From: mike@array.com (Mike Willett)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Coherent FAQ, General Information
Keywords: FAQ, General, Coherent, OS
Date: 23 Jan 93 01:57:43 GMT
Organization: Array Microsystems, Colorado Springs, CO. USA



A N  I N T R O D U C T I O N  T O  T H E  C O H E R E N T  F O R U M :

    Comp.os.coherent (Usenet) / Coherent list on ListServ@IndyCMS
                               Rev. 2.3


         A N  I N T R O D U C T I O N  T O  C O H E R E N T

      General Information FAQ for the Coherent Operating System

                          C O N T E N T S :


               What is Coherent?
               Will Coherent run on my system?
               What incompatibilities are known?
               Can I still run DOS?
               What about technical support?
               What revision is Coherent?
               How many people run Coherent?
               Can source postings be made in this newsgroup (comp.os.coherent)?
               Public domain software:
               Where do I get the public domain software?
               Heated discussions of the group:

               MISC:
               Disclaimer:
               Trademarks:


          A N  I N T R O D U C T I O N  T O  C O H E R E N T
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WHAT IS COHERENT?
    Coherent is a multi-tasking, multi-user operating system for IBM
    PC's and compatibles.  It will run on most systems with a 286,
    386, or 486 CPU. Coherent closely represents the Unix operating
    system, but, it is not Unix.  Coherent appears to be very similar
    to Version 7 Unix, or for those of you that have not had the
    pleasure, close to System 5 Unix. Coherent includes uucp (Coherent
    to Coherent Copy) :) and many more functions you would expect with
    Unix. Coherent is small and simple, easy to maintain, and does not
    require extensive CPU resources to operate well. It does not have
    network nor X windows support, and does not require an AT&T
    license for Unix. It is as advertised, a quick, elegant Unix-like
    multi-tasking, multi-user Operating System, with good
    documentation.

WILL COHERENT RUN ON MY SYSTEM?
    Coherent runs on just about all 286-386-486 systems.  To list them
    here would make this document far too lengthy.  It is suggested
    that if you are in doubt, buy Coherent, and when it is almost
    beyond a doubt that you can not run Coherent on your machine, to
    return the software and documentation to the the Mark Williams
    Company within 60 days for a full refund as per their policy.

WHAT INCOMPATIBILITIES ARE KNOWN?
    IBM XT compatibles will not work, since the Coherent version 3.2
    operating system uses the 286 protected mode.  Coherent version
    4.0 only works on 386 or 486 proccessors and operates in the 386
    protected mode.

    Coherent will not run on an AT&T 6300, IBM PS/2 model, or with the
    Western Digital WD1004-27X (XT) or other XT controllers.  Coherent
    exhibits a slight problem with some 386 AMI BIOS, whereas Coherent
    requires a cold boot (hit the reset switch, not CTL- ALT-DEL) to
    boot Coherent after previously running DOS. The latest revisions
    of the AMI BIOS may not exibit this problem.

CAN I STILL RUN DOS?
    Yes, Coherent can reside on a disk partition separate from DOS,
    and likewise DOS on a partition separate from Coherent.  You can
    boot either one at boot time via a "boot strap" program.  They
    will not run concurrently however. DOS file systems are available
    to Coherent with the Coherent DOS command, so files can be
    transferred from DOS to Coherent, Coherent to DOS.

WHAT ABOUT TECHNICAL SUPPORT?
    It is generally felt that Mark Williams Company provides excellent
    technical support of their software within the U.S.A..  They can
    be reached via phone (708) 291-6700, or email:

    uunet!mwc!support       (General uucp address)
    support@mwc.com         (Internet address)
    mwcbbs!support          (from your system directly to the uucp connection
                             they provided by the Mark Williams Company)

WHAT REVISION IS COHERENT?
    Coherent is offered in two revisions.  Revision 3.2 will run on
    systems with a 286 or higher processor, but does not take
    advantage of the 386 architecture, and has the 64K executable and
    64K data limits.  Revision 3.2 is the last revision of Coherent
    for the 286 protected mode OS. Bug fixes will continue to be
    posted to mwcbbs to support customers of the 3.2 version.

