bblue%Nosc@crash.UUCP (08/16/84)
From: <bang!crash!bblue@Nosc>
There definitely seem to be some port related problems with PC/IX. Not
only the run-PC/IX-after-MSDOS problem Lee Merrill spoke of, but other
somewhat mysterious conditions where tty0 or tty1 will get into a wedged
state and refuse further commands. An attempt to shutdown at that point
will cause shutdown to sit quietly for close to a minute, print the
message "init: something won't die%s", and then MAYBE finish the shutdown.
I had a number of interesting(?) problems bringing it up on a Compaq, but
found ways around most of the problems. I'd really like to hear from
others with these types of experiences.
One problem that is still plaguing me is a behavior problem with certain
utility programs *only* when used from tty0 or tty1. They're fine from
the local console. Seems that any extra characters entered after
the final c/r of the password prompt and before the system types to you
when using login, su or passwd will kill the port. You can still send
to it and the machine will respond (you'd only know that if it were
right next to you), but no output of any kind comes from the port. Once
you have disconnected, the port is in its famous wedged state and nothing
at all seems to clear it. Only solution at that point is a one minute
shutdown (described above). IBM says its because PC/IX isn't running on
an IBM! What help.
For example: login: yourid<c/r> password: yourpass<c/r> <c/r>
will kill it every time. Anything entered at the point of the second c/r
after your password, but before you receive more output from PC/IX on
any of the three utilities I mentioned will do it.
I'm using the MicroLine BabyBlue II board for both ports. It works
flawlessly in MS-DOS.
Any suggestions? (please mail me directly, and I'll summarize if necessary)
--Bill Blue {sdcsvax, sdchema, ihnp4}!bang!crash!bbluedsg@mhuxi.UUCP (GREEN) (08/16/84)
[] I have been "experimenting" with PC/IX since May 1, 1984. My problems are/were: 1. I was only able to install PC/IX after IBM replaced EVERY board in my PC XT. restore -x didn't like my computer! 2. I could only get connect to work after spending several days with local "gurus". When I connect to a DEC VAX 11/780, I can't use vi, but with SIMTERM, etc. I can. Termcap problems? 3. I had to rm /dev/lp and ln /dev/lp1 /dev/lp to get the printer to work. 4. I can't run more than one or two processed without crashing the system. mm filename > temp & ps -ef ( the above will kill my system, ungracefully) 5. I can't print on standard output the graphics character set while in connect mode ( e.g., echo "\0333" won't generate graphics ) 6. usr/games/bj doesn't work! 7. You cant type in the password after the login UNTILL the password prompt appears 8. INed ( e editor ) is the SLOWEST editor I have ever used. It can't keep up with my typing speed which is 10 words/minute on a good day. The bottom line is that I am going to shelve the product and try Santa Cruze's XENIX. David S. Green Bell Labs mhuxi!dsg phone 201-564-4468 _________________________________________________________________ The above are opinions are from the author's experience using the product and under no circumstances should be construed as being those of my management, AT&T, Bell Labs or anyone else on this planet. Again, they are personal opinions, reflecting my competence or lack of it. This posting is not a criticsm of Interactive Systems or IBM, just some of my experiences that I would like to share with other users on the net who may be having similar problems with PC/IX. .DSG