gill@boris.mscs.mu.edu.uucp (Vijay (Ender)) (03/02/91)
Submitted-by: gill@boris.mscs.mu.edu.uucp (Vijay (Ender)
I have seen several references to Unix V{8,9,10} and my interest
was piqued. I have the following questions about them.
1. What are they. Are they the next logical step up from V7?
2. Are they any good?
3. Are they only for research in Universities or are they available
commercially?
4. What, if any, use are they?
Please e-mail and I will summarize.
cheers
-dicky gill (Violator)
-gill@boris.mscs.mu.edu
Volume-Number: Volume 22, Number 134andrew@alice.att.com (Andrew Hume) (03/03/91)
Submitted-by: andrew@alice.att.com (Andrew Hume) there have been several snippets on research unix over the last year or so but a quick summary would not be amiss. Unix V* refers strictly to editions of the manual; of course, there are corresponding versions of the system but rarely did anyone go to the trouble of making a distribution tape (one was done for V8). The versions (and highlights) are 8th Edition (Feb, 85): streams, much networking (mostly datakit), remote filesystem (wienberger's), Blit software and support. 9th Edition (Sep 86): cleanup of 8th Edition, manual MUCH improved, libraries and source cleaned and trimmed. Much improved networking, including IP and better text processing (monk, prefer, vtbl). 10th Edition (Oct 89): 20th anniversary edition! This edition included both volumes; the 2nd volume (supporting documents) was heavily revised and enlarged. Both volumes are available as a set from Saunders for $45 in the US (i am working with Saunders in Canada on the price there). Code highlights include a sensible mailer scheme (upas), simplified networking, more specialised programs such os OCR readers, protocol verification tools, better windowing software (including the editor sam) and a host of gradual improvements to older programs. Any enquiries about Research Unix can be sent to me (andrew@research.att.com) or my department head, Dennis Ritchie (dmr@research.att.com). It may be possible for educational places to get a 10th edition tape; if you are interested, contact dennis. Also note that educational people interested in using Plan 9, an alternative newer distributed operating system developed in our Center by Pike, Presotto, Thompson, Trickey and others, should contact Rob Pike (rob@research.att.com) for details. Volume-Number: Volume 22, Number 135