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From: scottl@convergent.com (Scott Lurndal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.m88k
Subject: Re: Shrink-wrap UNIX for 88open architecture.
Keywords: Fully Open Systems; MIPS ACE
Message-ID: <4155@risky.Convergent.COM>
Date: 22 Apr 91 18:49:02 GMT
References: <12@metran.UUCP>
Sender: root@risky.Convergent.COM
Reply-To: scottl@convergent.com (Scott Lurndal)
Organization: Unisys Network Computing Group
Lines: 15

In article <12@metran.UUCP>, jay@metran.UUCP (Jay Ts) writes:

|> Does the 88open standard allow for a company to develop a port of
|> UNIX to a generic 88k system?  In other words, is it possible for
|> there to be a shrink-wrap UNIX port that will run on *all* 88open
|> compliant machines?

No.  The standards developed by 88open are software standards.  They
define a software environment that must be presented by a conforming
hardware platform.  

For a shrink-wrap unix to be feasible, the hardware would also need
to be specified (i.e. how to address the various timers/clocks/
peripheral devices &c).  This would be too restrictive for any
hardware vendor to contemplate.