Sun-Spots-Request@RICE.EDU (William LeFebvre) (08/02/88)
SUN-SPOTS DIGEST Sunday, 31 July 1988 Volume 6 : Issue 157
Today's Topics:
Re: What means "-From hostname (sendmail)" in the process status?
Eye strain and screen resolution.
oops, another bug
sparc compiler bug breaks inet_ntoa()
the name server patch tape
Manual Binders for the Sun
find-fs, part 2
Need MacPaint to rasterfile(5) converter
SUN NFS compatible TCP/IP program for IBM PC/AT running XENIX 2.00?
Emacstool (Gnu-emacs v 18.51.6) bug ?
DRAM drought update?
Dial-back modems?
Sun video to VCR?
rogue patches for SunOS?
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 12:23:38 +0200
From: mcvax!ecn!wim@uunet.uu.net (Wim Rijnsburger)
Subject: Re: What means "-From hostname (sendmail)" in the process status?
Here comes a reply of myself to my own question. I've discovered that the
""-From hostname (sendmail)" processes are created in one of the folowing
situations:
- a user becomes superuser with "su"
- edit a file with "vi"
- vi "crashes" and sends mail how to recover the editted file
or:
- a user is trying to send mail to himself
In our network the mailhost and the YP-server are not the same. In the
/usr/lib/aliases on the YP-server we made an entry:
username: mailhost!username
for each user and on each mail-client (including the YP-server) we've
aliased a person to get the mail for root:
root: client-superuser-name
Now we've found that if we put in /usr/lib/aliases on the mailhost the
same aliases for each user (username: mailhost!username) as present in the
Yellow Pages, then the "-From" processes don't occur.
I think this all indicates an alias loop. But I don't understand how. And
I think that the duplication of the username aliases is not the right way
to get rid of this.
Wim.
Wim Rijnsburger e-mail: mcvax!ecn!wim
Netherlands Energy Research Foundation, ECN
P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten(NH), Holland phone : +31 2246 4336
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 09:13:08 EDT
From: brooks@slb-sdr.sdr.slb.com
Subject: Eye strain and screen resolution.
Readers interested in this issue might be interested in the Gould et. al.
article in the October, 1987 issue of Human Factors on why reading from
paper is typically faster than reading from CRT screens. A major
contributor to the problem is simply resolution; below 100 pixels/inch,
reading speed falls off rapidly. (A normal Sun screen is only about 75
pixels/inch [[ I think that it's closer to 80. --wnl ]]) The article also
gives backpointers to earlier work on text polarity.
Another useful article is in the December 1987 issue of Computing Surveys
(just appearing on your newstands now) by Mills and Weldon on reading text
from computer screens.
While neither of these articles address eye strain or its cure directly,
they do suggest that there might be multiple causes and contributing
factors. Worthwhile reading for the aflicted!
Ruven Brooks
Schlumberger-Doll Research
Ridgefield, CT.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 88 19:22:32 EDT
From: Mike DeCorte <mrd@sun.soe.clarkson.edu>
Subject: oops, another bug
Someday when you are not doing anything to interesting try this out,
1) make sure you don't have a umask set in your .cshrc
2) execute 'rsh pick_a_sun_comuter umask'
what does it return? Well just to save you the time it returns 0! Now it
should return 22. I tried this under Sun O.S. 3.5 Called sun and they say
'yup, its a bug' and 'its not fixed under 4.0'. Sigh.
If it is of any help, the ~ bug that I reported several weeks ago seems to
be gone on 4.0 (we have 1 client running 4.0 that I tested it on).
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 88 21:31:12 PDT
From: Craig Leres <leres@helios.ee.lbl.gov>
Subject: sparc compiler bug breaks inet_ntoa()
I couldn't get ypserv -i to work on a Sun 4 running Sys4-3.2_REV2. This
problem is apparently caused by a compiler bug.
Inet_ntoa() accepts an in_addr struct as an argument. The compiler
generates incorrect code for this routine which dereferences the argument.
