OpenBSD Architectures on OpenBSD Handbook

OpenBSD/alpha

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

OpenBSD/alpha runs on Digital Alpha workstations and servers.

Processor family: Digital Alpha
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: alpha
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Workstations	AlphaStation 200–600, Digital Personal Workstation (Miata)
Servers	AlphaServer 800, 1000, DS10, DS20 and ES40
Earlier systems	DEC 3000 models listed by the project

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

PCI and TURBOchannel systems are covered, but support depends on the model and chipset.
X11 server support is currently broken; plan on a text console or remote access.

OpenBSD history

Work began in 1996 using NetBSD/alpha code. The port missed releases 2.7 and 2.8 while its hardware support was brought up to date, then returned as a supported platform in 2.9. Port history

OpenBSD/amd64

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/amd64 runs on AMD64-compatible Intel and AMD processors in 64-bit mode.

Processor family: x86-64 (AMD64 / Intel 64)
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: amd64
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Personal computers	AMD64-compatible Intel and AMD desktops and laptops
Servers	x86-64 servers with supported storage and network controllers

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

The name refers to the instruction set, not an AMD-only hardware requirement. Intel processors implementing it use the same port.
Installation images are available for USB drives and optical media. Graphics, wireless, and storage support depend on their device drivers.

OpenBSD history

OpenBSD 3.5 introduced amd64 as a native 64-bit platform alongside the existing i386 port. The release also supported compatible Intel processors. Release notes

OpenBSD/arm64

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/arm64 supports selected 64-bit ARM boards, servers, and laptops, including Raspberry Pi and Apple Silicon models.

Processor family: AArch64 (64-bit ARM)
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: aarch64
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Single-board computers	Raspberry Pi 3, 4 and 5; Pine64 ROCKPro64; Rockchip RK3588 boards
Laptops and desktops	Listed Apple M1/M2 Macs, Pinebook Pro, ThinkPad X13s
Servers	Ampere eMAG/Altra systems and AMD Opteron A1100 machines

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

UEFI provides the boot interface. Hardware is described through ACPI tables or a device tree; some boards need an updated device tree.
Firmware preparation differs by machine. Server firmware may already provide UEFI; many boards load it from the boot media.
Many boards lack a battery-backed clock, so network time is useful after startup.

OpenBSD history

The arm64 port first shipped in OpenBSD 6.1. Its hardware coverage now spans small boards, ARM servers, and supported Apple Silicon and Qualcomm-based computers. Release notes

OpenBSD/armv7

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/armv7 supports selected boards using Allwinner, NXP i.MX, and TI ARMv7 processors.

Processor family: ARMv7
OpenBSD mode: 32-bit
Ports architecture: arm
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
TI boards	BeagleBone, BeagleBone Black, PandaBoard and PandaBoard ES
NXP i.MX boards	Wandboard, CuBox-i4Pro, SABRE Lite and Novena
Allwinner boards	Cubieboard, Banana Pi and selected Orange Pi models

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

The port groups several systems-on-chip under one platform name. Device support and boot images differ between board families.
Multiprocessor operation is not supported, even on boards with several CPU cores.
Many boards lack a battery-backed clock and need their time set after startup.

OpenBSD history

OpenBSD 5.5 replaced the BeagleBoard-focused beagle port with armv7. OpenBSD 6.1 switched it to EABI and expanded hardware support. Release notes · Later changes

OpenBSD/hppa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/hppa supports HP PA-RISC workstations and servers in 32-bit mode, including some models with 64-bit processors.

Processor family: HP PA-RISC
OpenBSD mode: 32-bit, including on supported 64-bit CPUs
Ports architecture: hppa
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Earlier workstations	HP 9000 712, 715, 735 and 755
Later workstations	B2000, C3000, C3600 and selected J-series models
Servers	Selected A-, D- and K-class HP 9000 systems

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

Processor support alone is insufficient: several PA-RISC servers have unsupported I/O systems.
The port supports up to 2 GB of memory. Supported 64-bit processors still run a 32-bit OpenBSD system.

