Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!kessner!david
From: david@kessner.denver.co.us (David Kessner)
Subject: Re: 8-bit death
Message-ID: <1991May15.083519.3519@kessner.denver.co.us>
Organization: Kessner, Inc.
References: <3691.tnews@templar.actrix.gen.nz> <1991May13.170515.10233@sugar.hackercorp.com> <3722.tnews@templar.actrix.gen.nz>
Date: Wed, 15 May 91 08:35:19 GMT

>> System V/386. The call is sysi86().
>
>    And on an Intel CPU! We all know the thing about dead bunnies and
>    straws, eh? Is this one reason why?
>
>> Peter da Silva.   `-_-'
>*** John Bickers, TAP, NZAmigaUG.        jbickers@templar.actrix.gen.nz ***

This, of course, has _NOTHING_ to do with the int86() function call.  In
reality, this function does "machine-specific" functions-- according to my
System V 386 UNIX manual.

This function is never used by any program that expects any portability
amung platforms.  What it is used for is determining several system configs
(the amount of REAL RAM, FPU type, swap space), setting the system name
(this can be done in other, better, ways), getting the hardware time of day,
and several other 'system information' type things.

It is plain that this function is not for calling UNIX system functions.  In
fact, the only thing remarkable about this function is the number '86' in the
name-- for there is nothing that is inherent to the 80x86 CPU, and, while
I don't have the manuals in front of me, I'd bet that Amiga UNIX has a very
similar function-- sysm68k() perhapse.

-- 
David Kessner - david@kessner.denver.co.us            |
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