If the argument is changed from an in_addr struct to a long, correct code
is generated. I've appended the source to a version which works correctly
on the Sun 4. (I used the 4.3 BSD version to avoid source redistribution
restrictions.) After updating my libc with the new inet_ntoa.o, I was able
to build a ypserv that uses the nameserver (using the 3.5 ypserv source).
Craig
P.S. This bug exists with the 4.0 Sun 4 compiler too. But without 4.0
source, it might be hard to generate a new ypserv.
------
/*
* Copyright (c) 1983 Regents of the University of California.
* All rights reserved.
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted
* provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are
* duplicated in all such forms and that any documentation,
* advertising materials, and other materials related to such
* distribution and use acknowledge that the software was developed
* by the University of California, Berkeley. The name of the
* University may not be used to endorse or promote products derived
* from this software without specific prior written permission.
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR
* IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
* WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
*/
#if defined(LIBC_SCCS) && !defined(lint)
static char sccsid[] = "@(#)inet_ntoa.c 5.4 (Berkeley) 6/27/88";
#endif /* LIBC_SCCS and not lint */
/*
* Convert network-format internet address
* to base 256 d.d.d.d representation.
*/
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <netinet/in.h>
char *
inet_ntoa(in)
#ifdef sparc
long in;
#else
struct in_addr in;
#endif
{
static char b[18];
register char *p;
p = (char *)∈
#define UC(b) (((int)b)&0xff)
sprintf(b, "%d.%d.%d.%d", UC(p[0]), UC(p[1]), UC(p[2]), UC(p[3]));
return (b);
}
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 88 07:02:33 PDT
From: JQ Johnson <jqj@drizzle.cs.uoregon.edu>
Subject: the name server patch tape
I have been informed by Sun Customer support that the Sun "name server
patch" (which has been discussed on this list) is available for anonymous
ftp distribution on the Internet. It includes a fixed version of ypserv
that runs under SunOS 4.0 with shared libraries (Sun-3 only) and allows
name-resolver based host name->address translations through the yellow
pages. It also includes a compiled version of Bind 4.8, and some support
files for Sun-2 and Sun-4 systems. It is quite big (almost 500K
compressed), and only appropriate to sites on the Internet. If you need
it, you can obtain it by anonymous ftp from:
bach.berkeley.edu pub/ddn/ddn.tar 877K uncompressed
[128.32.135.1]
hogg.cc.uoregon.edu pub/SunOS4.0_ddn.tar.Z 484K compressed
[128.223.20.5]
The SunSpots moderator might also wish to place this in the public
directory on titan.rice.edu.
[[ In order for it to be easily accessible to non-Internet users, it would
have to be repackaged into shar files...a task that I am not very willing
to undertake. --wnl ]]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 21:33:05 EDT
From: Chris Barry <cbarry@bbn.com>
Subject: Manual Binders for the Sun
For manuals intended for public or personal use, one might consider
purchasing what some call a "docu-box": metal posts similar to that found
within individual binders, except without the plastic cover & with smaller
rings. These posts can be linked in series to contain an entire box of
manuals in the space of a Sun 4/110 cpu.
I saw one of these creatures out at Sun's office in Lexington last week.
CB
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 16 Jul 88 16:10:42 EDT
From: Valdis Kletnieks <valdis@sun.mcs.clarkson.edu>
Subject: find-fs, part 2
After an evening's hacking, I modified Richard Tobin's 'find-fs' program
to also print out the inode number. You can then use 'ncheck -i' to find
the offender... No comments about the programming style, please, it
works, and that's all I really care about. I have NO idea why the
alignment problems that forced me to do the messiness with the 'mash'
union - it just works.
I have tested it on 4.2 disks, NFS disks, and nd disks on a SunOS 3.5 system.
Hope this is as much more useful for you guys as it was for me...
Valdis Kletnieks
Sr. Systems Programmer
Clarkson University
Context diffs follow - apply with 'patch'.
*** find-fs.c.orig Fri Jul 15 17:35:42 1988
--- find-fs.c Sat Jul 16 15:38:54 1988
***************
*** 6,11 ****
--- 6,16 ----
*
* Copyright Richard Tobin, AIAI 1988 (R.Tobin@uk.ac.ed)
* May be freely redistributed if this notice remains intact.
