https://ircnow.org/software/plan9.iso

Please note that the following Plan 9 4th edition ISOs do *not* run on OpenBSD VMM 7.7:

http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/plan9/history/plan9-4e-latest.iso.bz2 http://9p.io/plan9/download/plan9.iso.bz2

On the OpenBSD host, we first get serial console into the virtual machine:

host$ vmctl console $USER
Connected to /dev/ttyp3 (speed 115200)
Boot failed: not a bootable disk

PBSR...0000 07B1 0000 00B5
Plan 9 from Bell Labsi8042: kbdinit failed

no vga; serial console only
disk loader

cpu0:  6132MHz GenuineIntel Core i7/Xeon (cpuid: AX 0x206C2 DX 0x78BA97F)
ELCR: 02E8
497M memory: 497M kernel data, 0M user, 18M swap
found partition #S/sdC0/data 0 41,943,040
found partition #S/sdD0/data 0 147,164
found partition #S/sdD0/data!9fat; 59050+2949120
disks: sdC0 sdD0
trying sdC0...dosinit: can't open #S/sdC0/9fat
dosinit #S/sdC0/9fat failed
trying sdD0....
Plan 9 Startup Menu:
====================
   1. Install Plan 9 from this CD
   2. Boot Plan 9 from this CD
Selection: 1

We choose 1 to Install Plan 9 from CD:

found 9pcflop.gz
.gz........................................................................................................................................................1225840 => 781908+1043156+390320=2215384
entry: 0xf0100020

Plan 9
i8042: kbdinit failed
E820: 00000000 0009f800 memory
E820: 0009f800 000a0000 reserved
E820: 000f0000 00100000 reserved
E820: 00100000 7fffa000 memory
E820: 7fffa000 80000000 reserved
E820: f0000000 100000000 reserved
cpu0:  6128MHz GenuineIntel Core i7/Xeon (cpuid: AX 0x206C2 DX 0x78BA97F)
ELCR: 02E8
intrenable: nil handler for 5, tbdf 0xC001000 for ether0
#l0: virtio: 1Gbps port 0x2000 irq 5: fee1bad5cc02
2048M memory: 256M kernel data, 1791M user, 2416M swap
pickmethod...read #e/nobootprompt...pickmethod done
bind #æ...bind #S...partinit...auth...mount usbd...boot: can't open /srv/usb: '/srv/usb' file does not exist
kfs...version...time...
can't stat /srv/partfs.sdXX: '/srv/partfs.sdXX' file does not exist

init: starting /bin/rc
/bin/dossrv: serving #s/dos
use DMA for ide drives[yes]:
echo: write error: bad process or channel control request
echo: write error: bad process or channel control request
mouseport is (ps2, ps2intellimouse, 0, 1, 2)[ps2]:
vgasize [640x480x8]: text
monitor is [xga]:

Press enter to use DMA for ide drives, then press enter again for ps2. We select text for vgasize, and for monitor, choose the default.

i8042: aux init failed
i8042: aux init failed
i8042: aux init failed
i8042: 00 returned to the ea command
/bin/aux/vga: vbecheck: VBE error 0x4f00
rio: can't open display: initdisplay: /dev/draw/new: no frame buffer


failed to start rio.  you can start a text-based installation by running

	inst/textonly


init: starting /bin/rc
% inst/textonly

Since we don't have any VGA display on OpenBSD VMM, we run inst/textonly:

Sun Mar 1 12:35:07 EST 2026 Installation process started

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...
The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install

Task to do [configfs]:

Type enter to select configfs:

--------------------------------------
You can install the following types of file systems:

	fossil			the new Plan9 fileserver
	fossil+venti	fossil + a archival dump server

File system (fossil, fossil+venti)[fossil]:

Type enter to select fossil:

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...
The following tasks are done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	partdisk	- edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition)

Task to do [partdisk]:

Type enter to select partdisk:

--------------------------------------
The following disk devices were found.

sdC0 -

sdD0 - OpenBSD VMM CD-ROM 001

Disk to partition (sdC0, sdD0)[no default]: sdC0

Choose the disk that isn't the CD-ROM, in this case, sdC0:

The disk you selected HAS NO master boot record on its first sector.
(Perhaps it is a completely blank disk.)
You need a master boot record to use the disk.
Should we install a default master boot record?

