The World of Computer Software/The World of Computer Software.iso/lnxd3-73.zip/DIGEST3.739

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-13 | 21KB

From [e-mail] Tue Dec  8 19:34:58 1992
Return-Path: <[e-mail]>
Received: from bloom-picayune (BLOOM-PICAYUNE.MIT.EDU) by montefiore.ulg.ac.be (4.1/SMI-4.1)
    id AA29582; Tue, 8 Dec 92 19:34:16 +0100
Received:  by bloom-picayune (5.57/25-eef)
    id AA08669; Tue, 8 Dec 92 13:00:47 -0500
Message-Id: <9212081800.AA08669@bloom-picayune>
From: Digestifier <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date:     Tue, 8 Dec 92 13:00:35 EST
Subject:  Linux-Activists Digest #739
Status: RO

Linux-Activists Digest #739, Volume #3            Tue, 8 Dec 92 13:00:35 EST

Contents:
  REVISED: Coherent/LINUX/386BSD hardware FAQ (Jeff Kuehn)
  Re: Macintosh format disks (Erkka Sutinen)
  Can't boot dos on grid1755 after LINUX/SLS install (Harold O Morris)
  Re: X / Enhanced VGA Local Bus ET4000 (david.e.wexelblat)
  Linux on a PS/2 (Ron Szeto)
  Re: HELP! X386.S3.2b server and the fixed-font bug!!! (Kevin Cummings)
  Re: Disk Defragger??? (W. Woody Jin)
  Re: Do X-Windows use the math-coprocessor? (BARRY TITMARSH)
  ANNOUNCE: Deliver available for Linux (Matthew Donadio)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.coherent,comp.unix.bsd,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: [e-mail] (Jeff Kuehn)
Subject:  REVISED: Coherent/LINUX/386BSD hardware FAQ
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 16:46:58 GMT

If you answered the original questionaire, you don't need to respond again.

I would like to compile a "Hardware FAQ" for Coherent, LINUX and 386BSD.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the following questionaire regarding what
hardware you are currently using or have used in the past with Coherent, LINUX
and 386BSD.  The satisfaction questions are intended to be somewhat open ended
but answers might include both performance and level of support from your OS.
If you don't know the answer to a question, leave it blank.  If the response is
good, I will compile and post the results to the net.

Your participation is appreciated.   Email results to [e-mail]
--Jeff Kuehn
==============================>8 cut here 8<===================================
===============================================================================
Operating System (386BSD/LINUX/Coherent):
        OS support for EISA?:
        OS support for SCSI?:
        OS support for X11?:
        OS support for GNU gcc,g++?:
        Is this OS satisfactory?
                for production?
                for development?
                for tinkering?
===============================================================================
MotherBoard MFR:
        Processor/Speed  (386,486,sx,dx,dx2,xxMHZ):
        CoProcessor/Speed:
        Bus Architecture (ISA,EISA,VL-Bus,etc.):
        Memory architecture:
        # megs 60ns RAM:
        # megs 70ns RAM:
        # megs 80ns RAM:
        Cache architecture:
        Cache Size (KB):
        BIOS (mfr,date):
        Is this mother board configuation satisfactory?
===============================================================================
Video card mfr/model:
        resolutions supported:
        How much DRAM/VRAM (which) on board?:
        Is this video card satifactory?
===============================================================================
Monitor mfr/model:
        Diagonal size:
        Resolutions supported:
        Is this monitor satifactory?
===============================================================================
Disk controller MFR/model:
        Type (IDE,SCSI-1,SCSI-2 etc):
        Hardware cache? How big?:
        Is this disk controller configuation satisfactory?
===============================================================================
Hard disk #1 mfr/model:
        Hard disk #1 capacity:
        Sustained transfer rate:
        Is this disk drive satisfactory?
===============================================================================
Hard disk #2 mfr/model:
        Hard disk #2 capacity:
        Sustained transfer rate:
        Is this disk drive satisfactory?
===============================================================================
Hard disk #3 mfr/model:
        Hard disk #3 capacity:
        Sustained transfer rate:
        Is this disk drive satisfactory?
===============================================================================
        Hard disk #4 mfr/model:
        Hard disk #4 capacity:
        Sustained transfer rate:
        Is this disk drive satisfactory?
===============================================================================
Tape Drive mfr/model:
        Tape Drive capacity:
        Is this tape drive satisfactory?
===============================================================================
CDROM Drive mfr/model:
        CDROM Drive capacity:
        Is this CDROM drive satisfactory?
===============================================================================
Other hardware installed:


===============================================================================
Other hardware which you know will currently work with your OS:


===============================================================================
Other hardware which you know will NOT currently work with your OS:


===============================================================================

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Erkka Sutinen)
Subject: Re: Macintosh format disks
Date: 8 Dec 92 16:38:19 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jeff Randall)
writes:
> I also know that the NeXT floppy drives (which are very similar to
> PC drives, if not identical) can also read MAc disks.. as well as DOS...
>
But they can read only 1.44Mb disks.