    COHERENT 4.0 was announced in May of 1992, and is targeted for the
    386 and 486 processors.  This revision does not have the 64K
    limits of revision 3.2, but, still does not include a virtual
    memory system that swaps pages out to disk. See the 4.0 specific
    FAQ posted with this FAQ for more information.

    Both versions of OS are available at $99.00, and updates from 3.2
    to 4.0 are now priced at $79.00.

HOW MANY PEOPLE RUN COHERENT?
    The Mark Williams Company has stated that the sales volume has
    passed 40,000 copies since its introduction to the market in 1990.

CAN POSTINGS BE MADE IN THIS NEWS GROUP (COMP.OS.COHERENT)?
    It is somewhat accepted that source for Coherent will be posted in
    this news group occasionally.  Keep in mind that large postings
    cost money to those that pay for telephone and connect time, so
    perhaps a short posting to query general interest should precede
    the posting. Direct mailing should be used if there is small
    interest, and a posting to archive sites such as raven.alaska.edu.
    If the interest is overwhelming, a posting to this news group may
    be in order, along with posting to an archive site such as
    raven.alaska.edu. Posting to this newsgroup has been a topic of
    constant debate...  :( We hope to have a source news group for
    coherent, yet another topic of debate...  :)

PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE:
    Several public domain packages are available for use on a Coherent
    machine.  These range from improved mailing packages and spread
    sheets, to at least four news programs, such as bsnews, cnews,
    gnews, wnews, along with readers such as rn, tass, tin and more.

WHERE DO I GET THE PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE?
    There are several ways to get public domain software:

    1. Mark Williams Company bbs (mwcbbs)
    2. FTP sites
    3. Mailserver (ListServ@IndyCMS)
    4. The OZ / NZ Coherent Users Group
    5. The Pacific Australian Coherent Users Group

    MWCbbs (mwcbbs)
    Access information on the mwcbbs is included in the documentation
    provided with Coherent.  In short, it is a uucp site with public
    domain software as well as updates to the Coherent release, along
    with Coherent news (not usenet) and a "home" for all Coherent
    sites to uucp to. For most of us, that is a long distance phone
    call, as the Mark Williams Company is located in Illinois.

    FTP sites:
    Jay C. Beavers has been keeping the Coherent Archives for quite
    some time on the ftp site orca.alaska.edu, and has moved these to
    an Ultrix machine for better access (raven).  When a previous ftp
    site was no longer available, Jay quickly put raven into action.
    Hats off to Jay!

    Machine            I'net Address          Archive administrator
    ---------------    -------------     ----------------------------------
    raven.alaska.edu   137.229.10.39     J.C. Beavers:sxjcb@orca.alaska.edu

            on raven: cd /pub/coherent

    MailServers:
    ListServ@IndyCMS has been offering a mailserver service since
    before the start of comp.os.coherent. It is a gateway between two
    nets:

    Machine Address                         Mailserver Administrator
    ------------------------------------    ------------------------
    ListServ@IndyCMS (CREN)                 IJBH200@IndyVAX (CREN)
    ListServ@IndyCMS.IUPUI.Edu (Internet)   IJBH200@IndyVAX.IUPUI.Edu (I)

    Coherent@IndyCMS is bidirectional gateway between the ListServ
    list Coherent and Usenet newsgroup comp.os.coherent co-owned and
    coordinated by John Harlan and Phil Corporon.  All original
    postings to comp.os.coherent Usenet group are automatically
    distributed to the ListServ list, and everything posted to the
    ListServ list Coherent, is automatically posted to
    comp.os.coherent on Usenet.  John Harlan humorously adds: "And all
    without mail looping :-)"

    To get a list of Coherent files from ListServ, mail the ListServ
    mailserver as follows, with the contents of the message being the
    mailserver command:

                    % mail ListServ@IndyCMS.IUPUI.Edu
                    Subject: (none)

                    INDEX COHERENT

    Privately Owned BBSs:

        The Australian Coherent Users Group:
        (From: rjl@spectre.pub.uu.oz.au.)
        In order to support Coherent users in oz & nz, Mark Williams
        Co. have agreed to supply a mirror of the downloads directory
        from their uucp BBS in the states for distribution here [in
        Australia]. This is being supplied to the Australian Coherent
        User Group, initially in one 13MB chunk to get things kicked
        off, then subsequently updated on a monthly basis.

