[comp.os.minix] Which tests are bad to run?

dc@caveat.berkeley.edu (Dave Cottingham) (02/19/91)

I seem to recall seeing someone claim that one or more of the Minix
system test programs cause some sort of file system damage.  These
test programs are going to be a big help to me, but I would like to
avoid any that have known problems (or that Minix has known problems
with).  Does anybody know any facts behind this rumor?

Thanks,
Dave Cottingham
dc@caveat.berkeley.edu

ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) (02/19/91)

In article <1991Feb18.233559.27425@agate.berkeley.edu> dc@caveat.berkeley.edu (Dave Cottingham) writes:
>I seem to recall seeing someone claim that one or more of the Minix
>system test programs cause some sort of file system damage. 

I believe that all the 1.5 tests are safe.  There were problems with test21,
but I think these problems are now all fixed.

Andy Tanenbaum (ast@cs.vu.nl)

nall@cs.utk.edu (John Nall) (02/20/91)

In article <9061@star.cs.vu.nl> ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) writes:
>In article <1991Feb18.233559.27425@agate.berkeley.edu> dc@caveat.berkeley.edu (Dave Cottingham) writes:
>>I seem to recall seeing someone claim that one or more of the Minix
>>system test programs cause some sort of file system damage. 
>
>I believe that all the 1.5 tests are safe.  There were problems with test21,
>but I think these problems are now all fixed.
>
>Andy Tanenbaum (ast@cs.vu.nl)

	I've run all the tests under 1.5 many times, and have not
	had any problems.  So unless there is a really sneaky bug
	in there, Andy is correct.

	BUT.....but.....for people running Minix-386, it is my
	recollection that one of the tests either should not be
	run, or cannot be run.  Unfortunately, I am far away
	from home and don't have the test number available for
	easy access :-(  

John Nall

cechew@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU (Earl Chew) (02/20/91)

In <1991Feb19.190451.7625@cs.utk.edu> nall@cs.utk.edu (John Nall) writes:

>	I've run all the tests under 1.5 many times, and have not
>	had any problems.  So unless there is a really sneaky bug
>	in there, Andy is correct.

There are bugs... but not necessarily all that sneaky.

>	BUT.....but.....for people running Minix-386, it is my
>	recollection that one of the tests either should not be
>	run, or cannot be run.  Unfortunately, I am far away
>	from home and don't have the test number available for
>	easy access :-(  

test8 is the culprit. The bug shows up really badly under Minix386. It's the `I
forgot Minix mknod() takes four arguments' bug. I think that this will go away
in 1.6.11.

Earl
-- 
Earl Chew, Dept of Computer Science, Monash University, Australia 3168
EMAIL: cechew@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au PHONE: 03 5655778 FAX: 03 5655146
----------------------------------------------------------------------