OpenBSD history

The port drew on the Lites and MkLinux PA-RISC work, including their compiler support. Documentation released for the PA-RISC Linux effort later helped hardware development. Port history

OpenBSD/i386

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/i386 supports 32-bit x86 PCs. For 64-bit operation, use amd64.

Processor family: Pentium-compatible x86 with hardware floating point
OpenBSD mode: 32-bit
Ports architecture: i386
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Personal computers	32-bit x86 desktops and laptops meeting the CPU requirements
Multiprocessor PCs	Supported multi-chip, multicore and Hyper-Threading systems

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

Despite the platform name, current CPU requirements start at Pentium-compatible processors with hardware floating-point support.
The bsd.mp kernel supports multiprocessor systems. For a 64-bit installation on compatible hardware, use amd64.
The project limits i386 security backports to easy and critical fixes.

OpenBSD history

The i386 port has been part of OpenBSD since the project began. It remains a separate 32-bit platform as most x86 use has moved to amd64. Port history

OpenBSD/landisk

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/landisk supports SH-4 appliances related to the IO-DATA USL-5P, including IO-DATA and Plextor models.

Processor family: Hitachi / Renesas SH-4
OpenBSD mode: 32-bit
Ports architecture: sh
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Compact appliances	IO-DATA USL-5P with CompactFlash storage
Disk appliances	IO-DATA HDL-U, HDL-AV, HDL-W and HDLM-U series
Rebadged systems	Plextor PX-EH16L, PX-EH25L and PX-EH40L

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

These appliances use a 266 MHz SH7751R processor and 64 MB of RAM, with 100 Mbit Ethernet.
A serial console runs at 9600 baud. Connecting it requires the correct voltage-converting cable for the internal header.
Storage is CompactFlash or IDE, depending on the model.

OpenBSD history

OpenBSD 4.1 added landisk, the project’s first port to SH-4 hardware. It targets this appliance family rather than SH-4 machines in general. Release notes

OpenBSD/loongson

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/loongson ran on Loongson 2E and 2F MIPS-compatible systems, including Lemote machines.

Processor family: Loongson 2E / 2F (MIPS-compatible)
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: mips64el
Status: Discontinued · final release 7.9

Machines

Type	Examples
Netbooks	Lemote Yeeloong and EMTEC Gdium Liberty 1000
Desktops	Lemote Fuloong 2F mini-PC and Lynloong all-in-one

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

These systems use PMON firmware and model-specific device support.
Graphics support is unaccelerated. The Gdium audio controller is not supported.
This reference concerns the older MIPS-compatible processors, not newer LoongArch systems.

OpenBSD history

Development focused on the Yeeloong in 2009, and the machine became self-hosting in January 2010 after processor errata workarounds. The port was discontinued after OpenBSD 7.9. Port history

OpenBSD/luna88k

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/luna88k supports the OMRON LUNA-88K and LUNA-88K2 workstations, which use Motorola 88100 processors.

Processor family: Motorola 88100
OpenBSD mode: 32-bit
Ports architecture: m88k
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
LUNA-88K	One to four 25 MHz processors; 16–64 MB RAM
LUNA-88K2	One to four 33 MHz processors; 16–112 MB RAM

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

These OMRON workstations date from the early 1990s. SCSI storage, Ethernet, and the graphical or serial console are supported.
LUNA-88K2 adds a PC-9801 expansion bus. Devices behind the I/O processor, including non-console serial ports and the floppy controller, remain unsupported.

OpenBSD history

Work began in January 2002 by combining NetBSD/luna68k device support with OpenBSD/mvme88k processor support. A LUNA-88K2 reached multiuser operation near the end of 2003. Port history

OpenBSD/macppc

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/macppc supports Apple New World PowerPC Macs, including G3, G4, and G5 models. G5 systems run this port in 32-bit mode.

