home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Xref: sparky comp.windows.misc:1219 comp.windows.x:15766
- Path: sparky!uunet!bcstec!bcsaic!sundry!sdc!julien
- From: julien@sdc.boeing.com (William Julien)
- Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.windows.ms,comp.windows.x
- Subject: Re: X Server for MS-Windows
- Keywords: X, Windows, server
- Message-ID: <6539@fury.BOEING.COM>
- Date: 27 Aug 92 06:50:06 GMT
- References: <1w9mqsp.feng@netcom.com> <17AUG199216461607@moose.cccs.umn.edu> <1992Aug18.143519.20577@esleng.ocunix.on.ca>
- Followup-To: comp.windows.misc
- Organization: Boeing Computer Services (ESP), Seattle, WA
- Lines: 84
-
- Xvision acts as an X11R4 server to clients running on a remote host
- computer. It does not matter what this computer is, it just must be
- able to run X applications and communicate accross an ethernet.
- (although VisionWare has a communications support program called "PC
- Connect" which will work across modem) Xvision has two modes, "Multiple
- window" and "Single Window" mode. In "single window" mode, all X
- clients will appear inside a standard WIN3 window. I suppose, if one
- only had a limited of client mode would be OK, but X clients have a
- little less desktop space and the HOST must provide the window
- management. Xvision does provide for "panning", but although it is fast
- enough, I found it distracting. It is only in single window mode that
- one can clients that use motif, standard X11r4 and some sunview
- clients. I tested PC XVIEW, which required host window management, and
- it was VERY (read... almost as bad as TSO) slooooow.
-
- Xvision provides in it's other mode (Multiple window), a window manager
- that looks very much like motif. Or, purhaps I should say, they work
- just like WIN3 applications. All the examples in their manual are in
- Multiple window mode, and IMHO, it is in this mode that the product was
- intended to be run. It depends on your supporting TCP/IP software, on
- whether you can run the PC in standard mode. I have run a number of X
- applications, (like frame maker, crayperf and all the standard X stuff)
- and I only had problems with DEC's calendaring and desktop.
-
- Xvision supports directly the networking software by FTP called
- PC/TCP. The Virtual X driver (VxD) by FTP software works fast, but it
- does require windows to be running in enhanced mode. They support NFS
- virtual drives. Xvision supports a number of other networks, including
- Sun's PCNFS version 3.5, but Sun does not provide a VxD.
-
- I recommend FTP's PC/tcp network software. There support is OUTSTANDING
- (support@ftp.com) and they have a "VxD" device driver VxD", which
- stands for "Virtual X Driver" (VPCTCP.386). It allows multiple PC/TCP
- applications to access the PC/TCP kernel while running Microsoft
- Windows in 386 Enhanced mode. The VxD uses about 5k of memory and it
- "manages" int61 calls to the kernal from multiple applications. This
- means that I do not need to run a TSR before loading WIN3 to allow
- Xvision to have as many network connections active as is configured in
- the PC/TCP kernal. (max 32) This driver also allows multiple instances
- of DOS based terminal emulation packages like WalkerRicher & Quinn's
- "Reflection 4" to run concurrent with my Xvision clients. I use WRQ's
- R4 to give me very good telnet terminal emulation to our non-unix
- systems on our network. Right now I am running Xmail, Xload, Xman, and
- 4 xterm clients as well as R4, Excel, word for windows, file manager
- and a couple of other windows utilities. (It helps to have lots of
- memory) Windows 3.1 is highly recomented.
-
- Xvision's window manager works just as fast as WIN31. I would not want
- to try this on a 12mhz 286. (I have a 23mhz 386 with 10 megs) This
- stuff is moderatly memory hungry so unless your 286 is loaded with
- memory (with a goodly portion allocated to a disk cache) and a 1024x768
- vidio card with an onboard graphics processor.... come to think if it,
- I wish I had a faster video card with my 386. I have turned on
- "backing store", to reduce network traffic, and I have enough memory to
- run some large excel spreadsheets. My CPU is running at about 5 to 15
- percent utilization, (at least when not running excel) but screen
- writes are kinda slow. No slower than any other WIN3 app, but still;
- screen updates do have a noticeable scroll. I have not run into any
- "serious" problems, unless I start too many X clients and max out the
- number of available packets and TCP connections. I can increase the
- connections to 32, but the it will erode the availability if my low
- system memory (located below the 1meg mark) causing my system to thrash
- (read: to much swapping in and out). FTP is expected to release PC/TCP
- version 2.10 (i think) which is rumored to reduce 3c500 memory impacts by
- 85%. I have had trouble with "screen peace", but that was not critical
- since Xvision provides a very boring screen saver. I guess if I'm not
- there to look at the screen, it doen't have to be pretty. (sigh) The
- only other problem I could not get Xvision's "Program starter" to start
- my initial client. I think my IPCUST file's nameserver entry is setup
- incorrectly, but it hasn't been that important to spend 10 minutes and
- fix it. The program starter uses rexec, and although more secure; I
- really much perfer using rsh; which if the .rhost file is set up
- correctly, it eliminates the need for host password maintenance on the
- PC
-
- I am not connected with VisionWare, WRQ or FTP -- I'm just a happy customer.
- For imformation contact:
- Chris at VisionWare...
- Cost is US$ 499, details from vware@visionware.co.uk. Or
- contact Unipress Software on +1 201-985-8000 or Graphic Software
- Systems on +1 503-641-2200.
- VISIONWARE LTD, 57 Cardigan Lane, LEEDS LS4 2LE, England
- Tel +44 532 788858. Fax +44 532 304676. Email chris@visionware.co.uk
- -------------- "VisionWare: The home of DOS/UNIX/X integration" -------------
-