AFS Assigned Numbers Registry - System Type Names and ID's

This is a registry of canonical system type names and ID's used in past and present AFS implementations. ID's are allocated in blocks of 100 for each major architecture. Specific assignments are made within each block as new ports are developed.

A note on systype names and @sys values:

There has been a large amount of controversy and some confusion arising from the multiple uses of system type names like those defined in this registry. Names like these are used for at least two purposes: (1) to designate the combination of hardware architecture and operating system on which a particular set of AFS binaries are supported, and (2) as values for the magic '@sys' variable, which is used to select files based on the client system architecture.

These two uses are actually separate, but they are often confused for each other. This situation is made worse by the fact that in current implementations, the compiled-in value used for the first purpose is often also used as default value for the second.

This registry records the system type names and ID's used for the first purpose. These are the "official" names recognized by the various major AFS implementations. Because of this usage, it is desirable that they be universally recognized and relatively few in number. Thus, it makes sense to provide central registration for these names.

The number of possible values for @sys, on the other hand, is quite large. Each site chooses its own set of values based on its own needs. Often these include some of the "official" names, but also some based on local needs or customs. It is common for several similar system types with compatible or nearly-compatible ABI's to share the same value of @sys. Sometimes values are used which are not the same as the name of any existing system type, because of a need or desire to distinguish between similar platforms or for other reasons.

To attempt to catalog all of the @sys values in use would be a nearly impossible task. It would also not be very useful -- no one set of names is going to satisfy the needs of every site.

Registration Policy

System type names will be registered by request of maintainers of the major AFS implementations (currently IBM AFS, OpenAFS, and Arla). Anyone wishing to port one of these implementations to a new platform is encouraged to contact the maintainers of that implementation to obtain a new system type name. Direct registrations may be permitted in the future if the maintainers of current implementations can agree on a procedure for determining what is a "correct" system type name.

System type ID's are allocated to each major architecture in blocks of 100, and assigned as needed. An appropriate system type ID will be assigned along with each system type name assignment.