Subject: Linux-Misc Digest #227
From: Digestifier <Linux-Misc-Request@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>
To: Linux-Misc@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: Linux-Misc@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU
Date:     Tue, 7 Jun 94 10:13:16 EDT

Linux-Misc Digest #227, Volume #2                 Tue, 7 Jun 94 10:13:16 EDT

Contents:
  Re: Writing code at run-time (Junaid A. Walker)
  Re: Writing code at run-time (Junaid A. Walker)
  Re: future of Unixware (Charles Marshall)
  Re: Novell is trying to Sell a derivative of Linux for a big (acb)
  Does MediaVision's ProSonic 16 Sound card work? (John Beaven)
  BETA programming language? (Michael Haller)
  Sources for shutdown please? (Romano Giannetti)
  Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again) (Mark A. Davis)
  GL/3-D libaries for Linux (travis jensen)
  Re: Help needed with .tgz files (Liefting W)
  Re: future of Unixware (William L. Crawford)
  Re: Linux vs *BSD (new twist) (Peter da Silva)
  Re: What are Bogo-Mips? (Andy Spiegl)
  Re: Adaptec 1540A (Torbj|rn Lindgren)
  Re: who wants POV for Linux ??? (Carsten Whimster)
  THANKS : SUIT for Linux (MATTHEW TIPPETT)
  Upload/Download ratios, Time frames & getty_ps hangup (Keith Nelson)
  Re: Slack 1.1.2 vs. 1.2.0 (Jeffrey Charles Schave)
  Help with VLB SCSI Card (David Bendrihem)
  Re: Announcing the FREE Motif Contest (Paul Shen)
  LINUX: ONLY SLIP? (Peter Dilley)

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

From: junaid@barney.eng.monash.edu.au (Junaid A. Walker)
Crossposted-To: rec.games.programmer,alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions,aus.computers.linux,comp.os.linux,alt.msdos.programmer,comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Writing code at run-time
Date: 7 Jun 1994 04:23:03 GMT


There's quite a bit of interest to this so far, just to reply to my own
posting and add a little clarity;


        Well its that time of year....

        How does one set up an area under Linux gcc/ MSDOS djgpp 
write some machine code instructions to this area, and then execute this
code all at runtime.
        I am programming a sprite library that reads in a gif, compiles it
to machine code that will copy the sprite onto the screen.  (Xlib people
listenning?  Why waste time compiling bit maps at development time?  And
why distribute huge executables?)
  Obviously this is a massive speed optimization (x4) because
you completely eliminate all loops - sort of the difference between an
interpreted (normal) program that must scan some form of internal pixel map
representation and translating it to a linear/planar raster, 
and a compiled program with everything
pre-calculated on a case-by-case basis (a common appoach for the
highest speed FFTs).

        For the curious, a few ideas;

***Linux: (this is currently what I'm using) 

1)      malloc the required # bytes
2)      use mmap() to create a executable segment mapping of 1)
3)      store a pointer to 1) in a function pointer, and invoke pointed to
        function (making sure function passing prolog is included in code).
        OR use a bit of inline assembler to make a direct call to register
        loaded with pointer in 1) thus avoiding having to set up the stack
        for C/C++ type parameter passing.

        The above is fairly portable because mmap() is available on most
        sane systems, and those that dont have mmap()....well we've always
        got the gdb internals to paw over.

***MSDOS djgpp:
        As above, but is the data segment executable?  If not go32 hacking
        required.  What about under VCPI/DPMI go32 interfaces?

