From: shendrix@PCS.CNU.EDU (Charles Shannon Hendrix)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Re: Socket Emulation
Date: 6 Jan 93 22:05:10 GMT
Reply-To: "Coherent operating system" <COHERENT@indycms.bitnet>

> >Yikes!  I had *thought* that Coherent was a relatively decent OS until now.
> >I can understand not having IP ("net") sockets, but you're gonna have a bad
> >time porting anything like a MUD if it won't even do UNIX (filesystem) ones.
>                                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> ?

        He's talking about UNIX family sockets which you can use if you don't
have TCP/IP support.  Linux has both.

>
> >Jeeez...  TinyMUSH, PennMUSH, and DikuMUD compile out-of-the-box under Linux.
> >Even LP-MUD compiles without too much twiddling.   ...and Linux is FREE.
> >
> >How much did you pay for COH?  Is it *refundable*?
>
> What's the support telephone number for Linux?

        Most support seems best on the net.  Linux questions get answers
in a week at the worst, a few hours usually.  Same with Coherent.  I
think MWC does an OK job and their support is what your $99 gets you.
Which is good.  Still, support for any system is best online.  PC and
Macintosh users get their best support online, not a phone line to the
company.  Of course, I realize some don't have access to BBS and networks
but that is rapidly changing.

>
> Why does the extfs eat directories?

        Where did you hear it did?  I have always used it and it is rock-
solid.  I spent four hours trying to crash it on purpose one day by turning
the system off without sync'ing, overloading the system, opening all the
file handles, etc.  Works just fine.  I have NEVER had a file system
crash under Linux and I certainly had a few under Coherent.

        How about this...  Why can't Coherent mount any file system other
than it's little V7 file system?  Right now, I have a 212meg extended
file system mounted, a 125meg DOS file system mounted, and a MINIX floppy
file system mounted.  Again, no problems with the DOS file system and I
have used it as if it were just another Linux file system with short names
and never once did I have a crash.  Plus, it's a lot easier than using all
those dostool programs to manipulate files.
 6
xW0%]2b _" >9F    i

>
> Why doesn't lpr work on Linux?

        Perhaps because it wasn't compiled?  Sure as hell works good on
my system.

> How many iBCS binaries run on Linux?

        None.  But then, plenty won't run under Coherent.  Further,
source code compatibility is more important to Coherent and Linux at
this point.
>
> Why is it so difficult to get Linux to boot directly from a hard disk?
>

        Why do you think it is?  Getting Linux to boot is easy.  It took
me about five minutes.  LILO, the Linux loader, is one of the simplest and
best loaders around.  It can boot any OS from any partition on any drive.
I just configured it and ran install.  Pretty simple if you ask me.

> Where can I buy the type set, professionally written manual for Linux?

        I got one at Waldensoft for $25.  It's title said something about
Posix and System 5...  I also use my Coherent manual...  Documentation
for Linux is growing daily and the doc group is seeking publishers (cheap
ones from China...:-).  When finished, it will be better than what you
get for Coherent simply because there is more of it.  Yeah, I know there
isn't (yet) a company behind it but it's very good.  All the Coherent
manual contains is the man pages, and index, and a few short tutorials.
Don't get me wrong, I like it.  But it's not earth-shattering by any means.

> Go back to comp.os.linux and stop trying to start flame wars.

        Agreed.  But then, you just flamed and you were wrong.  I have both
systems (even tried MINIX once) and I like Coherent.  But it is stupid to
deny the problems of an OS just because you like it.  I could give you
a plenty long list of gripes I have with Linux and Coherent both.  It just
so happens that Linux comes out on top right now and I can't wait for
MWC to add needed features, bux fixes, and performance enhancements to
Coherent.  Why should I when Linux delivers it now.

> --
>
> Rick Kelly    rmkhome!rmk@merk.com    merk!rmkhome!rmk    rmk@frog.UUCP
>


Csh
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent,comp.os.linux