The problem of forks has been solved on NeXT's version by putting an invisible
second file named <filename>.#rsrc#. Usability of mac disks is questionable,
since the data is often located as one of resources on resource file. HFS
format is not public as far as I know, but since other companies than apple
have succesfully implemented their versions, and apple hasn't even sued them
for that, it could be possible.

There exists also an commercial program to handle mac disks on NeXT, which
I've heard is better than this .#rsrc# kludge, but I don't know about it....

--
======================================#=======================================
Erkka Pietari Sutinen                 #Eke what availeth Maner and Gentlinesse
[e-mail] / [e-mail]   # Without yow, benygne creature?
University of Oulu. Finland           # Shal Cruelte be your governesse?
Dep. of Information Prosessing Science#                      -Chaucher

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Harold O Morris)
Crossposted-To: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Can't boot dos on grid1755 after LINUX/SLS install
Date: 8 Dec 92 16:15:50 GMT

I have a grid 1755 laptop with 80+Mb disk.
I got LINUX SLS on Friday, and installed, using the LINUX/SLS fdisk
to create 3 partitions; the first was for 47Mb for DOS, 31 for LINUX,
and 4-5Mb for a swap disk.  I first had to delete the original DOS
partition, then recreated it as the first partition, toggling it to
bootable, and marking it as type 6 (DOS >=32Mb).

After this, LINUX boots find from the floppy.  DOS partition has been
effectivly blanked (no surprize), and I try to reinstall it from a set
of 3 floppies that came with the grid notebook, which appears to work
fine; the partition is reformatted, and it procedes to load files.
I hoped for the time being to have DOS the default HD-boot device, and
then boot linux from floppy.

Unfortunately, when I do ctrl/alt/del with no floppy loaded, it says
"no operating system".  I next modified the install disk set's autoexec.bat
(said autoexec.bat invokes the install program, so I "REM"ed that out).
Reboot from this floppie, say "C:" and I am on the hard drive.  This would
seem not too bad, but anything that does something like a shell escape
won't work unless that bootable floppy is in place -- and when it does work
from the floppy, it is of course slow.

When I use a directory program that sees "hidden" files, I see
IBMBIO.COM, IBMDOS.COM, besides COMMAND.COM, on C:\.  Does anyone have
any ideas about this?  Should I give up and use LILO?  Actually though,
I need the ability to restore my grid to full normality - i.e. give the
full 80Mb back to dos, including a "normal" boot sector - since it's
a company machine.

Thanks, Hal

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.windows.x,comp.sysv38
From: [e-mail] (david.e.wexelblat)
Subject: Re: X / Enhanced VGA Local Bus ET4000
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 16:52:14 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (FRANK NEEDHAM) writes:
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> In my story of working towards having a desktop pc running Linux/X/TCP/IP a
> new twist has developed that now has to be dealt with.
>
> It seems that when ordering my pc some weeks ago there was misunderstanding
> between myself and the co. who sent me the pc. Thinking that a Tseng Labs
> ET4000 card was being sent along with the pc, all seemed well. Well, it turns
> out they sent me the Enhanced VGA et4000 local bus (I did know it was local
> bus).
>
> This may not have turned out to be a potential problem, but after reading the
> modegen.txt, modeDB.txt, and the card manual more closely it became clear that
> this card has the clock generator chip. Now, this clock generator is mentioned
> as being a problem because the clock dots continually chang and this, of course
> causes problems with using X. I suppose this an insurmountable problem because
> one has to have access to program source to be able to use the card effective-
> ly, right?
>
> When my mistake in the ordering became fully realized, a call to the co. was
> placed and, after some discussion, he agreed to send me a 2-the-MAX VGA 4000
> card. We agreed that after trying out the other card I could send back the one
> not needed and the difference would be credited to me, if there is any.
>
> Is it hopeless to try to use the local bus card with the clock generator or
> woould I be better off just using the 2-the-MAX card? What are the differences
> in performance with the local bus with X and without local bus? Is it enough
> to matter?
>
> One more thing :-), the modegen.txt file mentions running 'startx.notcp 2>
> clocks.X. After doing this, all that happens is that a file is produced that
> says "startx.notcp: command not found". Is this because of this card and X
> not recognizing it?
>
> Thanks for your patience with this long winded post, :-).
> -frank

At this point in time, XFree86 doesn't support boards with variable clock
synthesizers.  Initially Diamond started soing this, and won't give out the
programming information.  But now other vendors are starting to do it.  If
programming information for these other boards can be obtained from the
vendors and provided to us, we will investigate adding the support.  But
we don't have these boards, so we're going to have to depend on the people
who do to either get the technical details for us, or provide us enough
information (vendor contact info, specifics about the board model & rev, etc)
so that we can get it.  You can send mail to [e-mail] to
get in touch with us directly.