Install mbr (y, n)[no default]: y

Type y for yes:

This is disk/fdisk; use it to create a Plan 9 partition.
If there is enough room, a Plan 9 partition will be
suggested; you can probably just type 'w' and then 'q'.

cylinder = 8225280 bytes
'* p1                     0 2610        (2610 cylinders, 19.99 GB) PLAN9
>>> w
>>> q

Enter w and q to write the partitions and quit:

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...
The following tasks are done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install
	partdisk	- edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition)

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	prepdisk	- subdivide plan 9 disk partition

Task to do [prepdisk]:

Type enter to subdivide the partition:

--------------------------------------
The following Plan 9 disk partitions were found.

/dev/sdC0/plan9
 empty                  0 41929587    (41929587 sectors, 19.99 GB)

Plan 9 partition to subdivide (/dev/sdC0/plan9)[/dev/sdC0/plan9]:

Press enter to select the default Plan 9 partition:

This is disk/prep; use it to subdivide the Plan 9 partition.
If it is not yet subdivided, a sensible layout will be suggested;
you can probably just type 'w' and then 'q'.

no plan9 partition table found
9fat 204800
nvram 1
fossil 40676210
swap 1048576
' 9fat                   0 204800      (204800 sectors, 100.00 MB)
' nvram             204800 204801      (1 sectors, 512 B )
' fossil            204801 40881011    (40676210 sectors, 19.39 GB)
' swap            40881011 41929587    (1048576 sectors, 512.00 MB)
>>> w
>>> q

Enter w and q to write and quit:

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...
The following tasks are done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install
	partdisk	- edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition)
	prepdisk	- subdivide plan 9 disk partition

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	fmtfossil	- initialize disks for a fossil server

Task to do [fmtfossil]:

Press enter to format the disk for fossil.

--------------------------------------
You have the following fossil partitions.

Fossil partition to format (/dev/sdC0/fossil)[/dev/sdC0/fossil]: Done.

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...
The following tasks are done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install
	partdisk	- edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition)
	prepdisk	- subdivide plan 9 disk partition
	fmtfossil	- initialize disks for a fossil server

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	mountfs	- choose and mount file system partition

Task to do [mountfs]:

Type enter to mount the filesystem partition.

--------------------------------------
The following partitions named fossil* were found.

Please choose one to use as the installation file system
for your Plan 9 installation.

--rw-r----- S 0 glenda glenda 20826219520 Jun  9  2024 /dev/sdC0/fossil

Fossil partition (/dev/sdC0/fossil)[/dev/sdC0/fossil]:

Select the correct partition (in this case /dev/sdC0/fossil).

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...% fossil/fossil -c . /env/fossilconf
prompt: % mount -c /srv/fossil /n/newfs
fsys main create /active/adm adm sys d775
prompt: fsys main create /active/adm/users adm sys 664
prompt: uname upas :upas
prompt: users -w
	nuser 6 len 96
prompt: fsys main create /active/dist sys sys d775
prompt: fsys main create /active/dist/replica sys sys d775
prompt: fsys main create /active/dist/replica/client sys sys d775
prompt: fsys main create /active/dist/replica/client/plan9.db sys sys 664
prompt: fsys main create /active/dist/replica/client/plan9.log sys sys a664
prompt:
The following tasks are done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install
	partdisk	- edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition)
	prepdisk	- subdivide plan 9 disk partition
	fmtfossil	- initialize disks for a fossil server
	mountfs	- choose and mount file system partition

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	configdist	- choose the source of the distribution archive
	download	- download or continue to download the distribution archives

Task to do [configdist]:

Press enter to choose the source of the distribution archive.

