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The Bochs Project
Bochs is a highly portable open source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++, that runs on most popular platforms. It includes emulation of the Intel x86 CPU, common I/O devices, and a custom BIOS. Currently, Bochs can be compiled to emulate a 386, 486, Pentium, Pentium Pro or AMD64 CPU, including optional MMX, SSE, SSE2 and 3DNow instructions. Bochs is capable of running most Operating Systems inside the emulation including Linux, Windows 95, DOS, and Windows NT 4. Bochs was written by Kevin Lawton and is currently maintained by this project.
Bochs can be compiled and used
Bochs can be compiled and used
What's New
Version 2.5.1:
CPU / CPUDB:
- Added Athlon64 (Venice) configuration to the CPUDB
- BMI: fixed EFLAGS after BMI instructions
- MSR: access to AMD extended MSR space was impossible due to a bug in RDMSR/WRMSR
- VMX: fixed VMFUNC instruction behavior to align with Intel SDM revision 041
- VMX: fixed Bochs PANIC when doing I/O access crossing VMX I/O permission bitmaps
- VMX: fixed VirtualBox VMX guest Guru Meditation FS.BASE got corrupted after
- saving/restoring unusable FS selector
- VMX: fixed VirtualBox failures with VMX+EPT enabled
- Better report of supported CPUID features when not using pre-defined CPUID profile
- fixed typo closing SF bug [3461405] step all command fails in SMP mode
- instrumentation: added special indication for indirect call/jump
- fixed compilation err in instrumentation call (tasking.cc)
- fixed compilation err with x86 hw breakpoint enabled and CPU_LEVEL < 6
- fixed compilation issue under win32 --with-nogui
- added missing dependencies for cdrom_osx.o
- removed very old deprecated configure options from configure script
- fixed possible failures of PCI DMA transfers
- VVFAT: several fixes in the optional write support (passes test with XP)
- USB UHCI: some fixes to make it work in XP guest
- removed devices 'acpi', 'ioapic' and 'pci_ide' from optional plugin control to avoid trouble
- added VMX .bochsrc option to control VMX support on runtime
- fix for x86-64 .bochsrc option parsing (patch from @SF)
- fix for @SF bug: Crash on WIN2K ID: 3454214
- added 'nokeyrepeat' option for the SDL and win32 gui
Version 2.5.1:
CPU / CPUDB:
- Added Athlon64 (Venice) configuration to the CPUDB
- BMI: fixed EFLAGS after BMI instructions
- MSR: access to AMD extended MSR space was impossible due to a bug in RDMSR/WRMSR
- VMX: fixed VMFUNC instruction behavior to align with Intel SDM revision 041
- VMX: fixed Bochs PANIC when doing I/O access crossing VMX I/O more...
Requirements
PPC, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
PPC, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Bochs User Discussion (Write a Review)
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Bochs is a highly portable open source IA-32 (x86) PC emulator written in C++, that runs on most popular platforms. It includes emulation of the Intel x86 CPU, common I/O devices, and a custom BIOS. Currently, Bochs can be compiled to emulate a 386, 486, Pentium, Pentium Pro or AMD64 CPU, including optional MMX, SSE, SSE2 and 3DNow instructions. Bochs is capable of running most Operating Systems inside the emulation including Linux, Windows 95, DOS, and Windows NT 4. Bochs was written by Kevin Lawton and is currently maintained by this project.
Bochs can be compiled and used in a variety of modes, some which are still in development. The 'typical' use of Bochs is to provide complete x86 PC emulation, including the x86 processor, hardware devices, and memory. This allows you to run OSes and software within the emulator on your workstation, much like you have a machine inside of a machine. For instance, let's say your workstation is a Unix/X11 workstation, but you want to run Win95 applications. Bochs will allow you to run Win 95 and associated software on your Unix/X11 workstation, displaying a window on your workstation, simulating a monitor on a PC.
Bochs can be compiled and used in a variety of modes, some which are still in development. The 'typical' use of Bochs is to provide complete x86 PC emulation, including the x86 processor, hardware devices, and memory. This allows you to run OSes and software within the emulator on your workstation, much like you have a machine inside of a machine. For instance, let's say your workstation is a Unix/X11 workstation, but you want to run Win95 applications. Bochs will allow you to run Win 95 and associated software on your Unix/X11 workstation, displaying a window on your workstation, simulating a monitor on a PC.
Copyright © 2012 MacUpdate LLC
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JCH2 reviewed on 07 Jan 2012
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Hence Bochs is PPC software, designed to emulate x86 and Virtual Box is intel software, designed to virtualise x86.
Missing a configuration file? It's all explained on the bochs website:
http://bochs.sourceforge.net/doc/docbook/user/bochsrc.html
You HAVE to create your own configuration file for every virtual machine, as Bochs expects each virtual machine you want will be different.
Even if you couldn't find that with Google search, the readme clearly explains that all docs can be found either
http://bochs.sf.net/doc/docbook/index.html
or
http://bochs.sf.net/docs-html
Nothing in life is completely free. The reason why VPC, Parallels, VMWare, etc. are so "expensive" is precisely that free alternatives are more difficult to use.
However, just because Bochs doesn't have a nice GUI to hold your hand through every step of the way doesn't mean the instructions aren't clear. No CS knowledge is even needed--just copy and paste things from the website. If it doesn't do what you expect, ask someone on the Bochs mailing list. If you're too lazy, then you deserve to lose $60 to Parallels or VMWare to buy their software.
BTW, Helmo: If you really want to run C64 or Vic 20 software, there are emulators available on the internet. Bochs has the ability to emulate an entire IA-32 computer including whatever hardware you wish for it to have. It's for testing one OS on another OS, not for playing games, running Windows 95, or whatever you thought it was for. I suggest you find something better to do than trolling on MU, like learning English.