***MSDOS real mode:
        Trivial, all segments are executable.  But as you would expect a bit
        cludgy because all functions must be <64K.  Probably along the 
        lines of;

        void far (*fn_ptr)(void);
        int zero=0;     /*force huge ptr normalization, watch out for*/
                /*optimizer tho*/

        fn_ptr=(char huge *)farmalloc(FUNC_SIZE) + zero;
                /*alloc required space and normalize ptr to get full*/
                /*64K addressability*/

        fn_ptr+=0x0004; /*lets dword align for 486's by rounding up */
                /*to next dword*/
        fn_ptr&=0xfffc; /*now round down by truncating last 2 bits*/

        /*now load assembler opcodes beginning at fn_ptr - dont forget retf*/
        
        /*now load registers with function paras eg _AX=50; ...*/
        /*OR set up the stack and push args*/

        (*fn_ptr)();    /*call the function*/
        


        Finally thank you for any interest you might take, for i would
be greateful if you would post a follow up *and* mail me a reply
(some of these groups have far too large volume for me to read regularly).
This way i might learn a thing or two, and i can post a summary of responses
with the 'correct' solutions for others edification.


        Regards,
        Junaid 'Hat-trick' Walker


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

From: junaid@barney.eng.monash.edu.au (Junaid A. Walker)
Crossposted-To: rec.games.programmer,alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions,aus.computers.linux,comp.os.linux,alt.msdos.programmer,comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Writing code at run-time
Date: 7 Jun 1994 06:15:52 GMT

Alan Cox (iiitac@uk.ac.swan.pyr) wrote:
: In article <2suogv$s60@harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au> junaid@barney.eng.monash.edu.au (Junaid A. Walker) writes:
: >***Linux:
: >
: >1)   malloc the required # bytes
: >2)   use mmap() to create a executable segment mapping of 1)
: >3)   store a pointer to 1) in a function pointer, and invoke pointed to
: >     function (making sure function passing prolog is included in code).
: >     OR use a bit of inline assembler to make a direct call to register
: >     loaded with pointer in 1)

: 1) will not work the way you want - you can't go off writing self modifying
: code or you'll get attacked by cache problems - especially on the newer chips.
: 2) ought to work - thats how Linux shared libraries are bound.

: Writing code to do custom gif rendering is quite a neat concept. I'm not sure
: how much it will save you but I don't see why you can't compile the executable
: of the gif renderer into the program, or dynamically link it either at run time
: as a shared library (which uses mmap()) or using the GNU dynamic linker

: Alan

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

From: cjmarsha@carbon.denver.colorado.edu (Charles Marshall)
Crossposted-To: comp.unix.unixware,comp.os.linux
Subject: Re: future of Unixware
Date: 6 Jun 1994 22:02:33 -0600

:       But, Wayne, Linux is not complete at $40.00. In case you haven't
: noticed, Motif is missing. Linux System Labs will sell you Motif for, ah, 
: $175.00. plus the $40.00 you claim you can get Linux for , and thats a 
: whopping $215.00 for Linux (shipping not included). With Unixware at $280.00, 
: I know which I would rather have! 

:       Linux                           Unixware
:       =====                           ========        

:       $ 40.00 OS                      $190.00 (OS)
:       $175.00 Motif (run + dev)       $ 89.00 (SDK)
:       -------                         -------
:       $215.00                         $277.00

Does Unixware come with Motif?  Is that the SDK you're talking about?  

I've seen a decent Motif package for Linux for $135.  Not much of a savings 
though when you can't run many major commercial packages on Linux; but then
of course, most people playing with Linux can't afford these commercial 
packages in the first place so why plop down a few hundred dollars on an OS 
they only want to tincker with...

Charles
  


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

From: acbul1@penfold.cc.monash.edu.au (acb)
Crossposted-To: gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Re: Novell is trying to Sell a derivative of Linux for a big
Date: 6 Jun 1994 16:51:24 GMT

Robert Sanders (gt8134b@prism.gatech.edu) wrote:
: ron@draconia.hacktic.nl (Ron Smits) writes:

: >I wish Novell would say something about it. The last thing I would
: >want is a split in the Linux community between Novell-Linux and
: >Linus-Linux. I think that would be a bad thing indeed

: Ah, well, if it brings in 5x the people then a split is still a
: net gain for Linus-Linux.  And it's very unlikely that Novell-Linux
: would abandon binary compatibility with Linus-Linux -- in fact,
: there's no way for Novell-Linux to make a kernel change that Linus-Linux
: can't merge back in -- so Linus-Linux would benefit from binaries produced
: for Novell-Linux.

