erc@pai.UUCP (Eric Johnson) (08/02/88)
[ I hope this subject hasn't been hashed to death already... ]
Request for information on PC/AT and '386 versions of Unix:
We have a number of ATs and '386s currently running DOS. The
machines primarily run one application (written in-house) for
controlling factory automation systems. We also have a Unix
product (running on HP, Sun and other Unix workstations -- mainly
Sys V on HP-UX, with Berkeley extensions, particularly in
networking).
As everyone knows, the DOS 640K limit is a pain (and so is the
voodoo/extended/expanded/BIG memory -- in a futile attempt
at making the 640K limit really go away).
We are therefore, looking for PC versions of Unix, to replace DOS, so then
we will have one version of our software on all machines.
So, if the pc.unix.net.experts could provide some info on
the following, I would be eternally grateful:
1) What hardware is necessary for PC/AT clones to run Unix, i.e.,
what will we have to add?
Most of our installations have:
EGA card and monitor
20 MB hard Disk (for a run-time version only -- development
would be on a different machine with a larger disk)
at least 1 1.2 MB floppy
some have Ungermann-Bass Ethernet cards
at least one serial port (many have two)
a parallel printer port
640K RAM (how much RAm will we have to add?)
80286 or 80386 processor (we have both installed)
2) What is the desired set-up for a development machine (for compiling
C programs, etc.)? RAM needed? Disk size? etc.? What particular products
would we want for development?
3) Our Unix versions use the X Window System (currently X10R4) for
graphics and user interaction. Is X available on any PC Unix
versions? Ideally, we would like X to run with the EGA monitor
and card (I know the resolution is terrible, but this is what
is installed). Are there any versions of X10 or X11 that support
the EGA? How about VGA? If not X, what sort of graphic libraries
are available? (We heavily use windows, pop-up menus, and the like,
so typical GKS-styled libraries probably won't cut it.)
4) Networking: Currently we use the BSD sockets approach to
TCP/IP networking over Ethernet. On the ATs, we use Ungermann-Bass
Ethernet cards. What sort of Unix libraries are available for
networking? Does the U-B card fit in, or not?
5) Is there any other special considerations we should take note of?
Thanks in advance.
Replies can be emailed to me at sun!tundra!pai!erc
-- I can then summarize for the net, if others would like
to see the information, too.
-Eric
--
Eric F. Johnson | Phone +1 612-894-0313 | Are we
Prime Automation,Inc | UUCP: bungia!pai!erc | having
12201 Wood Lake Drive | UUCP: sun!tundra!pai!erc | fun
Burnsville, MN 55337 USA | BIX: erc | yet?