--------------------------------------
Are you going to download the distribution
from the internet or do you have it on local media?

Distribution is from (local, net)[local]:

On OpenBSD VMM, the ISO should be loaded in CD-ROM, so press enter for local.

--------------------------------------

Preparing menu...
The following tasks are done:
	configfs	- choose the type of file system to install
	partdisk	- edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition)
	prepdisk	- subdivide plan 9 disk partition
	fmtfossil	- initialize disks for a fossil server
	mountfs	- choose and mount file system partition
	configdist	- choose the source of the distribution archive

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done:
	mountdist	- locate and mount the distribution
	download	- download or continue to download the distribution archives

Task to do [mountdist]:

Press enter to mount the distribution.

--------------------------------------
Please wait... Scanning storage devices...
	/dev/sdC0/9fat
	/dev/sdC0/data
	/dev/sdC0/fossil
	/dev/sdC0/nvram
	/dev/sdC0/swap
	/dev/sdD0/9fat
	/dev/sdD0/data

The following storage media were detected.
Choose the one containing the distribution.

	/dev/sdC0/fossil (plan9 fossil)
	/dev/sdD0/9fat (microsoft fat)
	/dev/sdD0/data (iso9660 cdrom)

Distribution disk [no default]: /dev/sdD0/data

Enter the path for the CD-ROM, in this case /dev/sdD0/data.

Type enter to browse for the root directory of the CD image.

Type lc to list contents:

Once you've confirmed this is the CD-ROM, type exit:

Type enter to copy the distribution:

Type enter to configure the hard disk to boot Plan 9.

Type y to install the Plan 9 master boot record.

Press enter to finish the installation.

Escape the serial console by typing ~~., then stop and restart the virtual machine:

Press enter to boot from local!#S/sdC0/fossil.

Type glenda to run as user glenda.

Congratulations, you now have a working Plan 9 installation. You can type ~~. to exit the serial console. Before leaving the serial console, consider setting up a cpu server.

We choose 1 to Install Plan 9 from CD:

Press enter to use DMA for ide drives, then press enter again for ps2. We select text for vgasize, and for monitor, choose the default.

Since we don't have any VGA display on OpenBSD VMM, we run inst/textonly:

Type enter to select configfs:

Type enter to select fossil:

Type enter to select partdisk:

Choose the disk that isn't the CD-ROM, in this case, sdC0:

Type y for yes:

Enter w and q to write the partitions and quit:

Type enter to subdivide the partition:

Press enter to select the default Plan 9 partition:

Enter w and q to write and quit:

Press enter to format the disk for fossil.

Type enter to mount the filesystem partition.

Select the correct partition (in this case /dev/sdC0/fossil).

Press enter to choose the source of the distribution archive.

On OpenBSD VMM, the ISO should be loaded in CD-ROM, so press enter for local.

Press enter to mount the distribution.

Enter the path for the CD-ROM, in this case /dev/sdD0/data.

% 9660srv /bin/9660srv 2688: serving /srv/9660 % mount /srv/9660 /n/distmedia /dev/sdD0/data

Which directory contains the distribution? Any of the following will suffice (in order of preference): - the root directory of the cd image - the directory containing plan9.iso - the directory containing plan9.iso.bz2 Typing `browse' will put you in a shell that you can use to look for the directory.

Location of archives browse:

Type enter to browse for the root directory of the CD image.

This is a simple shell. Commands are: cd directory - change to directory lc - list contents of current directory exit - exit shell

Move to the directory containing the distribution and then exit.

