paradis@pinocchio.encore.com (Jim Paradis) (01/21/89)
I own an 80286-based PeeCee clone, and I would like to put up a version of Un*x on it that will also run DOS applications. Most DOS-under-Xenix systems I've seen only work on the 80386; however, I have a Microport price list in front of me here that lists their Dos Merge [tm] product as being available for both the 80286 AND the 80386. This brings up two questions: (1) Anybody have any experiences with Microport Xenix and/or Dos Merge on the 286? (2) Does anybody know of any OTHER vendors who offer Unices that run DOS applications for the 286? While I'm at it, here's another question: I notice that Microport offers both two-user and unlimited-user versions of their systems, with significant price differences between the two... could someone tell me how they enforce the two-user limit? Finally, does anybody know of a mail-order house that sells Microport products cheap? To paraphrase the Speedy Muffler commercial, "I'm NOT going to pay a LOT for this kernel!!!" 8-) Jim Paradis (paradis@encore.UUCP) 508-460-0500 Devout Secular Humanist and Worshipper of Bacchus in Vintage Years
john@wa3wbu.UUCP (John Gayman) (01/21/89)
In article <4718@xenna.Encore.COM>, paradis@pinocchio.encore.com (Jim Paradis) writes: > I own an 80286-based PeeCee clone, and I would like to put up a > version of Un*x on it that will also run DOS applications. Most > > (1) Anybody have any experiences with Microport Xenix > and/or Dos Merge on the 286? First off, Microport's product is Unix, not Xenix. :-) Thier port is System V, release 2 on the 286. The DosMerge does basically work but it suffers from some restrictions. If your DOS tasks are going to involve heavy serial I/O, then you might have problems. What the provide you is a virtual console for DOS. At the command line you can type "dos" and you'll get the prompt. It will *not* multitask DOS. When in DOS, your Unix applications continue to run. When you exit DOS, your DOS task will suspend itself. This is the first major difference in the 386 Merge stuff. It can run multiple DOS sessions and they run concurrently with Unix. For Merge, plan to have a *minimum* of 1.5MB of RAM with ~3MB being recommended. > While I'm at it, here's another question: I notice that Microport > offers both two-user and unlimited-user versions of their systems, > with significant price differences between the two... could someone > tell me how they enforce the two-user limit? The kernel only allows two logins. So if you have two people logged in and a third tries, he/she will get a "system busy, try later" or something to that effect. These limitations are hard-coded into the kernel. > Finally, does anybody know of a mail-order house that sells Microport > products cheap? To paraphrase the Speedy Muffler commercial, "I'm NOT > going to pay a LOT for this kernel!!!" 8-) I seem to recall a place called Programmers Connection that advertises in Byte magazine. Thier prices looked slightly lower than getting it directly from uport. John -- John Gayman, WA3WBU | UUCP: uunet!wa3wbu!john 1869 Valley Rd. | ARPA: john@wa3wbu.uu.net Marysville, PA 17053 | Packet: WA3WBU @ AK3P
fischer@netmbx.UUCP (Axel Fischer) (01/24/89)
In article <4718@xenna.Encore.COM> paradis@pinocchio.encore.com (Jim Paradis) writes: > (1) Anybody have any experiences with Microport Xenix > and/or Dos Merge on the 286? Yes - I have made a lot of BAD experiences with it. I've used Microports DOS/Merge 286 and very often the DOS Prg's have shutdown the WHOLE system, because sometimes the DOS Prg's use the same memory page. The 286 is not able to protect the Unix memory from the DOS memory. The DOS applications are trying to use the same memory. SCO has not a DOS/Merge for the 286 because of this reason. -Axel -- Domain: fischer@netmbx.UUCP Europe: ...!tmpmbx!netmbx!fischer Rest of world: ...!uunet!pyramid!tmpmbx!netmbx!fischer =====> Beam me up, Scotty - there is no intelligent life down here ! <=====