Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ukma!rutgers!sri-unix!ellis
From: ellis@unix.SRI.COM (Michael Ellis)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Installing X on Sun 4/280, OS (Sys4-) 3.2
Keywords: problems, Sun 4, Sun OS 3.2
Message-ID: <29388@sri-unix.SRI.COM>
Date: 7 Apr 89 02:10:44 GMT
Reply-To: ellis@unix.sri.com (Michael Ellis)
Organization: SRI, Menlo Park, CA.
Lines: 24

Is it even possible to install X on a Sun4 running "Sys4-3.2", or am I
beating my head against the wall? Is it wiser to throw in the towel and tell my
users they're stuck with SunWindows until a stable version of 4.0 is available?
(Sys4-3.2 is the only non-4.0 SunOS that will run on a Sun4; I believe it is
a version of 3.2 with 3.5 and 4.0 enhancements, and I was planning to upgrade
when 4.0.3 comes out.)

Never having had any experience with X installation, I must admit that its
sheer bulk and complexity are truly appalling (to this novice, anyway).
Critical installation instructions are hidden deep in random leaves of X's
gigantic tree structure. Worst of all, trial-and-error in setting critical
configuration parameters yields a 3-8 hour turnaround each trial cycle:
failed `make World's seem to require total restoration of virgin X software:
1 hour for the `make World', 1 hour for the rm -r, 1 hour for the tar,
1-3 hours editing trial parameters in scattered configuration files, the
slack time spent gnashing teeth and clenching fists while angstfully scanning
thru megabytes of imakefiles and "helpful" user documentation in hopes of
attaining true X enlightenment.

X installation is *hell* for this novice. Help!

Thanks

Michael Ellis [ellis@sri-unix]