In this column we outline how we made the conversion to an ELF-based Linux system running the SCO Unix version of Progress 6.3F08. We decided to investigate the feasibility of using the iBCS emulation package together with the well-supported SCO Unix version of Progress. SSC's database is used throughout the office for order processing, subscriptions, sales reports and plots, marketing, advertising, billing statements, label printing and shipping. Integrated with the database is the authorization and settlement of credit card orders by means of a certified external program developed in-house. SSC prefers to stay with Progress, rather than change to another database specifically ported to Linux, such as Postgress, since we have invested considerable time customizing the database for SSC's growing needs.
Progress also has a proven track record of being very stable and reliable.
This allows a number of binaries developed and compiled for other Unix OSs to run on Linux. The freely available package is still being developed but a recent version of iBCS compiled and installed without a hitch under Linux kernel 1.2.13. The demo version of SCO Progress we ordered arrived in a black box with manuals and a DAT tape. It helps to have an existing Progress v6 setup, although it's certainly possible to fix this without one. An invaluable tool to help you solve this kind of problem is itrace , and it is included in the iBCS package.