Processor family: PowerPC G3, G4 and supported G5 models
OpenBSD mode: 32-bit, including on G5 CPUs
Ports architecture: powerpc
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Desktops	New World iMac, eMac, Power Mac G3/G4/G5 and PowerPC Mac mini
Laptops	Supported iBook and PowerBook G3/G4 models

Full hardware and device list

OpenBSD/octeon

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/octeon supports selected systems using Cavium OCTEON, OCTEON Plus, OCTEON II, and OCTEON III processors, including EdgeRouter models.

Processor family: Cavium OCTEON MIPS64
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: mips64
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Routers	Listed EdgeRouter models, including LITE, 4, 6P and Infinity
Security appliances	D-Link DSR-500/500N and listed UniFi Security Gateway models
Other systems	Portwell CAM-0100 and Rhino Labs SDNA machines

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

The port covers OCTEON, OCTEON Plus, OCTEON II, and OCTEON III systems-on-chip.
Network connectors are not uniformly supported: some models lack switch-port, SFP, or SFP+ support.
Supported machines with local CompactFlash or USB storage can be installed to local disk.

OpenBSD history

Work began in 2010 on the Portwell CAM-0100. Availability of the EdgeRouter LITE restarted development in 2013; USB support in 2015 enabled local installation on machines without CompactFlash. Port history

OpenBSD/powerpc64

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/powerpc64 supports POWER9 PowerNV machines based on the Raptor Talos II and Blackbird boards. POWER8 support is included but untested.

Processor family: IBM POWER9; POWER8 support untested
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: powerpc64
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Workstations and servers	Raptor Talos II
Desktop boards	Raptor Blackbird

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

This is a PowerNV port for running directly on the hardware. PowerVM and PowerKVM guests are not supported.
POWER8 support exists but is untested; the established targets use POWER9.
Petitboot can start the installer from USB media or over the network.

OpenBSD history

OpenBSD 6.8 was the first official powerpc64 release. It added a native 64-bit POWER platform separate from the 32-bit macppc port for Apple machines. Port history

OpenBSD/riscv64

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/riscv64 supports selected boards, including the HiFive Unmatched, Allwinner D1 boards, and StarFive VisionFive models.

Processor family: 64-bit RISC-V
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: riscv64
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
SiFive	HiFive Unmatched
Allwinner D1	Mango Pi MQ-Pro and Nezha
StarFive	VisionFive and VisionFive 2

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

Boot firmware and device support differ by board. VisionFive systems need firmware configuration changes.
HiFive Unmatched boots installation media from USB while retaining its supplied firmware microSD card.
The PolarFire SoC Icicle Kit is also listed by the project, with incomplete support.

OpenBSD history

OpenBSD 7.0 introduced the riscv64 platform with the HiFive Unmatched as an installation target. The hardware list has since expanded to Allwinner D1 and StarFive boards. Release notes

OpenBSD/sparc64

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

All architectures

OpenBSD/sparc64 supports Sun UltraSPARC, Oracle SPARC, and Fujitsu SPARC64 systems.

Processor family: UltraSPARC, Oracle SPARC and Fujitsu SPARC64
OpenBSD mode: 64-bit
Ports architecture: sparc64
Status: Supported platform

Machines

Type	Examples
Workstations	Sun Ultra 1/2/5/10/30/60/80 and Sun Blade models
Servers	Listed Sun Enterprise, Sun Fire and Oracle SPARC T-series systems
Fujitsu systems	Supported SPARC64-based models in the project hardware list

Full hardware and device list

Characteristics

This is a 64-bit, big-endian platform spanning several generations of workstations and servers.
X11 runs on most systems, with acceleration on some adapters and framebuffer support on others.
Multiprocessor support was added in OpenBSD 4.3.

OpenBSD history

Porting began in August 2001, drawing on NetBSD work, and OpenBSD 3.0 was the first release. Later releases added UltraSPARC III, multicore T-series, and Fujitsu SPARC64 support. Port history