But at what cost? Even if Novell-Linux is free, then Linus-Linux would
have two choices: wither away as a voice in the wilderness or follow the
Novell corporate agenda and adopt Novell's changes to architecture, even
if they are aesthetically displeasing and result in Solarisesque kernel
bloat.

--
Andrew Bulhak            |
acb@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au|"That music you are playing sort of has a
Monash Uni, Clayton,     | rhythm pattern to it."
Victoria, Australia      |              - Ludwig Plutonium, on reggae

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

From: jlb@castle.ed.ac.uk (John Beaven)
Subject: Does MediaVision's ProSonic 16 Sound card work?
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 1994 08:31:30 GMT


Hi everyone,

Does anybody know if MediaVision's ProSonic 16 card will work under
Linux? I can't find it in the Hardware list or in any other document,
and the company selling it can't tell me whether it is 
hardware-compatible with SoundBlaster 16 or Pro Audio Spectrum. 

Thanks in advance,

John
(Please reply to jlb@sharp.co.uk)












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

From: michael@currawong.bhs.mq.edu.au (Michael Haller)
Subject: BETA programming language?
Date: 6 Jun 1994 01:28:45 GMT
Reply-To: michael@currawong.bhs.mq.edu.au


I think I remember some stuff posted to comp.os.linux.anounce on the BETA OO
programming language.  I though I printed or saved the article at the time
but it seems I didn't.   If anyone has some information on how I can contact
the BETA people (I can't even remember from which country it originates) I
would appreciate it if you could pass it on to me.   Many thanks,

        - Michael


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

From: romano@pimac2.iet.unipi.it (Romano Giannetti)
Subject: Sources for shutdown please?
Date: 7 Jun 1994 10:16:39 GMT

Can anyone point me to the source code for shutdown ? (I need it
statically linked). I am trying to locate it for two days now but I
can't.

And, BTW, exist a version of mount that honour bg,fg flags? I have
written a script that mimics it but it's not at all elegant :-)

Bye,
        Romano


--
*******************************************************************************
Romano Giannetti        * DII-EIT, University of Pisa(E stands for Electronics)
romano@iet.unipi.it     * Dpto Electr. y Electronica, Facultad de Fisica
                        * Universidad Complutense de Madrid
*******************************************************************************

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

From: mark@taylor.infi.net (Mark A. Davis)
Subject: Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again)
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 1994 12:49:08 GMT

stub@pce60.rz.tu-clausthal.de (Ulf Bartelt) writes:

>Reuben Regucera (reubenr@netcom.com) wrote:
>: It can be found in : ftp.wordperfect.com:/unix/demos/sco/sco.Z
>: It is an 8M file, uncompress works, but the tar file is not recognized 
>: by Linux or Sun.

>pce60:~/io$ ftp ftp.wordperfect.com
>Connected to ftp.wordperfect.com.
>220 ftp Server (V1.38), Copyright (C) 1992,93 MurkWorks Inc., ready
>Name (ftp.wordperfect.com:stub): ftp
>Password (ftp.wordperfect.com:ftp): <my address>
>531 Access Denied by supervisor
>Login failed.
>ftp> 

>Mhm.... ?!?!?! :-(

Why did you tell it your name was "ftp"?  Common practice for anonymous
ftp is to use "anonymous"...
-- 
  /--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
  | Mark A. Davis    | Lake Taylor Hospital | Norfolk, VA (804)-461-5001x431 |
  | Sys.Administrator|  Computer Services   | mark@taylor.infi.net           |
  \--------------------------------------------------------------------------/

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

From: jensen@peruvian.cs.utah.edu (travis jensen)
Subject: GL/3-D libaries for Linux
Date: 7 Jun 1994 03:14:55 GMT
Reply-To: travis@pht.com