Type lc to list contents:

/% lc

386 NOTICE bootdisk.img lp power64 9load NOTICE.old cfg mail rc LICENSE README cron mips sparc LICENSE.afpl acme dist mnt sys LICENSE.gpl adm env n tmp LICENSE.lucida amd64 fd pbsraw usr LICENSE.old arm lib power

Once you've confirmed this is the CD-ROM, type exit:

/% exit

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done: copydist - copy the distribution into the file system

Task to do copydist:

Type enter to copy the distribution:

Preparing menu... The following tasks are done: configfs - choose the type of file system to install partdisk - edit partition tables (e.g., to create a plan 9 partition) prepdisk - subdivide plan 9 disk partition fmtfossil - initialize disks for a fossil server mountfs - choose and mount file system partition configdist - choose the source of the distribution archive mountdist - locate and mount the distribution copydist - copy the distribution into the file system

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done: bootsetup - create a boot floppy or configure hard disk to boot plan 9

Task to do bootsetup:

Type enter to configure the hard disk to boot Plan 9.

Initializing Plan 9 FAT partition. add 9load at clust 2 Initializing FAT file system type hard, 100 tracks, 64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 512 bytes/sec Adding file /n/newfs/386/9load, length 369368 add 9load at clust 2 used 372736 bytes % cp /n/newfs/386/9load /n/9fat/9load % cp /n/newfs/386/9pcf /n/9fat/9pcf

There are myriad ways to boot a Plan 9 system. You can use any of the following.

floppy - create a boot floppy plan9 - make the plan 9 disk partition the default for booting win9x - add a plan 9 option to windows 9x boot menu winnt - add a plan 9 option to windows nt/2000/xp boot manager

If you are upgrading an extant third edition installation and booting from something other than a floppy, you needn't run anything here. Just type ctl-d. Enable boot method (floppy, plan9, win9x, winnt)no default: plan9

Type plan9 to have plan 9 boot by default.

If you use the Windows NT/2000/XP master boot record or a master boot record from a Unix clone (e.g., LILO or FreeBSD bootmgr), it is probably safe to continue using that boot record rather than install the Plan 9 boot record.

Install the Plan 9 master boot record (y, n)no default: y

Type y to install the Plan 9 master boot record.

Setting Plan 9 partition active.

The Plan 9 partition is now marked as active.

The following unfinished tasks are ready to be done: finish - finish the installation and reboot

Task to do finish:

Press enter to finish the installation.

Halting file systems...fsys all halt prompt: done

Remember to take the install disk out of the drive. Feel free to turn off your computer.

At this point, we escape the serial console by typing ~~., then stop and restart the virtual machine:

$ vmctl stop $USER $ vmctl start -c $USER

Connected to /dev/ttyp4 (speed 115200)

intrenable: nil handler for 5, tbdf 0xC001000 for ether0 #l0: virtio: 1Gbps port 0x2000 irq 5: aabbccdded54 1024M memory: 256M kernel data, 767M user, 1392M swap usbinit...usbd.../boot/usbd: /dev/usb: no hubs no /srv/usb...no usb disk...pickmethod...read #e/nobootprompt...read #e/bootargs...outin...root is from (tcp, local)local!#S/sdC0/fossil:

Press enter to boot from local!#S/sdC0/fossil.

pickmethod done bind #æ...bind #S...partinit...auth...usernone: glenda

Type glenda to run as user glenda.

usbinit...usbd.../boot/usbd: /dev/usb: no hubs no /srv/usb...no usb disk...mount usbd...boot: can't open /srv/usb: '/srv/usb' file does not exist time... fossil(#S/sdC0/fossil)...version...can't stat /srv/partfs.sdXX: '/srv/partfs.sdXX' file does not exist

init: starting /bin/rc i8042: aux init failed i8042: aux init failed i8042: aux init failed i8042: 00 returned to the ea command aux/vga: vbecheck: VBE error 0x4f00 rio: can't open display: initdisplay: /dev/draw/new: no frame buffer init: rc exit status: rio 30: display open

init: starting /bin/rc

Congrats, you now have a working Plan 9 installation. You can type ~~. to exit the serial console. Or, you can continue configuring your server. In particular, you may want to set up a cpu server.