From: mju@mudos.ann-arbor.mi.us (Marc Unangst) Subject: Re: magazine review of linux Date: 7 Jul 1993 04:34:29 -0400
aehall@calvin.seattleu.edu (OUTTA HERE!) writes:
>Example: to change a machine's IP, I had to literally de-install
> and re-install the entire TCP/IP distribution...
Really? I've never had that problem. Yes, in older versions of SCO
TCP/IP, you had to re-run "mkdev tcp" in order to change the machine's
IP address, netmask, and other IP-related parameters. In newer
versions, you just run "netconfig" and reconfigure the sco_tcp module.
If you feel comfortable editing files, it's even easier -- just edit
/etc/tcp, find the "ifconfig" line, and change the address there.
>Example: if your system hangs and you HAVE to hit reset, your root
> filesystem is most likely absolutley trashed, often necessitating the
> reinstallation of the entire OS -> normally a 2-4 hr ordeal...
Well, I've only had this problem once, but to be fair it's a problem
that *any* Unix OS is going to have -- if you hit RESET at the wrong
time, you can end up with a toasted filesystem whether the machine is
running Linux, HP-UX, or SCO. I've also experienced very few complete
system hangs; usually you can still access the machine from a serial
console, or from the network, so you can shut it down cleanly. Even
if you can't, as long as the machine is quiescent you can usually
watch the disk light and reset the machine immediately after one of
the periodic syncs.
You mention in another article that part of your problem with the OS
reinstall was that you had a QIC-80 tape drive that connected to the
floppy controller. This is a separate matter entirely; QIC-80
(QIC-40, too) drives have never worked well with any sort of Unix, SCO
or otherwise. This is due to the braindead interface design, which
SCO does not have the power to change. Not to mention the fact that
QIC-80 drives are usually poorly made and slow. If you care enough to
run Unix, you should also care enough to spend some bucks and get a
real backup subsystem. 250MB QIC drives are getting pretty
inexpensive; for the cost of a Colorado drive plus their dedicated
controller plus their special drivers, you can buy a QIC-02 250MB
streaming tape drive and be done with it. (While you're at it, blame
whatever VAR sold you the QIC-80 drive knowing you would be using it
with Unix. If you made that decision yourself, you have no one but
yourself to blame.)
--
Marc Unangst, N8VRH | "Free software is NOT the same thing as
mju@mudos.ann-arbor.mi.us | free beer."
| -Sandy Knapp in comp.os.linux