[net.micro.68k] Help: Info for choice needed on UNIX systems

gef@invest.UUCP (Gene E. Fowler) (05/05/84)

[eat it]

>  We rejected the system [NCR Tower] because the Unix kernel internals
>  and device driver sources were not available at any price, according
>  to the NCR people I talked to.

Sources are not available for most small UNIX boxes. Most (NCR included I was
told) will sell you the necessary kernel .o's and a sample driver source so
that you can write drivers but you can't easily hack the rest of the kernel.
To get all sources for some systems, it would cost big bucks. I have heard
of $20k and up.

>  I've never used one, so I can't say how it compares to other
>  machines in performance.

Average performance on the slow disk (32 meg 59ms), but get the fast disk
(84 meg, 20 ms, smd).

I would be considering buying one but they are still in the dark ages of
Version 7 (no flames please). System V is supposed to be available third
quarter 84. I will be buying Dual 83/80 machines (maybe some 3B2's
when and if AT&T decides to sell to us little guys).

One nice feature is the power failure autorestart. It does not have to
reboot.  There is a battery backup for memory and when power is restored
some diagnostics are run and if ok and the autorestart switch is set, all
processes keep going. But modem lines are dropped unless you have an
uninterruptable power supply for them. Their terminals also come up in a
screwy state after power failure and have to be reset.

Contact me by mail if you want more info about Dual or NCR machines.

			Gene Fowler
			ihnp4!invest!gef

Disclammer: I have no connection with NCR or Dual other than that
of a customer. I am an ex-employee of AT&T Bell Labs so I will be
prejusticed (both pro and con) about 3B2's.