[SunRescue] Q on "optimal" OS for Sun4c machines, now that So laris8 won't runn

[GregoryLeblancGLeblanc at cu-portland.edu]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Hebel [mailto:druaga at pmail.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 9:10 AM
> To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> Subject: RE: [SunRescue] Q on "optimal" OS for Sun4c 
> machines, now that
> Solaris8 won't runn
> 
> >>That brings up an interesting point.  $800 is still a 
> sizeable chunk of
> >>change, relatively speaking, when one can get a 4c class machine for
> >>free to well under 50 bucks.  For a hobby/play/non-commercial sort
> >>of use, one might ponder the pros and cons monitarily of chasing 4c
> >>class machines vs Ultras or other biggie boxes, if the 4c 
> things will
> >>do what you need to do.  I know, money is not really an 
> issue for any
> >>of us....(:+}}..... but, then again.....
> 
> As a fairly new user of Sun hardware (about a year or so now) 
> I find that
> unless you're very experienced with computers then the Sun 4c class of
> machines will probably only frustrate you.  For one you will 
> most likely
> have to purchase a new NVRAM clock chip for them - I have 
> four IPCs and I
> have to do this for 3 of them.  They're also slow as a dog 
> unless you're
> using NetBSD without X.  They're more for special purposes.
> 
> IMHO the Sun 4m systems  (SS2, IPX, I think - correct me if 
> I've got it
> wrong) would be a much better starting point for "newbies".

Those are Sun4c machines as well.  The LX, classic, SS4/5/10/20 are some of
the Sun4m machines.  I've got 4 SS2s sitting on my floor, and only 1 of them
has a dead NVRAM, and it's not that hard to fix.  

As for my preferred OS, I'm very familiar with Linux and Solaris, but not at
all with the BSDs.  I've got OpenBSD on a machine, but it's UGLY as SIN for
console work, and my number pad doesn't work, so I'm not exactly thrilled.
It does install, which is more than I can say for Linux right now, so I'll
have to wait and see what I can make work.  Later,
	Grego