This document describes how to run the i386 version of Netscape under Alpha-Linux.

Here's the recipe I have promised a long time ago.

Disclaimer: USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

1. Get one of the Alpha kernels from gatekeeper.dec.com and compile it with support for em86 (CONFIG_BINFMT_EM86=y). I have used both alpha-sources-2.0.35-0.[12].tar.gz.

2. Get em86 from gatekeeper.dec.com. Install the following--I am actually copying verbatim from a different window:

[root@brain em86]# rpm -ihv em86-0.4-1.alpha.rpm
em86 ##################################################
[root@brain em86]# rpm -ihv --ignorearch em86-x86-0.2-1.i386.rpm
em86-x86 ##################################################
[root@brain em86]# rpm -ihv em86-baselibs-0.2-1.alpha.rpm
em86-baselibs ##################################################
[root@brain em86]# rpm -ihv em86-X11libs-0.2-1.alpha.rpm
em86-X11libs ##################################################

3. Get netscape 4.5 from any netscape mirror. I have not been able to use a glibc version. Therefore, make sure you use a libc version. I got navigator-v45-export.x86-unknown-linux2.0.tar.gz.

4. Install this in a suitable location (/usr/local/netscape is fine).

5. Put the following script in /usr/local/bin

#!/bin/sh
export MOZILLA_HOME=/usr/local/netscape
export MOZILLA_NO_ASYNC_DNS=True
exec ${MOZILLA_HOME}/netscape -no-about-splash $* &

6. Start it up by calling this script. The kernel will automatically detect the x86 binary and run it through em86.

7. Go get a beer; it takes a while for the netscape window to open up.

This worked for me on RH5.1/2.0.35 (alpha-sources-2.0.35-0.1.tar.gz) on an AS200 4/233.

Problems that I have noticed:

i. netscape starts spawning one process after another. I don't know what happens, but disabling the asynchronous DNS solved it (MOZILLA_NO_ASYNC_DNS).

ii. The netscape window doesn't draw properly. Use -no-about-splash.

iii. netscape complains about libBrokenLocale. You have a glibc version. Get a binary for libc.

Email suggestions to dragos.manolescu@acm.org.