Request for Unix Recommendations

[Glenn Chambers]

Hello, unix:

I am investigating possible Unixes to use for a project with some fairly
strange parameters.  Namely:

1)  Client/server application with Pc's as clients, and the to-be-named
    unix box as the server.

2)  Pc's are to run Novell networking (Yes, I know, I'd rather be using
    TCP but there are marketing types involved.)  This obviously requires
    an implementation of Portable Netware for the box.

3)  Application requires an SQL database.  We are currently using Informix
    but could probably port to a comparably featured SQL critter
    (embedded SQL a requirement).

4)  There should be a minimum of 'extra cost' items for the system
    the application delivers on.  In particular, configuring the kernel
    as described in the FAQ list should not require purchase of any
    developer's packages for the systems going into the client site.

5)  In the development environment, we will also be running TCP/IP to our
    development machines;  the client sites will not.

6)  The end users of our system will probably not be Unix-aware.  A
    hand-holding sysadmin package is therefore a benefit.

For purposes of this discussion, we can assume that hardware is fairly
unconstrained; pick a brand-name or generic Unix box, and put a UNIX
on it.  The question before us is strictly 'What Unix is best?'

I have already learned that 386/ix (Interactive Systems) has a Portable
Netware implementation (allegedly done by NCR) and have inferred from
recent traffic that Informix runs on 386/ix.  What I don't know is what
kind of pricing I can expect, and what the alternatives are.

If you know of or sell a Unix (for 386 PC clones or other iron), please
E-mail me with information (esp. pricing) or with warnings (stay away
from brand-X, they eat children and torture cats).  If anyone else
is interested (morbid curiosity, maybe?) I will email the results
to them.

E-mail to ...!uunet!nfsun!gchamber or gchamber at nfsun.UUCP

Thanks in advance.

Glenn Chambers
Intelligent Technology Group