[net.wanted] Multiprocessor UNIX

sysred (03/11/83)

I'm trying to integrate a packet-oriented loop communications system
with UNIX(tm).  I'm currently running V6 on an 11/23 with a (slow)
8Mb Winchester as the master system, with 5 11/03s available as slave
processors.  I know this ground has been covered before, and I'm trying
to get pointers to some information:

1. I'd like to look at models of UNIX-based packet communication.  V6
code would be especially helpful.  I have access to the VMUNIX packet-
driver (but haven't looked at it).  Is the VMUNIX stuff helpful?

2. I'm thinking about switching to V7, but have heard that it is painful
(slow?) to run on small systems.  I'd like to hear from anyone who has
made the conversion.

3. If I stay with V6, I'd like to make it run faster and look as much like
VMUNIX as possible.  In particular:

	- I've heard about various performance mods to speed up V6 (e.g.
	  moving the system buffers out of kernel space).  (Mike
	  Muuss, are you there?)  Can anyone help me determine the
	  availability of any such packages?

	- I also understand that there is a retrofit library which makes an
	  attempt at providing a V7-compatible environment (system calls)
	  from a V6 kernel.  Does this library exist?

I'd appreciate any information ... please mail to
{allegra,burdvax}!sysred.  If anyone else is interested, I'll
mail/post a summary. (How many V6 users are there out there, anyway?)

				- Ralph Droms
				  Penn. State University
				  {allegra,burdvax}!psuvax!sysred

P.S.  This is the second submission for this article.  Please
forgive any duplication - I think the original submission
was dropped on the floor somewhere near psuvax.