Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!norsk
From: norsk@sequent.UUCP (Doug Thompson)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: SCO Xenix 2.3.2 GT -- Info/Help
Message-ID: <25835@sequent.UUCP>
Date: 5 Dec 89 16:50:31 GMT
References: <2882@ucrmath.UCR.EDU>
Reply-To: norsk@crg2.UUCP (Doug Thompson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
Lines: 43

In article <2882@ucrmath.UCR.EDU> gumby@ucrmath.UUCP (john donahue) writes:
>
> (deleted)
>	I have heard about this new version called 2.3.2 GT and would like to
>know more about it from those of you who have this version and are using
>it in conjunction with SCSI drives. One place that I called told me that
>to purchase this GT version, I would be charged extra. I am wondering if
>that is really fair: or more appropriately; whether it truly is an
>extension that SCO charges for and is thus warranted. I don't mind paying
>for it if that is the case, but if this "GT" version (which, as far as I
>know is merely 2.3.2 with SCSI drivers) is just a simple patch you can
>get for free, then I'd like to tell this vendor that I want to buy just
>"plain old" 2.3.2 and then get this "patch" myself. If not, and there 
>really is more to it than that, then I'll pay the extra amount and order
>to "full" 2.3.2 GT. Who out there can tell me how they got their "GT"
>version, and how much it cost (if anything) and anything else you
>can think of that I might want to know?
>

The GT version is not just a patch. The GT version allows the user to boot
off a standard WD-like controller and/or an Adaptec AHA-154xA controller
(that is the SCSI controller). I believe they also have an ESDI 
controller driver that is bootable. Its not very easy to get the 
Kernel to boot off a device other than the WD-like controllers due
to the many assumptions that we made when Xenix was being built.
SCO fixed these assumptions with a kernel that is more general in
nature as to which device to boot from. After doing a driver for
Xenix for a removeable disk drive, I have appreciation for the
work involved in getting a kernel to boot off of several devices
and make that decision at boot time. These features are
extra under XENIX 2.3.x for the GT version and cost abt $100
more. But its worth it. Under SCO UNIX V/386 3.2 these 
features are standard and then some.

The SCSI controller is the above mentioned AHA-154xA (where
the 'x' is 0 for No floppy support or 2 for floppy controller
on the card)

-- 
Douglas Thompson		UUCP: ..{tektronix,ogcvax,uunet}!sequent!norsk
Sequent Computer Systems	Phone: (503) 526-5727
15450 SW Koll Parkway	!"The scientist builds to learn;the engineer learns in
Beaverton OR 97006	!order to build."  Fred Brooks