Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!udel!mmdf From: root@minixug.hobby.nl (The Master) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Re: Minix 1.5.10 uptime/reliability Message-ID: <24877@nigel.udel.EDU> Date: 17 Jul 90 23:24:05 GMT Sender: mmdf@ee.udel.EDU Lines: 83 From article <1990Jul13.170652.1893@dsuvax.uucp>, by ghelmer@dsuvax.uucp (Guy Helmer): > I'm hoping to set up my old AT&T PC6300 to run as a 24-hr mail and > public-domain server. I have tried running Minix continuously on it > without rebooting, but after two days it started acting wierd > and after three it completely died (with very little system load!). Hmm... > How long has everyone else managed to keep Minix up, and on what > systems? What about my machine, 'minixug' ? This box (a 16MHz 286) runs NLMUG 1.5.10C-PC/286. It has been running MINIX since november '88. I only switch to MS-DOS if I need to use WordPerfect (5.10 NL) and my other machine ('uwalt') is in use. In the past, I also used to switch to DOS for formatting diskettes... Once every month I make a total backup of my system, and, after that, I reset the beast (note, that is _never_ turned off!). My longest uptime has been about 6-7 weeks at least. I now have a third machine for all DOSy business, so I will have an uptime of about 100% now. In short: the machine only goes down when I tell it to. No problems at all (except for the processid-swap from 30000 to 1 !!). > I suspect an 80[23]86 might keep Minix running longer, > or point out problems better, than an 8086 or 68000, but I haven't Hmm, not always. The "uwalt" machine can run just as long, and it is a 10MHz XT with V-20 cpu. However, certain memory-related bugs (NULL pointers!) will be catched by a 286 or 386, so the offending process terminates instead of crashing the system. > verified this. I wish I could get kernel core dumps to find out > what crashed the system when it does die. Aaah, post-mortem dumps? Should be possible with Bruce's db() installed! > Anyway, please mail me (dsuvax!ghelmer@cs.utexas.edu) if you have any > data to contribute to my "survey" regarding length of uptime. > Please specify computer manufacturer, processor, load (low, moderate, high), > and mention anything that might be relevant. Thanks. Sorry for _posting_ this, but I thought it would be a good remined for all people running MINIX... System: FREECOM AT286/16 (16MHz 286, 0wt 1 to 16Mb (60ns), depending on the need 10 serial ports (COM1: COM2: and MUX) 2 modems: Discovery 1200-A and Trailblazer + Hard Disk Seagate ST251-1 (40Mb, 28ms) Seagate ST225-1 (20Mb, 40ms) Software: NLMUG Advanced MINIX 1.5.10C-PC/286 Load: _Heavy_. This machine serves as a login base for all NLMUG members; it is the NLMUG Archive Server; it processes NEWS and MAIL (USENET, HobbyNET and the newly created MUGNET), it runs several Amoeba servers (File Server a la Netware, some Name Servers, ...); it runs some daemons that protect the system from bad users; and I use it as a software production system. Uptime: Always, unless I need it for MS-DOS work if my other machines are busy as well. Note, that I do _not_ use "standard" MINIX; by now I know what needs to be done to keep MINIX in the air... Hope this helps, Fred van Kempen NLMUG System Manager |-) PS: Guy, please e-mail me. I want to re-discuss the matter we talked about some months ago... +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ | MINIX User Group Holland UUCP: waltje@minixug.hobby.nl | | c/o Fred van Kempen, or: hp4nl!minixug!waltje | | Hoefbladhof 27 | | 2215 DV VOORHOUT | | The Netherlands "A good programmer knows his Sources" | +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+