I am looking for a 3D library for Linux.  Is there a GL
libarary for OpenWindows?  Better yet, is there a
generic 3D library for X?  Preferably, it would be
free. :)

Thanks,

Travis
--
Travis A. Jensen                
jensen@peruvian.utah.edu  
travis@exodus.pht.com  (Linux reaches the Internet again)

"aaahhhhg-g-g-geeeeee"--Alexander Jensen (10/6/93), the 2-teethed,
                        smiling, bottle-sucking, faucet-drooling,
                        cutest-baby-in-the-whole-world!

I am a Scandinavian-American (5 generations removed
                              from Scandinavia)

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

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: wlieftin@cs.vu.nl (Liefting W)
Subject: Re: Help needed with .tgz files
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 1994 11:13:02 GMT

tosh!starta@enuucp.eas.asu.edu (John Starta) writes:
: I am having trouble unziping files with the suffix .tgz. When I try to do 
: so with GZIP 1.2.4 I am told that whatever file I'm trying to unzip is a 
: multi-part gzip file and that I should get a newer version of gzip. I 
: have looked around at various sites and can't locate a newer version. 
: What am I doing wrong?
: 
: Please email responses.
: 
: john

Try renaming it to .tar.gz, and then gunzip it. You are then left
with a .tar file, which you can untar with >tar xf file.tar<

BTW. some of the newest tar's have unzipping capability built in:
use "z" like >tar xzf file.tgz<

Wouter.

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

From: crawford@pt4427.pto.ford.com (William L. Crawford)
Crossposted-To: comp.unix.unixware,comp.os.linux
Subject: Re: future of Unixware
Date: 7 Jun 1994 11:10:10 GMT

In article <2t0rgp$o7d@carbon.denver.colorado.edu>, cjmarsha@carbon.denver.colorado.edu (Charles Marshall) writes:
|> :    But, Wayne, Linux is not complete at $40.00. In case you haven't
|> : noticed, Motif is missing. Linux System Labs will sell you Motif for, ah, 
|> : $175.00. plus the $40.00 you claim you can get Linux for , and thats a 
|> : whopping $215.00 for Linux (shipping not included). With Unixware at $280.00, 
|> : I know which I would rather have! 
|> 
|> :    Linux                           Unixware
|> :    =====                           ========        
|> 
|> :    $ 40.00 OS                      $190.00 (OS)
|> :    $175.00 Motif (run + dev)       $ 89.00 (SDK)
|> :    -------                         -------
|> :    $215.00                         $277.00
|> 
|> Does Unixware come with Motif?  Is that the SDK you're talking about?  
|> 
|> I've seen a decent Motif package for Linux for $135.  Not much of a savings 
|> though when you can't run many major commercial packages on Linux; but then
|> of course, most people playing with Linux can't afford these commercial 
|> packages in the first place so why plop down a few hundred dollars on an OS 
|> they only want to tincker with...
|> 
|> Charles
|>   
|> 

It would be great if the SDK included Motif.  What makes anyone think it
does?  What vendor offers an SDK that includes Motif?  Better add another
$150 or so to the UW price!  Or say you don't need Motif and subtract
the same from the Linux cost!  Or show that UW's SDK includes.....
-- 
William L. Crawford                   |  Internet: crawford@pt4427.pto.ford.com
PTO Systems, Ford Motor Co.           |  Phone: (313)323-0856
Not an official spokesperson of Ford  |  Fax: (313)845-4440

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

From: peter@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (Peter da Silva)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.386bsd.misc
Subject: Re: Linux vs *BSD (new twist)
Date: 6 Jun 1994 19:09:10 -0500

In article <1994Jun6.095836.5606@uk.ac.swan.pyr>,
Alan Cox <iiitac@uk.ac.swan.pyr> wrote:
>The no-feature attitude is also the reason why half the shells Im forced to
>use on other machines don't have sensible command line editing.

