[comp.os.minix] 1. MINIX can run on.. 2. Disk part. 3. Caveats 4. 512K 5. Kudos

ganesh@utah-cs.UUCP (Ganesh C Gopalakrishnan) (01/22/87)

(1) I've succesfully run MINIX on the Leading Edge clone of
an ordinary IBM-PC (forget the model number), 
an ordinary PC, and a Samsung Clone. My friends have
run it on a PC-XT and a PC-AT. If you are interested, mail me a note
and I'll get the exact model numbers.

CAVEAT : I haven't tested and confirmed that all the device
drivers would operate correctly on the clones. My OS class (45 students)
is using Minix on the Leading Edges, and I will find this out
soon. 

(2) The book (yes, I got one courtesy  of PH)
gives instructions on how to fool the DOS program
FDISK into making multiple partitions, one for DOS, one for
MINIX, etc. However, read (3).

(3) THE HARD-CARD 20 SOLD BY MAYNARD COPR. isn't compatible with
the driver provided for Minix. I learned this the painful way, but
could return my HARD-CARD anyway (because it was also hogging too much power
and causing floppy errors after long hours of use!).

(4) 512 K : I've compiled some small C programs on a 512K machine.
The number of processes that you can run are severely limited.
You can't stop the full screen editor "Mined" because it runs out
of room in an attempt to fork.

There are ways of circumventing the lack of a full 640 K (by moving
programs around to leave enough space on the RAM disk, etc.). I'd
rather spend the extra $20 that it costs these days to get a system
upgraded to 640 K, if you have the space on the memory board.

(5) Finally, Kudos to Andy Tanenbaum and students for their 
mammoth effort. The system is really rugged and well documented.
I could recompile and re-build the system with ease.
The book is packed with information. 
I think I've run into one minor bug so far, and I will post more details
after I study it closely myself.


Ganesh

coleman@sask.UUCP (01/31/87)

In article <4199@utah-cs.UUCP>, ganesh@utah-cs.UUCP (Ganesh C Gopalakrishnan) writes:
> 
> (3) THE HARD-CARD 20 SOLD BY MAYNARD COPR. isn't compatible with
> the driver provided for Minix. 
> 
 This isn't really suprisingi as you have the same problem with UNIX 
on a 6300+. The problem is that hardcards (in general) use there own
controller and there own BIOS ROM. 
	By the way what controller is needed for MINIX to work properly.
I know that for UNIX on the 6300+ one needs to use the WDC controller

-- 
Geoff Coleman                         | BITNET: Coleman@sask
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