So the bottom line is that there's no way to make proper us of that local
bus card.  If you want to be the guinea pig, track down the technical
details we need, and we will work on it (or you can do it, and send it to
us).

--
David Wexelblat <[e-mail]>  [phone]
AT&T Bell Laboratories, 200 Laurel Ave - 4B-421, Middletown, NJ  07748

"The meaning of life?  That's simple.  Try to be happy, try not to hurt
 other people, and hope to fall in love."  -- Mallory Keaton

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Ron Szeto)
Subject: Linux on a PS/2
Date: 8 Dec 92 16:45:55 GMT

I learned from the FAQ that Linux would not work on a PS/2.  Can someone tell
me why?  Thanks for any help.  --Ron

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Kevin Cummings)
Subject: Re: HELP! X386.S3.2b server and the fixed-font bug!!!
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 16:56:30 GMT

SUCCESS!!!!  Last night I was able to run the X386-S3-0.2b X server
on my PC in all 256 colors!  I am no longer getting the error message
about the default font!  What did I do to correct the problem?  I haven't
the foggiest idea.  Here are all the things that I did do:

1)  I uncompressed ALL the fonts in fonts/misc.  Still couldn't run mkfontdir.
        "failed to create directory in ." error message.
2)  I renamed fonts.dir to fonts.  Still couldn't run mkfontdir.
3)  I found that 5x7.pcf was 0-length, so I deleted it.  I also deleted
        the old directory file (now named fonts).  mkfontdir RAN!

4)  I still cannot run mkfontdir in fonts/75dpi!!!!!!  I get that stupid
        error message again!  (It could at least tell me WHY it can't
        create the fonts.dir file, or what I should likely DO about it!
        but mkfontdir is probably compiled straight out of the X distribution
        so it will do me no good to bitch about it here.  Sigh!)
        I have even deleted the old fonts.dir file!  No luck!

5)  I started the X server and it came up!

For those who have forgotten, I am running with a Diamond Stealth VRAM.
My Xconfig file defines a virtual screen of 1024x768, and real screens of
640x480 and 728x534 (using the 25 and 28 MHz dot clocks).  I haven't tried
using the extended clock trick posted last week of running MS-Windows, and
then warm boot into LINUX and try to use the extended clock set up by DOS.
Maybe tonight!

I did some playing around last night.  Displayed a .GIF file (319x192x256)
from a workstation at work over a 2400 bps SL/IP line using KA9Q.  It took
more than 5 minutes for xv to display the GIF over SL/IP!  However, once
the picture was displayed, I could move it anywhere on my screen INSTANTLY!
(except when another window obscured it, and had to redownload to redisplay).
Now I know why pople have been saying that 2400 bps SL/IP and X don't go
to well together.  2400 bps and monochrome X was bad enough, this color
X is 8 times worse (surprise!).  Let's see, if I upgrade to a V.32 modem,
my modem speed will be 4 times faster, so it will STILL be slower than
monochrome X @ 2400 bps!  Oh well, ISDN will get here one of these days.

Congrats to the S3 X server team (you'll be hearing from me about my small
quirks!).  You've done a WONDERFUL job!  And to C Hendrix for his work on
KA9Q, and Linux for his OS!  They work wonderful together.

=================================================================
Kevin J. Cummings                       ComputerVision Services
20 Briarwood Road                       500 Old Connecticut Path
Framingham, Mass.                       Framingham, Mass.

Home:  [e-mail] Work:  [e-mail]

Std. Disclaimer: "Mr. McKittrick, after careful consideration,
                  I've come to the conclusion that your new
                  defense system SUCKS..."   --  War Games
=================================================================

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (W. Woody Jin)
Subject: Re: Disk Defragger???
Date: 8 Dec 1992 17:18:54 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Da Hubster!!!) writes:
>
>
>Is there a disk defragger avaible for Linux???

As far as I know, NO.

I believe that file system should do it automatically, like
BSD's Fast Unix File System.
BTW, even in that case, sometimes (even though rare), fragmentation can be
over 5%.  In this case fsck man page (in Ulrix) recommends to back up
the file system, make new file system, then restore.

