Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!hybrid!spocom!gng
From: gng@spocom.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Atari ST Multitasking/Multiuser OSs
Message-ID: <20@spocom.UUCP>
Date: 21 Nov 89 20:10:04 GMT
Followup-To: <17337@rpp386.cactus.org>
Organization: George's Computer System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 74


In <17337@rpp386.cactus.org> mark@rpp386.UUCP (Mark Lehmann) writes:

>Is MINIX really that bad.  You make it sound like the worst kludge you
>ever saw.  I wanted MINIX for multiuser, multitasking?  Does it really
>destroy the hard drive?  Is it compatible with the TOS file partitioning, 
>or am I stuck to MINIX only when I install it on my hard drive.  I was
>hoping to be able to use MINIX from one boot up and TOS from another
>boot up.  Of course not running both OP/SYS simultaneously.

I'm sorry if I sounded too emphatic over the installation problem of
MINIX/ST.  The reason I had problems installing it was mainly due to my
Supra adapter on my hard drive.  There have been other reported
problems of this from other Atari ST Minix users also, so remember, I'm
not the only one with a small grudge against Minix.  But of course, the
majority of those who buy Minix usually get it to work - now if I can
only get my hands on an ICD adapter.  :-)
Well, not getting the installation didn't exactly "destroy" my hard
drive - it made the partition to which I tried to install Minix
unworkable and I couldn't reformat or zero out the partition in order
to make it be used for regular TOS/GEM - therefore,
in order to make it working again I had to reformat the entire drive
(strange huh?).  (BTW, any Minix/ST users out there able to get Minix
working with Supra adapters?)  I believe if you use the proper
adapter (ICD, Berkeley Microsystems, Atari's) it should work,
if I remember correctly from a 'compatibility' text file that
A. Tanenbaum sent me but have since forgotten where I've put it.  :-(
Once you install Minix on a partition, I believe you can only access it
from running Minix only.  Minix, like Unix has it's own file structure
with different lengths for it's filenames and what not so TOS can't
access it directly.  I believe there is a way to transfer files back and
forth between TOS and Minix (a utility perhaps included in your
Minix disks?).  Oh yes, I learned recently that Minix 1.1 for the ST
isn't multiuser - at least not until you get the extra rs-232 drivers of
some sort...the IBM version is though.  :-(

>>From being a UNIX administrator, I am use to re-compiling the kernel.
>Is it really as tough as you say it is?  

Well, I'm not much of a Unix administrator, so that's two viewpoints on
the same thing.  From what I see, it seems Minix is definitely geared
more towards those who have the time getting Minix to work properly and
reliably (and those who have a good Unix knowledge).  But there's always
MT C-shell, and hey, OS9 too!  Heh heh...

>The second reason that I am purchasing MINIX is to learn how to write
>operating systems.  People have told me that MINIX is well supported.

Indeed it is well supported, especially in comp.os.minix.  I did
however remember seeing a few msgs in which some users were discouraged
in porting Minix/ST over to other 68k-based systems because of Minix' use
of the 'null' value/pointers/etc, and then they started arguing over
the commercial value, and therefore the educational value of Minix, etc.
Sorta like what's happening on comp.sys.atari.st with all this bashing eh?
:-)
Overall, I would say Minix is good - I've used it on a friend's Mega 2
with ICD hd and it really worked.  I guess I'm one of the few frustrated
users just trying to get the darn thing to install on my hd!
(believe me, I've tried...and I had help from my friends also...no luck)

>Thanks for the previous comments and any comments that you wish to append
>to this message.

You're welcome.  Unlike what I had to go through, I truly hope Minix works
well for you.

>|Mark Lehmann                       |                                   |
>|mark@rpp386.cactus.org             |                                   |
>|{bigtex|texbell}!rpp386!mark       |                                   |

--
George Ng (Comp. Sci., U of Toronto)   |"We're not just doing it for money;
uunet!mnetor!{becker,hybrid}!spocom!gng| we're doing it for a s***load of
   or   utgpu!ncrcan!ziebmef!spocom!gng| money!"  -  Spaceballs