        Software is available to all registered Coherent users, and
        may be obtained either by direct UUCP transfer from this
        machine, or on 1.2MB floppies for a nominal media/postage
        charge.

        Anyone interested in this, or in ACUG in general, (as well as
        in APANA - the Australian Public Access Network Association)
        may contact me by email at rjl@spectre.pub.uu.oz.au.

        Australia-Pacific Coherent User Group.
        (Robert Chalmers. d10590@tanus.edu.au. Mackay, Queensland. Australia)
        ---------------------* ao zhong youyi wan sui *----------------------
        Privately operated public uucp site, based in Mackay, North
        Queensland,  Australia.  The system connected 24 hours a 7
        days a week, apart from some down time for maintenance.
        Purely Coherent system.  Technical: 386-25DX, 4Mb RAM, 130Mb
        IDE HDD. 1 x 1.2, 1 x 1.44 FDD.  Maestro 2400ZXR Modem.
        Wangtek Tape Drive.(not yet working).Cannon BJ330 bubble jet.
        Version 4.00 Coherent. Mono.

        Support: Robert can pass on internet fixes and messages to
        local users, such as this FAQ, and is a MIRROR site for MWC,
        receiving thly updates from MWC.  Can supply elm, tin and
        wnews red.

        Contact details:  (There are no fees or subscriptions involved.)
        APCUG nanguo!root   (AUS)
        UUCP mwcbbs!nanguo!earth  (USA)
        UUCP nanguo!root  +61 79 521070 AEST:24 Hours. in:nuucp rd:uupublic
        MYNAME=bbsuser in your Permissions file.
        Info is in ~/INFO

               Home address: 22 Minster Street.
               Mackay. 4740
               Queensland. Australia.    ( The Coral Coast )

        Currently the site supports uucp using a chat script exactly
        the same as the mwcbbs chat script listed in their manual.
        The public directory is really /usr/spool/uucppublic. The
        default directory is available for incoming material and the
        INFO file, which contains most of the details concerning me
        and the site.

        Direct login is also available using the following login and
        passwd. login: public passwd: coherent

        This is a public user area, mostly used by my students
        locally, but you are welcome to log in and leave mail. (mail
        root).  Modem details are: 2400 N81. (v22bis). Please note
        that you MUST have MYNAME=bbsuser in the Permissions file for
        site nanguo and uucp, or Coherent will return a site unknown
        error.  Even if you only uucp mail to me, mail nanguo!root,
        all are welcome to use these facilities for the exchange of
        information.
                                                            Bob Chalmers.

HEATED DISCUSSIONS OF THE GROUP:
    Mark Williams Company has a patent on bit ordering, which is a
    software patent.  Most think that this is obvious art in software,
    and should not be patentable, not to mention a move in the
    software world (i.e., FSF) that "software" should not be
    patentable in the first place.  The Mark Williams Company has
    committed to comment on this some time in the future.

DISCLAIMER:
    ANY REFERENCE TO THIS ARTICLE, IN ANY FORM, IS PURELY AT YOUR OWN RISK!
    All opinions, tips, and instructions in this article are those of
    the contributors, and not of any company associated with the
    individual contributor, or any company mentioned in this article.
    The information contained within is not guaranteed to be free of
    errors in any way.

    The intention of this note is only to inform curious usenet
    readers about some aspects of the operating system of Coherent,
    and those companies mentioned are encouraged to add corrections,
    additions, or suggest deletions to this note to as per their
    policy or willingness to provide positive criticism.

TRADEMARKS
    Unix is the trademark of AT&T / Unix System Laboratories, Inc.
    Coherent is the trademark of the Mark Williams Company.





















































-- 
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mike@array.com              So much fun, so little time to enjoy it....
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