Hey!

I'm running MorphOS under QEMU on Windows.
I use it to test if my web applications run correctly under WayFarer, and if my system friendly Amiga stuff runs correctly on it.

I have no problem paying for MorphOS, but if I run the RegTool I get the message
"MorphOS running under emulation cannot be registered".

So there's no way a developer like me, willing to spend time, energy and money to support MorphOS, can do so without running on real hardware?

No. I asked them this same question a while back. They really need a solution that will support emulator users. I have everything running on one machine, I don't want to buy and set up a whole extra machine just for MorphOS.

[ Edited by Minuous 12.04.2023 - 23:23 ]

Unfortunately, there is no way for us to support emulators.

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You're supporting us enough by testing for MorphOS compatibility.

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I don't know much about this stupid stuff, but theoretically: what if you provided a little tool running on the host side (Linux) which communicates with the OS in the emulator in some secure/whatever way through network or whatever and the user does not register the OS/emulated machine itself, but the machine which is running the host OS which is running the emulator.

And the emulated OS switches into "registered mode" only after ~authentication/whatever with host-side running little tool.

Among other things, not even audio in emulation works
You know nice to use it

A simpler/faster solution could be provide a "low cost" serial number registration valid only for QEMU and not reversable for a real machine.
If MOS Team will contribute for a better emulation some money could be done and some new user could be added to user base.

My2Cents.

But one key for Qemu -> one key for all MorphOS installations on qemu. Everything not taken directly from hw can be rewritten by Qemu emulation layer.

The registration is based on the network card number of the mac !!!
I don't see how to fix it

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There are also other professional programs who use serial for registration, anyway the risk to have an abuse from some users is real.
At same time you could grant all registered users free updates/improvements and new drivers, just like in OS4 land.

Some users already donate to MOS Team without ask nothing, this could be an opportunity to test fidelity of MorphOS customer base.
You should really consider this option.

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????

You do know that a keyfile stays valid for every version of MorphOS?

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And then you end up having to support various tools for multiple platforms... Even Linux means having to support at least amd64 and aarch64.

> not even audio in emulation works

This will be in QEMU v8's Pegasos II emulation:

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?forum=9&topic_id=5774&start=224

> The registration is based on the network card number of the mac !!!

Rather the other way round: On the MAC address of the network card ;-)

If the registration depends on MAC address, do somebody try registration with this config?

- equip host machine with Morphos compatible NIC. In case of PCIe only host, use additional PCIe-PCI transparent bridge.
- then use PCI-passthrough mode (maybe with IOMMU) for this NIC in KVM.

Of course, it may not be functional, but it is good for try.
And I am not sure if passthrough should be done for device behind the bridge, but probably yes - PCI(e) addressing scheme is the same.
And if this not works on KVM side, try passthough directly for bridge ( or both NIC + bridge). And look if MorpOS on VM recognize card behind the bridge.


And if this works, the easiest way to allow globally VM registration is add to MorphOS support some SR-IOV cards.

[ Edited by sailor 13.04.2023 - 20:46 ]

@sailor

AFAIK the keyfile does not bind to a random NIC but to one specific to the motherboard.

Early Peg1 and PCIe G5 are the exceptions proving the rule here.

So what one would need is QEMU emulating either the Peg2's VIA NIC or whatever is used on the SAM460 (those are the system emulated by QEMU) and assign a valid MAC to it.

One might even need to register on an actual Peg2 or SAM and than transfer over to QEMU depending if and how RegTool does check for emulation.

All of this could still be easily broken with the next MorphOS version if the team chooses to go that way....

> what one would need is QEMU emulating either the Peg2's
> VIA NIC or whatever is used on the SAM460 (those are the
> system emulated by QEMU) and assign a valid MAC to it.

QEMU can emulate the SunGEM onboard ethernet controller of the PowerMacs, so that can be used with MorphOS running on QEMU's 'mac99' emulation.

OK, then let´s try it!

From my point of view ( and room full of AmigaNGs ) the registration of VM Morphos is useless, but I fully understand @Steffest and @Minuous point of view.

Today most of developers working on virtual environment, not physical iron. And as we has no new both cheap and powerful hardware, Virtual machines can be for many people affordable solution. I agree that it is another one thought to consider for MorphOS Team.

( but of course, only if it not slows developement of Efika virtual RAM and 2nd ide.device, PCI SATA2 drivers, multicore, bigfoot's new gfx drivers and many many others !!! )