shades@csuchico.EDU (Bennett Smith) (11/04/87)
During the past few days I have noticed a string of replies to a letter
asking for information on the CUBIX computer systems. It seems as though
all parties which replied are somewhat misinformed where this machine is
concerned.
First of all, the machine is running AT&T iAPX286 Unix System V Release
2, which was ported by Interactive Systems, and then CUBIX wrote the
drivers for the box. It is *not* running Microsoft, nor does it run
any form of XENIX. The system can run Microport binary files, as they
(Microport) also got the SysV port from Interactive Systems.
I hope the following specifications will help clarify the features of the
CUBIX machines.
As for price, the basic CUBIX/2 retails for $5995.00.* The development
Unix software costs an aditional $1000. That seems like a reasonable
"bang-per-buck" ratio to me. We are using one of their 16 user machines
for inhouse software development and have only found a few bugs with the
system so far.
Specifications For CUBIX/2 in BASIC Configuration.
Number of User Ports 8
Processor
Main Processor 80286
Clock Frequency 8MHz
Wait States Zero
Data Bus Size 16-bit
Address Bus Size 24-bit
Floating Co-processor(option) 80287
DMA Channels 4(floppy, Winchester, tape, serial)
RAM 2MB-8MB
Serial Communications
Ports 8
Baud Rate Up to 38.4K Baud
RS-232 Yes (no DTR yet)
Din Interface Yes - 8 pin
Network Port Ethernet communications -
Buffered intelligent controller based
on a 16-bit microprocessor using
the 82586 protocol device.
Controller has a 512 Kbytes of dual
ported memory mapped RAM
designed to efficiently support
very demanding, high speed net-
working environments.
Floppy Disk Drives*
Number of Drives Supported 1
Physical Size 5 1/4
Unformatted Size 1.6MB
Formatted Size 1.2MB
*Over 30 formats supported
Hard Disk Drives
Number of Drives Supported 1
Physical Size 5 1/4
Drive Options 50MB, 103MB, 220MB formatted
Data Transfer Rate 7.5Mb/sec (RLL)
Tape Drive
Capacity 60MB
Recording Mode QIC-02 (standard intelligent for-
matter) DMA supported for
streaming tape.
Tape Speed 90 IPS
CUBIX Power
Internal 3 minutes standard on every
system.
External (optional) Up to one hour of standby power.
Operating System Unix V.2 implementation conform-
ing to SVID (System V Interface
Definitions).
Characteristics
Height 11"
Width 11"
Depth 11"
Weight 40 lbs.
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\ \ Shades @ CVM Systems uucp: ihnp4!csun!csuchic!cvm!shades
O^O disclamer: opinions are mine, voice: (916) 895-8321
and not CVM Systems.
* CVM Systems is an Authorized CUBIX Reseller.wolf@well.UUCP (Dwight Leu) (11/11/87)
In article <893@csuchic.csuchico.EDU>, shades@csuchico.EDU (Bennett Smith) writes: > During the past few days I have noticed a string of replies to a letter > asking for information on the CUBIX computer systems. It seems as though > all parties which replied are somewhat misinformed where this machine is > concerned. I'm sorry to say that you are too, at least about the software. > First of all, the machine is running AT&T iAPX286 Unix System V Release > 2, which was ported by Interactive Systems, and then CUBIX wrote the > drivers for the box. It is *not* running Microsoft, nor does it run > any form of XENIX. The system can run Microport binary files, as they > (Microport) also got the SysV port from Interactive Systems. ISC did *not* do the iAPX286 port. This was done by Chuck Hickey's group at DRI. After the port was given to ATT and Intel, DRI lost interest in UNIX, and Microport was spun off from Chuck's original group. ISC took over the maintenance of the 286 release, and wasn't involved in the original 286 porting effort. Microport's people have been pioneering real UNIX technology on the Intel architecture longer than anyone else in industry. We did the first UNIX port to the IBM AT architecture, as well as the first port to the 386 AT hardware. Our expertise enabled us to finish the 386 AT port faster than Interactive, even though they were responsible for the certified 386 port, left out key parts of the 386 alpha release, and started two weeks ahead of us. According to Intel, we finished two weeks before they did. And our longer experience with Intel/IBM/ATT is why our 286 and 386 releases run faster, and on more AT's, than either the certified ATT release, or ISC's release (there *is* a difference between certified ATT UNIX, and ISC UNIX). Microport does not get its software from ISC; it's too expensive. We've always had a close relationship with both ATT and Intel, and we get our software only from them. You are correct about the binary compatibility. However, at Comdex I talked to the Cubix people and they claimed they got their original software from Microport. But I'm in engineering, not sales, and have no further information here. I was impressed by the Cubix box. It's incredibly tiny, and the performance seemed to be quite good. > \ \ Shades \@ CVM Systems uucp: ihnp4!csun!csuchic!cvm!shades > O^O disclamer: opinions are mine, voice: (916) 895-8321 > and not CVM Systems. > * CVM Systems is an Authorized CUBIX Reseller. -dwight- Dwight H. Leu ihnp4!amdcad!uport!dwight V.P. Engineering well!wolf Microport microsoft!sco!ucscc!uport!dwight 408-438-8649 "Will your XENIX application run next year when Microsoft drops XENIX and switches to UNIX? Not even Microsoft guarantees it."