You got a C compiler, don't you?

So why are you forced to use these inadequate shells?

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

From: spiegl@hamster.appl-math.tu-muenchen.de (Andy Spiegl)
Crossposted-To: alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions,comp.os.linux.help,de.comp.os.linux,maus.os.linux,zer.t-netz.linux
Subject: Re: What are Bogo-Mips?
Date: 7 Jun 1994 12:17:42 GMT

In article <2so26d$14u@hpsystem1.informatik.tu-muenchen.de>,
Andy Spiegl <spiegl@hamster.appl-math.tu-muenchen.de> wrote:
>
>What are BogoMips, and what do they say about a pc's
>speed?  I am sligthly worried, because most of
>my pals get a value of 16 - 33 Bogmips 
>(on 486sx, dx-33, dx-66) sometimes even if they
>use standard ISA-configurations.
>I have an 486-33dx VLB and get only 5.27.
>Must I trash my machine or is the
>Bogomips-value of no significance?

Thanks a lot to everybody who helped us find the cause for
our problem.

The general opinion was that Bogomips are of no importance to the
performance of the system.  What is calibrated is merely the length of
a delay loop for very short delays (which apparently can't be
implemented using the timer).  All answers stated, though, that 5.27
is very low for this machine, and that something must definitely be
wrong.  Either the internal/external caches are configured wrong or
the turbo button is broken.

We checked both possibilites, but couldn't find anything wrong.  In
fact, when we turned off all caching, all shadow rom options and
set the CPU speed to 8MHz (down from 33MHz) the bogomips value
didn't change a bit!  We tried it on a similar machine as well
which has a bogomips value of ~16.6.  No change there either!
This doesn't seem to make sense at all!

Again we would be very grateful for any help and hints!

Thanks in advance,
 Andy.  (this time it's me myself :-)
-- 

__________________________________________________________________________
Andy Spiegl, PhD Student, Technical University, Muenchen, Germany
E-Mail: Spiegl@Appl-Math.TU-Muenchen.de

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

From: tl@cd.chalmers.se (Torbj|rn Lindgren)
Subject: Re: Adaptec 1540A
Date: 7 Jun 1994 11:46:45 GMT

In article <1994Jun4.162512.23693@pt.com>, John Grana <jjg@pt.com> wrote:
>Another thing though... the 154xA series DO NOT SUPPORT SCATTER/GATHER.

Correction: Some older 1540A's don't support Scatter/
Gather. Apparently most 1540A's does support this (There are some
differences in hardware so it isn't fixable by adding newer software).

All 154xB models (and C, CF) supports S/G, but no 1540 (without
letter).

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

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: bcrwhims@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca (Carsten Whimster)
Subject: Re: who wants POV for Linux ???
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 16:49:14 GMT

In article <2ssom5$71i@tinny.apana.org.au>,
Ernie Elu,,015-176-001 <ernie@tinny.apana.org.au> wrote:
>
>I have been using POV for Linux for years now, go it of tsx-11.mit edu in
>1992 I think. Is there some other POV ? Have I missed the point of this
>thread ?

People have been porting it for a while, but this thread started
because Chris Cason (sp?), a POV-Team member, was asking about
interest in a _supported_ version. Are you interested?
-- 
===================================================================
Carsten Whimster              --- EDM/2 Associate Editor
bcrwhims@uwaterloo.ca         --- EDM/2 Book Review columnist
                              --- TEAM-OS/2

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

From: 9208033h@levels.unisa.edu.au (MATTHEW TIPPETT)
Subject: THANKS : SUIT for Linux
Date: 7 Jun 94 13:48:17 +0930

Thanx to all those who responded..

There has been an official port to linux by the author(s) at
the University of Virginia.  The port is at

sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/X11/devel/suit.tpz

I have been assured that the tpz is really a tgz, just lost something in
translation 8)..

Thanx again..

