Emulators to test non-x86 FreeBSD ports?

[Robert Bonomi]

> From owner-freebsd-questions at freebsd.org  Fri Jan 28 11:37:00 2011
> Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:27:35 +0100
> From: "C. P. Ghost" <cpghost at cordula.ws>
> To: FreeBSD Mailing List <freebsd-questions at freebsd.org>
> Subject: Emulators to test non-x86 FreeBSD ports?
>
> Hello list,
>
> are there any emulators out there that can run the non-x86 versions of 
> FreeBSD on a FreeBSD/i386 or FreeBSD/amd64 host?

Such things, by definition, are a 'simulator', not an 'emulator'.  They
exist, they are *pricey* (think "5 figures", left of the decimal point)
and they are =SLOW= (very, VERY slow!) compared to the real hardware.

> I'm especially interested in trying FreeBSD/sparc64 port, but I'd also 
> like to test the FreeBSD/powerpc and the FreeBSD/arm ports on an 
> emulator, before seeking real hardware.

Pick up some low-end used hardware, it's _lots_ cheaper, and will give 
you a better feel for how it works.