arsen@milkfs.itstd.sri.com (Tom Arseneault) (07/12/90)
Hello, I would like to ask a few questions about ST-Minix. First off I know about PC-Minix, just how is ST-Minix different and how is it alike? Does it support file of any size or are there limits like PC-Minix (I would not think so with the 68000's flat memory map)? What types of drives does it support, my ST has a SCSI adapter on it can I hook any size drive up to it? Is it a Gem application or does it take over the whole machine? And lastly but most importantly how do I get my hands on a upto date (1.5 or better) copy? Thanks in advance! Thomas J. Arseneault arsen@itstd.sri.com SRI International
Vincent Archer <archer%segin4.segin.fr@prime.com> (07/12/90)
Tom Arseneault <arsen@milkfs.itstd.sri.com> asks: >Hello, I would like to ask a few questions about ST-Minix. First off I >know about PC-Minix, just how is ST-Minix different and how is it >alike? Does it support file of any size or are there limits like >PC-Minix (I would not think so with the 68000's flat memory map)? What >types of drives does it support, my ST has a SCSI adapter on it can I >hook any size drive up to it? Is it a Gem application or does it take >over the whole machine? And lastly but most importantly how do I get >my hands on a upto date (1.5 or better) copy? ST-Minix is identical to the PC version except that: * You do not have to worry about 64K I & D space! * The compiler stuff is better! but: * You have less hardware support... * You do not have networking (yet)... If your hard drive can be accessed using a driver that accepts Atari drives, it should work. As for the up-to-date copy, buy 1.1 and apply the patches, or wait 2 month and order it from P-H. Vincent Vincent Archer | Email:archer%segin4.segin.fr@prime.com "People that are good at finding excuses are never good at anything else"
eesrajm@cc.brunel.ac.uk (Andrew J Michael) (07/15/90)
In article <24314@nigel.udel.EDU>, archer%segin4.segin.fr@prime.com (Vincent Archer) writes: > > Tom Arseneault <arsen@milkfs.itstd.sri.com> asks: (Stuff Deleted) ..... > >What types of drives does it support, my ST has a SCSI adapter on it > > If your hard drive can be accessed using a driver that accepts Atari drives, it > should work. > > > Vincent > This is a BAD assumption. Remember firstly that MINIX uses interrupts and TOS doesn't. Some adaptor cards (like the early Supras) have exhibited problems with interrupt generation. Secondly, some drives - notably the early Triangles don't even use normal SCSI commands. They have a home-grown command set which won't work with the MINIX-ST drivers. In short - 1. If you have an existing hard drive, try MINIX on it before buying your own copy of MINIX. 2. If you are about to buy a hard drive, insist that the vendor demonstrates that it is MINIX compatible. This may sound a bit ominous - in 99% of cases you will be all right. On the other hand, do you want to bet on the odds of your drive being the odd 1% ?? Regards Andy Michael -- Andy Michael (eesrajm@cc.brunel.ac.uk) " Software cannot be written to 85 Hawthorne Crescent be completely free of errors." West Drayton Middlesex - Acorn Computers Ltd. UB7 9PA