[net.unix] Xenix/Unix differences

west@gargoyle.UUCP (Steve Westfall) (12/29/85)

I'm not sure where questions about Xenix should go.  Please
excuse me if this is the wrong news group!

Microsoft advertizes its Xenix 3.0 as being Unix System
III compatible, but I am wondering exactly what they mean
by that.

We run Xenix on an Altos 986-40T, and after upgrading from
Xenix 2.3 (Unix version 7 derived) to Xenix 3.0, I discovered
that in the area of system administration, at least, some things
are still done as in version 7 (e.g., files /etc/ttys and
/etc/ttytype used for port configuration rather than System
III's inittab, gettytab, etc.).  One result is that we can't
configure a modem port to toggle between 1200 and 2400 baud.

I assume that Microsoft's claims mean that all the system
calls of Unix System III are available for programming,
but I imagine that I'm not the only one who expected to
see more of System III than there really is.

I would appreciate any information people have about other
differences between Xenix 3.n and System III, and also
about differences between the new Xenix System V and Unix
System V.  Replies will be summarized for the net.

Thanks!


Steve Westfall		      uucp:    ihnp4!gargoyle!west
InfotronX, Inc.
159 W. Roosevelt Rd.	      Phone:  312-231-6054 (ofc)
West Chicago, IL 60185		      312-852-1271 (home) 

sln@cosivax.UUCP (Sarah Nunke) (12/31/85)

> 
> I'm not sure where questions about Xenix should go.  Please
> excuse me if this is the wrong news group!

I don't know where these go either but I'm interested in this stuff too.

> Microsoft advertizes its Xenix 3.0 as being Unix System
> III compatible, but I am wondering exactly what they mean
> by that.....
> I assume that Microsoft's claims mean that all the system
> calls of Unix System III are available for programming,

That is basically what it means.  Microsoft apparently ported Version 7 and
rather than scrap that work and start over for System III, they made it look
like System III to the user.  Many companies have done this for thier upgrades
to System V from System III.  A good example is the Unisoft port that I have
seen on the Cromemco, NCR and other machines.

> I would appreciate any information people have about other
> differences between Xenix 3.n and System III, and also
> about differences between the new Xenix System V and Unix
> System V.  Replies will be summarized for the net.

I will write later about what I know about Xenix 3 when I get it all together,
but let me comment about Xenix System V.  It is, apparently, an all new
port so it should not be a System V built on the old Xenix.  I am very 
interested in hearing from people who are beta testing the software.  I port
software for a living and getting burned when people claim a system is
one thing and I find out it is another underneath.


Sarah Nunke		      uucp:    ihnp4!cosivax!bugs!sln
COSI, Inc.
313 N. First St.	      Phone:  313-665-8778 (ofc)
Ann Arbor, MI 48103