+ *
+ * Modified by Valdis Kletnieks, Clarkson University
+ * to print out the inode-number as well. Run 'ncheck' to find
+ * what THAT points at.
+ *
*/
***************
*** 25,30 ****
--- 30,36 ----
#include <sys/text.h>
#include <stdio.h> /* must be after vfs - sigh */
#include <mntent.h>
+ #include <ufs/inode.h> /* V. Kletnieks */
#undef KERNEL
***************
*** 81,87 ****
if(p.p_textp)
{
kread(p.p_textp, &text, sizeof(text));
! check(text.x_vptr, id, "process %d text\n", p.p_pid, 0);
}
if(p.p_stat == SZOMB) continue;
--- 87,93 ----
if(p.p_textp)
{
kread(p.p_textp, &text, sizeof(text));
! check(text.x_vptr, id, "process %d inode %d text\n", p.p_pid, 0);
}
if(p.p_stat == SZOMB) continue;
***************
*** 93,100 ****
continue;
}
! check(u->u_cdir, id, "process %d current directory\n", p.p_pid, 0);
! check(u->u_rdir, id, "process %d root directory\n", p.p_pid, 0);
for(f=0; f<NOFILE; ++f)
{
--- 99,106 ----
continue;
}
! check(u->u_cdir, id, "process %d inode %d current directory\n", p.p_pid, 0);
! check(u->u_rdir, id, "process %d inode %d root directory\n", p.p_pid, 0);
for(f=0; f<NOFILE; ++f)
{
***************
*** 102,108 ****
{
kread(u->u_ofile[f], &file, sizeof(file));
if(file.f_type == DTYPE_VNODE)
! check(file.f_data, id, "process %d descriptor %d\n",
p.p_pid, f);
}
}
--- 108,114 ----
{
kread(u->u_ofile[f], &file, sizeof(file));
if(file.f_type == DTYPE_VNODE)
! check(file.f_data, id, "process %d inode %d descriptor %d\n",
p.p_pid, f);
}
}
***************
*** 118,124 ****
--- 124,132 ----
int arg1, arg2;
{
struct vnode vnode;
+ struct inode *iptr, inode;
struct vfs vfs;
+ union {int a; short b[2];} mash;
if(!v)
return;
***************
*** 125,132 ****
kread(v, &vnode, sizeof(vnode));
kread(vnode.v_vfsp, &vfs, sizeof(vfs));
if(bcmp(&vfs.vfs_fsid, id, sizeof(fsid_t)) == 0)
! printf(format, arg1, arg2);
}
--- 133,146 ----
kread(v, &vnode, sizeof(vnode));
kread(vnode.v_vfsp, &vfs, sizeof(vfs));
+ /* iptr = (struct inode *) (v->v_data); */
+ /* or so the preceeding would be if we were in kernel space. */
+ iptr = (struct inode *) vnode.v_data;
+ kread(iptr,&inode,sizeof(inode));
+ /* damn 'short' and printf.... */
+ bcopy(&(inode.i_number),&mash,4);
if(bcmp(&vfs.vfs_fsid, id, sizeof(fsid_t)) == 0)
! printf(format, arg1,(int) ((unsigned) mash.a>32767?mash.b[0]:mash.b[1]),arg2);
}
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 15:22:39 MDT
From: karl@cgdra.ucar.edu (Karl Sierka)
Subject: Need MacPaint to rasterfile(5) converter
I am working on a program that will merge byte array files and formatted
color map files into a rasterfile(5) file. I don't want to leave out
MacPaint formatted input files, so would someone please send me a c
program that will convert MacPaint files to Sun rasterfile(5) format?
thanks,
Karl Sierka
karl@cgdra.ucar.edu
[[ A program submitted very recently does this. Check in the sun-spots
archives under "sun-source" and you will find a program called
"convert.c". It is only 3425 bytes long and it can be retrieved via
anonymous FTP from the host "titan.rice.edu" or via the archive server.
