[comp.unix.ultrix] rlogin loses characters

minar@reed.edu (03/31/91)

We have several DECstation 3100s hooked together on an ethernet.  The
connection is quite speedy.  When one is logged into one 3100 (via an
xterm), and runs an rlogin into another machine, frequently whole
bunches of characters of output never make it to the screen.  This
problem also occurs when we rlogin to our ancient VAX (running BSD
4.3).  The problem is fairly nondeterministic - I can be rlogged into
another machine, type ls in the same directory 4 times, and 1 time I
will get the complete output, 2 times one batch of characters will be
missing, and the last time some other batch of characters will be
missing.  The problem occurs equally under bash and Ultrix-supplied
csh.  Needless to say, it makes rlogin difficult. For example,
rlogging into another DS3100 and typing ls thrice in a row will
generate output like: (first line only)

altosax/     dharma/      lost+found/  projects/    u/           vishnu/

rma/      lost+found/  projects/    u/           vishnu/

altosax/     dharma/      lost+found/  projects/    u/           vishnu/

These are supposed to be the same!

We can, however, run xterms through an rsh to another machine. In this
case all characters make it through all the time.

Is this behaviour a 'feature' of Ultrix 4.1 rlogin? It wasn't as bad
when we were running Ultrix 2.2, but its bad enough now that rlogin is
unusable. Does rlogin not guarantee that all characters get from the
other machine to you?