I have been considering the upgrade to DEC Unix 4.0 which should have been
released 6/12/96. Call 1-800-DIGITAL and get pre-sales tech support for info.
I posted a message to see what some people thought of the upgrade. Here is a
summary of the responses after about one week:
From: Matt Thomas <thomas_at_lkg.dec.com>
Dave Parker <djp_at_unx.dec.com>
Rich McClellan <richmc_at_seneca.fullerton.edu>
{DEC Unix 4.0 is bundled with Netscape Navigator V1.12I not Necscape 2.0.
Netscape 2.02 and other versions is free to educational institutions and can be
downloaded from Netscape: ftp.netscape.com
Also from Dave Parker <djp_at_unx.dec.com>:
Note that CDE is introduced in V4.0 which replaces xdm/dxsession.
-----------------
From: Phil Antoine <antoine_at_RadOnc.Duke.EDU>
Why? 4.0 is almost guaranteed to be buggy as they come. Do you
have any recollection of the buggy nature of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0?
What feature does it have that is compelling enough to jump into
that guaranteed mess?
--------------------
From: Gyula Szokoly <szgyula_at_skysrv.Pha.Jhu.EDU>
I have possible problems: we are developing in C++ with objectivity and
tools++. None of them seems to work with C++ 5.3 as now. My question:
will C++ 5.1 work with DU 4.0? Will it (finally) support posix threads?
I ordered DU 4.0 today (should get it tomorrow) and will install it on one
machine just to see what works and what does not.
---------------------
From: "Stephen L. LaBelle" <labelles_at_mscd.edu>
I am also quite interested in DU 4.0, and plan to install it on a machine
soon, I have a current project related to a new version of PathWorks that
depends on it.
Hard for anyone to give you negatives, as we have all been waiting for it.
Usually new software brings new functionality, which is a plus.
It also usually introduces new bugs, a negative.
----------------------
From: Ray Bellis <Ray.Bellis_at_psy.ox.ac.uk>
with a subject heading:
SUMMARY: Classless Internet Domain Routing (CIDR) netmasks :-(
I got this from someone in the Digital UNIX Networking group:
> Definitely not supported in V4.0. It's currently planned for a
> release after V4.0. (I know since I'm going to be the person
> adding the support for it).
Looks like I'll have to wait a while before I can use my full block
of addresses.
----------------------
From: "Sheryl A. Campbell" <campbell_at_lvc.edu>
We were given the opportunity last week to test install DU4.0 as part of a
Digital usability study. We found it to be a much, much better way to handle
Unix. Everything is done graphically, X-windows style! WOW!!! It was really
great! Granted, I don't know how the upgrade will be, as we just tested new
installations, but I've got to imagine it is just as easy. I think you'll
find you really like it. There are also many, many new features which we
just can't wait to get our hands on! (Unfortunately, we have to wait for our
RDBMS's approval...Rats!) Good luck with it!
----------------------
From: "Randy M. Hayman" <haymanr_at_icefog.sois.alaska.edu>
Has arrived.
Notable exception:
No Firmware CD enclosed in my update kit but the "Read This First",
"Release Notes Addendum", and "Installation Guide" state one should
be enclosed; however, the "Part Listing" and the "Digital UNIX Version
4.0 Packaging" say nothing of any firmware CD being enclosed.
(docs all say the kit ships with v3.5 firmware, but needs v3.6 for
use on DEC3000 machines)
But, firmware v3.6 is available via:
ftp://ftp.digital.com/pub/Digital/Alpha/firmware/v3.6
Full single user dump starting shortly, then on to the update...
{Randy M. Hayman also posted a summary after his installation. Please email me
for a copy of that email.}
Thanks to all that replied. I think that I may wait a while to upgrade to V4.0
after some of these emails. Thanks again. Marco.
Received on Mon Jun 17 1996 - 15:08:05 NZST