storage footprints from roughly 400 MB to 700 MB). While some commercial applications were ported or made available for PA‑RISC (notably FrameMaker 3.2), overall third‑party software and porting activity for the architecture was limited. NeXTSTEP on PA‑RISC remained a contained effort limited to the 3.3 release and a handful of HP models.
Why it matters
- Shows NeXT's strategy shift from proprietary NeXT hardware toward partnering with workstation vendors to reach RISC platforms.
- Brought NeXTSTEP's integrated GUI and Mach/4.3BSD foundations to HP's PA‑RISC line, demonstrating cross‑platform potential.
- Highlights how hardware support can outpace application ecosystem adoption — the port had solid drivers but limited third‑party software.
- Some NeXT technologies and design ideas were carried forward after later corporate consolidations, influencing subsequent OS work.
Key facts
- NeXTSTEP is built on a Mach microkernel, is 4.3BSD compatible and uses Display PostScript for rendering.
- Official PA‑RISC support appears only in NeXTSTEP release 3.3 (1994); the port targeted HP 9000 700 series models 712, 715, 725, 735 and 755.
- The PA‑RISC port was developed on the HP 9000 712 pizza‑box workstation.
- Supported processors include 32‑bit PA‑RISC PA‑7100 and PA‑7100LC CPUs.
- Typical supported RAM was 32–64 MB with a maximum of 256 MB; storage needs ranged from ~400 MB (user) to ~700 MB (developer).
- Onboard graphics support covered CRX and CRX‑24; HCRX and HCRX‑24 became supported after applying NeXTSTEP 3.3 patches.
- Onboard SCSI controllers and most communication devices on HP 9000 systems were supported; PS/2 keyboard support was limited to particular models while others used HIL keyboards.
- Certain hardware features were not supported on some models (for example, FWD SCSI and FDDI were unsupported on 735/755).
- Some commercial software was ported to the PA‑RISC release—FrameMaker 3.2 is cited; the inclusion or PA‑RISC availability of SoftPC 4.0 is unclear in the source.
- A collection of NeXTSTEP patches, developer and admin manuals were mirrored and cited by archival sources (accessed mirrors referenced).
What to watch next
- Availability and accessibility of NeXTSTEP 3.3 patches and documentation on archival mirrors referenced in source records (these are cited in the source).
- not confirmed in the source
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Mach microkernel: A small kernel architecture that provides low‑level services such as interprocess communication and basic memory management, allowing higher‑level OS services to run in user space.
- Display PostScript (DPS): A system that uses the PostScript page description language to render on‑screen graphics and text with device‑independent precision.
- PA‑RISC: Precision Architecture‑RISC, a RISC instruction set architecture developed by Hewlett‑Packard for its HP 9000 workstation and server lines.
- SCSI: Small Computer System Interface, a set of standards for connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices.
Reader FAQ
Which HP models did NeXTSTEP 3.3 support on PA‑RISC?
NeXTSTEP 3.3 lists support for HP 9000 700 series models 712, 715, 725, 735 and 755.
Was the PA‑RISC port continued beyond NeXTSTEP 3.3?
The PA‑RISC port was limited to NeXTSTEP 3.3 according to the source.
Were commercial applications available for the PA‑RISC release?
Some software was ported—FrameMaker 3.2 is documented; the status of SoftPC 4.0 for PA‑RISC is unclear in the source.
Where can I find documentation or patches for NeXTSTEP 3.3 PA‑RISC?
The source cites mirrors that host NeXTSTEP 3.3 user, developer and patch archives and manuals; specific mirror links are referenced in the original material.
OpenPA Hardware Computers Operating About NeXTSTEP on PA-RISC Supported systems Hardware support Software Documentation © NeXT 1994 NeXTSTEP is a Unix operating system developed in the 1980s and 90s by…
Sources
- NeXTSTEP on Pa-RISC
- NeXTstep on the HP 712 Part 1: Installation
- Three PA-RISC machines running NeXTStep 3.3
- HP 9000
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