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This version 2.3.7 source was posted here at MacUpdate for those who do want to muck around with it. It clearly states at the top of the MacUpdate product page for Bochs that the download is source code.
I suppose Bochs should not be posted because some people want an executable binary that does not exist, and thereby leave everyone out in the cold who might want to get geeky with the source and have maybe a little fun?
And it's not like there are no alternatives that are executable binaries. VirtualBox comes to mind, and it is free.
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"Mac users expect working binaries, and source code should be an aside."
You presumed to be speaking for all Mac users, and implied that source code be left aside.
But now you say, "...I'd like to spend more time doing geek things within the program, rather than within the scope of creating it but that's my opinion, which is by no means what everyone else thinks."
So now you're just speaking for yourself instead of on behalf of all Mac users. Oh well, whatever. 190 downloads (at this point in time) tells me that there are some Mac users that do not want you to speak on their behalf.
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What grinds MY gears are the developers who come up with a truly useful app, like D[o]S[omething]W[hen] or FruitMenu, then start getting laid, no longer need the money, or whatever and just orphan it. WTF?! Why not open-source it, instead? Let those who care keep it going! Is that too much to ask?
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as far as i can see, no evolution since ages, we're quite close to a total integration for both i386 and ppc hardware compatibility mobos, and they still make an emulator to run win95??? c'mon......
humm why not intruducing another one in which i could run Commodore 64? or better like Vic 20?
ok lets say its good and I really like it, where in the hell do you find applications to run on it? Vista is out there, and already most of applications won't even run on XP, and i should spend my time on compiling the source to install a project based on my grand mother 'puter? lol and then..?
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Tomis reviewed on 17 Jul 2006
The latest MacOS X binary is version 2.1.1, which might as well be the source code. It just tells me to run a script, which then runs Bochs from the terminal, which asks me to load some configuration file, and there is no information on where to obtain one of these files or how to make one. Yes, I read the read me. Useless.
Granted, I understand it takes alot of effort to wrap these things up elegantly in order to make them just work. But, until they have a real GUI front end on this thing, don't bother. Check out Q, or just get VPC or Parallels.
Anonymous reviewed on 09 Jul 2005
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Anonymous reviewed on 08 Jul 2005
If you do not possess these skills, I recommend looking to see if a "binary" (i.e. pre-compiled) version is available from someone. Many people make them available as a service to the less skilled, or those who dont have the time.
Alternatively, look at a commercial solution, e.g. Virtual PC.
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http://kberg.ch/q/
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Ease of use is important. That's why Macs exist.
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Anonymous reviewed on 02 Jun 2005
I am all about open source but the difficulty level to get this stuff to work is ridiculous.
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Anonymous reviewed on 30 May 2005
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cdrom.cc:112:22: error: dev/disk.h: No such file or directory
cdrom.cc: In function `kern_return_t FindEjectableCDMedia(io_iterator_t*, mach_port_t*)':
cdrom.cc:269: warning: NULL used in arithmetic
cdrom.cc: In function `kern_return_t GetDeviceFilePath(io_iterator_t, char*, CFIndex)':
cdrom.cc:282: warning: NULL used in arithmetic
cdrom.cc: In function `_CDTOC* ReadTOC(const char*)':
cdrom.cc:372: warning: NULL used in arithmetic
cdrom.cc: In member function `bx_bool cdrom_interface::insert_cdrom(char*)':
cdrom.cc:644: warning: converting to non-pointer type 'mach_port_t' from NULL
make[1]: *** [cdrom.o] Error 1
make: *** [iodev/libiodev.a] Error 2
Wasn't there a binary distribution for OS X? Is it dead?
#include
to
#include
in the iodev/cdrom.cc file.
It worked for me. I also had to change in the top Makefile.in the SETFILE definition from
SETFILE=/Developer/Tools/Setfile to
SETFILE=/Developer/Tools/SetFile. This might not be necessary unless you have the developer tools installed on a case-sensitive filesystem.
The include was dev/disk.h that needs to be changed to sys/disk.h.
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perl -pe 's/^struct {$/struct __carbon_cc_hack_struct__ {/' gui/carbon.cc
Make sure you run it from the bochs-2.2.1 directory. Here's another Perl one-liner to fix the cdrom.cc problem:
perl -pe 's,dev/disk.h,sys/disk.h,' iodev/cdrom.cc
Anonymous reviewed on 30 May 2005
OSX 10.3.9
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Anonymous reviewed on 26 May 2005
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You don't even need to read this, though. The steps to compile and install are rather simple. Do this:
1) Get the Developer Tools and install them (if you haven't already). You can get the Dev Tools for free from Apple's Developer website after you have registered as a Developer using the "free plan".
2) Download the bochs source package. Unpack it.
3) Open the Terminal. Change into the bochs directory by typing "cd " and dragging the unpacked bochs directory into the Terminal window. Press the Return key.
4) Enter the following lines, waiting for the operation to finish after each line:
configure
make
sudo make install
Each will take a while and you will see hundreds of lines printed out. This is normal. The last command (sudo make install) will ask for your administrator password which is your normal login password if you're a user that is allowed to administer the Mac.
You now have a finished MacOSX binary executable inside the bochs directory. You can launch it by double-clicking it like usual. It will complain about not being able to open a hard disk image file and an unknown display extension "vbe".
To fix this, follow these detailed instructions to setup bochs. Afterwards, everything will work fine.
http://bochs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/topper.pl?name=New+Bochs+Documentation&url=http://bochs.sourceforge.net/doc/docbook/user/index.html
It does take some time. And it does help to RTFM once in a while.
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Phaseangle rated on 07 Jan 2012
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Jack75 rated on 28 Nov 2011