Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!helios!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!mips!pacbell.com!att!princeton!phoenix.Princeton.EDU!rlwald From: rlwald@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Robert L. Wald) Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent Subject: Re: Coherent vs. MINIX Message-ID: <10834@idunno.Princeton.EDU> Date: 17 Jun 91 16:35:47 GMT References: Sender: news@idunno.Princeton.EDU Distribution: comp Organization: Princeton University Lines: 44 Nntp-Posting-Host: phoenix.princeton.edu In article nheu@heuvax.wimsey.bc.ca (Norman Heu) writes: >In article jochenw@rama.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Jochen Wolters) writes: >>Hi all! >> >> I am planning on buying one of the packages >> mentioned and was even pretty sure that >>MINIX would be the one. > >I'm planning to buy one, too... and have pretty well settled on MINIX, >myself. > >>But after reading through the contents list I wasn't so sure >>anymore. As far as I can judge, Coherent might be the >>system of choice for those who >>just want to "use" it, but who are not interested >>in modifying the system itself. I just ordered Coherent (which was delayed a week (they said) since they weren't going to ship it until 3.2 came out. I'm going to take a look at it, but the more that I think about it, the more I think that I will probably return it and get Minix. Is there *anything* that Coherent has that Minix doesn't? Is it supposed to be more reliable? I notice that Minix only supports 3 users, anyone know where the limitation is? The main problem is that Minix will support large model, and Coherent won't until next year. I don't understand this, frankly. Large model works on 8086's, let alone 80286's, so why can't coherent support it? Is it because of a lack of real memory protection in an 80286? Then why does XENIX work? Also, the lack of TCP/IP support. Is there any reason why this couldn't be done with a device driver and a server running in user mode (not within the kernel)? Anyone know if there's SLIP source available anywhere, in case I decide to try this? -Rob -- "Suddenly the Earth Coincidence Control Office (ECCO) removed my penis and handed it to me ... I shouted, "Who's in charge up there, a bunch of crazy kids?" -John Lilly rlwald@phoenix.princeton.edu