For more information about the archive server, send a mail message
containing the word "help" to the address "archive-server@rice.edu".
--wnl ]]
------------------------------
Date: 17 Jul 88 00:50:29 GMT
From: annala%neuro.usc.edu@oberon.usc.edu (A J Annala)
Subject: SUN NFS compatible TCP/IP program for IBM PC/AT running XENIX 2.00?
HELP!!!
I have a turnkey application package running on an IBM PC/AT under IBM
XENIX Version 2.00. The PC/AT has a 3Com EtherLink board for
communication through Ethernet. We also have a SUN-III/160 running SUN
UNIX 4.2 Release 3.2. Under MS-DOS we can use SUN's PC-NFS software to
establish network virtual terminals and NFS virtual disks on the PC using
the SUN as the server. However, I don't seem to be able to locate a
package with similar capabilities for use under XENIX. If anyone has
something link SUN's PC-NFS product available for use under XENIX I would
really appreciate a direct mail message to:
annala%neuro.usc.edu@oberon.usc.edu
Thanks, AJ Annala
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 11:40:34 -0400
From: Sandeep Mehta <sxm@philabs.philips.com>
Subject: Emacstool (Gnu-emacs v 18.51.6) bug ?
I wonder if anyone has had this problem and/or can suggest a quick and
hopefully painless fix. When I try to use the mouse to cut & paste or use
it to set the current point inside an Emacs buffer the cursor always goes
a few characters or a few lines ahead of the intended location. The number
of characters and the number of lines it is off by is usually the same
although I cannot guarantee that the number is fixed. I did not have this
problem with previous releases. This problem only arises when running
under SunView not X11.
sandeep
Sandeep Mehta uunet!philabs!bebop!sxm
Robotics & Flexible Automation sxm@philabs.philips.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 14:44:38 EDT
From: Gary Dare <dare@eevlsi.ee.columbia.edu>
Subject: DRAM drought update?
What have peoples' shipping times been like for their Sun stations, esp.
those of you who have ordered additional RAM?
Can someone send me opinions, pro and con, regarding Helios Systems' 3/50
and 3/60 compatible boards? How is it that a small outfit like this can
ship (or claim to ship) when a "big guy" like Sun grinds to a halt??
gld
Gary L. Dare
> dare@eevlsi.ee.columbia.EDU
> gld@cunixc.BITNET
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 12:21:48 BST
From: mcvax!ritd.co.uk!mr@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Dial-back modems?
We want to add dialup access to our site (work from home) and I reckon
that dial-back modems would be sensible option to firewall us from hackers
(and save my home phone bill!). Would appreciate comments on:
- Am I being sensible in assuming that dial-back
modems are a "good thing" in this situation.
- Anyone with good/bad experience of particular
models or vendors.
I will summarise back to the net. Thanks in advance,
Martin Reed, Racal Imaging Systems Ltd
uucp: mr@ritd.co.uk,{mcvax!ukc!ritd,sun!sunuk!brains}!mr
Global String: +44 252 622144
Paper: 309 Fleet Road, Fleet, Hants, England, GU13 8BU
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 88 13:16:16 MDT
From: jva@cadnetix.com
Subject: Sun video to VCR?
Does anyone have any experience capturing the video output from a Sun
workstation to video tape? Our training staff would love to be able to
incorporate actual video displays from a Sun into training videos we produce.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Joe VanAndel Internet:jva@cadnetix.COM
Cadnetix Corp. UUCP: cadnetix!jva
5775 Flatiron Parkway {uunet,boulder,nbires}!cadnetix!jva
Boulder, CO 80301 Voice: 303-444-8075 x 487
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 88 23:06:29 MST
From: lyndon@ncc.nexus.ca
Subject: rogue patches for SunOS?
Has anyone ported Toolchest Rogue (aka Bell Labs version 7.7) to SunOS? It
compiles clean, but death by "bug" is no fun...
{alberta,pyramid,uunet}!ncc!lyndon
------------------------------
End of SUN-Spots Digest
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