Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!dsuvax!ghelmer
From: ghelmer@dsuvax.uucp (Guy Helmer)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: Dumb Questions -- IBM Minix
Message-ID: <1990Dec4.151849.28931@dsuvax.uucp>
Date: 4 Dec 90 15:18:49 GMT
References: <10150@bunny.GTE.COM>
Organization: Dakota State University
Lines: 37

In <10150@bunny.GTE.COM> seb3@GTE.COM (Steve Belczyk) writes:


>Hi there!  I have a few dumb questions about Minix for the IBM:

>-- The Minix information sheet mentions that the IBM Minix supports
>   up to three simultaneous users.  Is there any way to add two more,
>   on COM3 and COM4?

Not really.  There aren't enough interrupt request lines available
in a PC to let COM3 and COM4 have their own interrupts, so they
have to share interrupts with COM1 and COM2.  It would be quite
a challenge to change the rs232 driver to handle shared interrupt
lines, and the additional interrupt service overhead would eat
up even more CPU cycles than it does now :-(

It would be a much better idea to get a smart multi-port rs232 adapter
card and try to either 1) find a driver for it or 2) write a driver
if you really want to support four or five users.

>-- The information sheet also makes no mention of VGA.  Will I be able
>   to use Minix with a VGA card?

Mine works! :-)

>-- How difficult is it to get UUCP and News running under Minix?

It's not very difficult.  I had uucp and mail running in a couple
hour's time.

>Steve Belczyk   CIS: 75126,515    BBS: +1 508 664-0149 (2400 bps)

-- 
Guy Helmer                           helmer@sdnet.bitnet, uunet!dsuvax!ghelmer
work: DSU Computing Services, Business & Education Institute    (605) 256-5315
play: MidIX System Support Services                             (605) 256-2788
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