I think that this method is the only one to prevent over-fragmentation
in Linux (and only of you have a tape drive or you are willing to
hassle with lots of floppies using multi-volume tar).

>ADIOS !!!!!
Ahnyeong !!!

--
____   ____  ____ ____________________________________ (___) _________________
|  |   |  |  |  |  W. Woody Jin ([e-mail])       (o o)      Moo....
|  |   |  |__|  |  PhD Student. Research Asst.  o=======\ /  I'm  a Cow Lover.
|  |   |        |  Dept. of Computer Science   / |     ||O   My wife  was born
\  |---|  |--|  |  University of Houston      `  ||'---||    in Cow year. Mooo
 \____/|__|  |__| _______________________________^^    ^^_____________________



------------------------------

Date: Tuesday, 8 Dec 1992 16:48:31 CET
From: BARRY TITMARSH <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Do X-Windows use the math-coprocessor?

with regard to putting a co-proc into a 33 or 40 mhz box 386
Yes i can say it does speed up every thing my X-windows runs like a rocket!
the demo game ico! you know the one used to move about the screen Ok so far
with the co-proc 387-33 its so fast is just a bouncing about so fast you cant
make out what its shape is..
So YES a co proc make a BIG diff in linux.
barry.

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.announce
From: [e-mail] (Matthew Donadio)
Subject: ANNOUNCE: Deliver available for Linux
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 06:30:00 GMT

I have uploaded deliver.TZ to sunsite.unc.edu in the
/pub/Linux/Incoming directory.  Here is the accompanying
README.linux file:

=====

What is deliver?  This is from the README:

=============================================================================

                             WHAT IS DELIVER?


Deliver is a program which delivers electronic mail once it has arrived
at a given machine.

=============================================================================

This is my port of Deliver to linux.  I use it with the version of elm
and sendmail that Nathan Laredo ([e-mail]) put on
sunsite.unc.edu.  He was also kind enough to put up a version of
delivermail, but I couldn't get it to work. It compiled rather cleanly;
I only made a few changes.  You might want to browse though the Makefile
and config.h, though, and change a few pathnames.  I also used the adage
"When in doubt, comment it out!" so I don't make any guarantees that this
works and I take no responsibility if something Bad(tm) happens.  I
included the source that was used to create the executabes in this tar file.
I would include diffs against the original source, but that distribution
had a bunch of patches that needed to be applied already.  You can get
the virgin source that I used from:
  wuarchive.wustl.edu:/mirrors/unix-c/mail/deliver.tar-z
If it matters, I used GCC 2.2.2d with 4.1 jump libs.

How to install:
  Either do a make install
or
  cp deliver /bin/
  chown root.mail /bin/deliver
  chmod 4711 /bin/deliver
  cp header /bin/header
  chmod 755 /bin/header

You also have to change one line in your sendmail.cf file.  Change this line:
  Mlocal, P=/bin/mail, F=rlsDFMmn, S=10, R=20, A=mail $u
to:
  Mlocal, P=/bin/deliver, F=rlsDFMmn, S=10, R=20, A=deliver $u

If you have trouble with sendmail.cf, I suggest that you do what I did:
borrow one from another machine that you use.  If you are at a university,
you probably won't have to make any drastic changes.  Nathan included one
in his distribution, also.

Any comment, suggestions, or flames can be directed to me.
  Beaker (Matthew Donadio) [e-mail]
                                     ^---- I didn't choose this dorky name,
                                           I wanted groovy. :(
  If for some reason this mail bounces send it to either
     [e-mail]  <--- SparcII, cool, but slow
     [e-mail] <--- VM/CMS, blech!


=====

--
Beaker aka Matt Donadio   | Life is short,     ---   __ o    __~o    __ o
==========================|    ride like    ====    _`\<,   _`\<,   _`\<,
[e-mail] |      the wind.    ---  ( )/( ) ( )/( ) ( )/( )
[e-mail]    |--------------------------------------------------

--
Send submissions for comp.os.linux.announce to: [e-mail]

------------------------------


** FOR YOUR REFERENCE **

The service address, to which questions about the list itself and requests
to be added to or deleted from it should be directed, is:

    Internet: [e-mail]

You can send mail to the entire list (and comp.os.linux) via:

    Internet: [e-mail]

Linux may be obtained via one of these FTP sites:
    nic.funet.fi                pub/OS/Linux
    tsx-11.mit.edu                pub/linux
    tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-aachen.de    pub/msdos/replace

The current version of Linux is 0.97 released on August 1, 1992

End of Linux-Activists Digest
******************************