Matt

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

From: c8931650@sage.newcastle.edu.au (Keith Nelson)
Subject: Upload/Download ratios, Time frames & getty_ps hangup
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 12:31:07 GMT


 I'm using uugetty_ps 2.0.7d to implement a small shell account BBS,
 and it has been working fine except when a user logs out. The
 '+++' is displayed on the remote terminal and then nothing further
 happens. the line remains open until the remote user specifies a
 hangup.  The strange part is that it works fine (ie uugetty_ps 
 terminates the connection) when i have debug 777 on. I am using 
 the bulk standard example scripts and INIT line in my defaults
 directory for my 14.4k smartmodem (Fixed baud 38400). Has anyone
 else experienced problems with line hangups or is my modem ignoring
 the '+++' escape sequence ? Why would debug affect this ? 
 BTW i have also tried both 2 and 1 second delays either side of the 
 '+++'.

 I am also after a program/script to impose upload/download ratios on 
 shell accounts (sz,rz,kermit)?  

 getty_ps's SCHEDule function is very neat, however i also wish to log
 off all users at time X but don't want to have to run a full blown BBS
 package to do it. (I'm happy enough just running getty_ps :-)

 Any help much appreciated,

 Keith.


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

From: schave@cae.wisc.edu (Jeffrey Charles Schave)
Subject: Re: Slack 1.1.2 vs. 1.2.0
Date: 7 Jun 1994 00:23:24 GMT

In article <1994Jun6.120313.18086@odin.diku.dk>, spring@diku.dk (Jesper Honig Spring) writes:
|> Hello,
|> 
|> I've kept myself up to date with the latest developments concerning
|> Linux. Can anyone tell me the main differences between the Slackware
|> distribution 1.1.2 and 1.2.0, and advise me whether or not to install
|> the new distribution.
|> 
|> Thanks in advance
|> 
|> Please (also) email me
|> 
|> 
|> -- 
|>   Jesper Honig Spring              
|>   spring@diku.dk                    
|>   Student at the University of Copenhagen, DK
|>   Dep. of computer science  


I belive that 1.2 included the version 1.0 kernel as well as updated versions
of many packages.

-Jeff
-schave@cae.wisc.edu

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

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: bendi@kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov (David Bendrihem)
Subject: Help with VLB SCSI Card
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 18:39:31 GMT

Howdy, 
 
     I have a VLB Adaptec 152x Compatible SCSI Card that is hooked up to my
SCSI Hard Drive.  I tried to install Linux prior to reading in the scsi.howto
file that VLB SCSI cards aren't supported due to timing problems. 
     Has anyone come up with a driver to counter this problem? If so, could
you email me as to how I might obtain this driver? Thanks in advance. 
     Does anyone know what the timing problems might be, so I can write a
driver for the card if one isn't already available.  Thanks again, in advance. 
 
     Have a good one! 
 
                         Dave 
 
============================================================================= 
bendrd@rpi.edu                4800 Oak Grove Drive 
bendi@kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov     M/S 238-528 
Jet Propulsion Labs       Pasadena, CA 91109 
(818) 354-6129                Stop for Moose, it may save your life! 
============================================================================= 

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

From: pshen@bigcat.imedia.com (Paul Shen)
Subject: Re: Announcing the FREE Motif Contest
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 05:26:23 GMT

paul shen
7699 Palmilla Drive, #3211
San Diego, CA 92122
--
=====================================================
| Paul Shen                     pshen@image.mit.edu |
| phone: (619) 453-5238         Fax: (619) 625-7959 |
=====================================================

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

From: aga@qedbbs.com (Peter Dilley)
Subject: LINUX: ONLY SLIP?
Date: 6 Jun 94 16:28:20 GMT


What does linux have besides slip. I guess what i'm looking at is does it 
have ppp?

==============================
aga@qedbbs.com (Peter Dilley)  or  qed!aga
The QED BBS -- (310)420-9327

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


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