an12370@BMSUN1.CANCER.UTEXAS.EDU (David C. Tuttle) (02/20/91)
A few weeks ago, I asked about turning some Sun-3's into X terminals. What follows is a quick summary of what I have been told. The most popular recommendation was to use Xkernel, a "freeware" package written by Seth Robertson and available via Anonymous FTP from sol.ctr.columbia.edu (128.59.64.40). I have downloaded it (it's about half a megabyte compressed, a full megabyte uncompressed). The "Xsun" kernel is precompiled and ready to go, just follow the INSTALL instructions (I haven't done it yet -- my boss doesn't want his old Sun yanked out from under him until the new one shows up :-). The INSTALL wipes out and replaces a bunch of config files in /etc, so be careful! I also got a note from Marc E. Fiuczynski of Rutgers saying that he was working on this package because "there were some problems with [it]." A cursory look via Anonymous FTP at rutgers.edu (128.6.4.7) yielded nothing that looked like a modified Xkernel. But since he asked me to contact him and I haven't yet, he may still be waiting. Some people also did their own "home-brew" kernels using xdm. I don't know dat stuff, but I may learn someday... Also, I got a note from Pete Ware of Computer Ware (oh, I get it :-) which says that his company is writing just what I'm looking for (and uses no SunOS code). It's scheduled release appears to be this Summer. Computer Ware can be reached at (619) 546-5532. Thanks to all who told what they knew: mef@klinzhai.rutgers.edu (Marc E. Fiuczynski) bmc@mayo.EDU (Bruce M. Cameron) mouse@larry.McRCIM.McGill.EDU (der Mouse) jody@shell.com (Jody Winston) <- (If you see Sharon Tuttle, say Hi!) palmer@mitre.org (Forrest Palmer) ralph@hellcat.hf.intel.com (Ralph Merwin) cw!pete@esosun.css.gov (Pete Ware) -- David C. Tuttle dct@mdaali.cancer.utexas.edu Software Systems Specialist Department of Biomathematics University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas