Common Hardware Reference Platform
Encyclopedia
Common Hardware Reference Platform (CHRP) was a standard system architecture for PowerPC
based computer systems published jointly by IBM
and Apple in 1995. Like its predecessor PReP
, it was conceptualized as a design to allow various operating systems to run on an industry standard hardware platform, and specified the use of Open Firmware
and RTAS for machine abstraction purposes. Unlike PReP
, CHRP incorporated elements of the Power Macintosh
architecture and was intended to support Mac OS
and Netware, in addition to the four operating systems that had been ported to PReP at the time (Windows NT
, OS/2
, Solaris, and AIX). CHRP did not catch on, however, and the only systems to ship with actual CHRP hardware were certain members of IBM's RS/6000
series running AIX
(though Mac OS 8 claimed to support CHRP-based systems). New World
Power Macintosh computers are partially based on CHRP/PReP.
Power.org has a new Power Architecture Platform Reference
(PAPR) that provides the foundation for development of Power Architecture
computers based on the Linux operating system. The PAPR spec was released fourth quarter of 2006.
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
based computer systems published jointly by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Apple in 1995. Like its predecessor PReP
PowerPC Reference Platform
PowerPC Reference Platform was a standard system architecture for PowerPC based computer systems developed at the same time as the PowerPC processor architecture...
, it was conceptualized as a design to allow various operating systems to run on an industry standard hardware platform, and specified the use of Open Firmware
Open Firmware
Open Firmware, or OpenBoot in Sun Microsystems parlance, is a standard defining the interfaces of a computer firmware system, formerly endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . It originated at Sun, and has been used by Sun, Apple, IBM, and most other non-x86 PCI chipset...
and RTAS for machine abstraction purposes. Unlike PReP
Prep
Prep may refer to:* A nickname for anything associated with a University-preparatory school, such as:** A member of the Preppy social group, stemming from the word "preparatory"** Another name for someone who attends a preparatory school in the US...
, CHRP incorporated elements of the Power Macintosh
Power Macintosh
Power Macintosh, later Power Mac, was a line of Apple Macintosh workstation-class personal computers based on various models of PowerPC microprocessors that were developed, marketed, and supported by Apple Inc. from March 1994 until August 2006. The first models were the Power Macintosh 6100,...
architecture and was intended to support Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
and Netware, in addition to the four operating systems that had been ported to PReP at the time (Windows NT
Windows NT
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
, OS/2
OS/2
OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal...
, Solaris, and AIX). CHRP did not catch on, however, and the only systems to ship with actual CHRP hardware were certain members of IBM's RS/6000
RS/6000
RISC System/6000, or RS/6000 for short, is a family of RISC and UNIX based servers, workstations and supercomputers made by IBM in the 1990s. The RS/6000 family replaced the IBM RT computer platform in February 1990 and was the first computer line to see the use of IBM's POWER and PowerPC based...
series running AIX
AIX operating system
AIX AIX AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive, pronounced "a i ex" is a series of proprietary Unix operating systems developed and sold by IBM for several of its computer platforms...
(though Mac OS 8 claimed to support CHRP-based systems). New World
New World ROM
New World ROM computers are Macintosh models that do not use a Macintosh Toolbox ROM on the logic board. Due to Mac OS X not requiring the availability of the Toolbox, this allowed ROM sizes to shrink dramatically , and facilitated the use of Flash memory for system firmware instead of the now more...
Power Macintosh computers are partially based on CHRP/PReP.
Power.org has a new Power Architecture Platform Reference
Power Architecture Platform Reference
Power Architecture Platform Reference is an initiative from Power.org to make a new open computing platform based on Power Architecture technology. It follows two previous attempts made in the 1990s, PReP and CHRP....
(PAPR) that provides the foundation for development of Power Architecture
Power Architecture
Power Architecture is a broad term to describe similar RISC instruction sets for microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi...
computers based on the Linux operating system. The PAPR spec was released fourth quarter of 2006.
External links
- penguinppc.org description of CHRP
- FirmWorks CHRP page
- Motorola StarMax 6000 at Low End Mac, A CHRP machine that never shipped.