Info request, Xenix, Uport, Bell Tech (SVR3/386)

[Larry Williamson]

I need some insight into the relative merit of SCO's Xenix/386
Microports System V/386, and Bell Technologies System V/386.

I have quite a bit of experience with Microport's System V/AT.  I
like the system.  I have only one complaint.  There is more support
in the Xenix world for just about any kind of hardware that one
might desire.  When a new piece of hardware is introduced, Xenix
drivers are usually introduced at the same time.  The Xenix
marketplace is just that much bigger. 

Focus is planning a new product line that will be using hardware
that has not been on the market very long.  Specifically, the Bell
Technologies BLIT processor (I know, no xenix drivers yet) and some,
as yet to be determined, worm disk subsystem will be used along with
the more common ethernet controllers and RLL disk systems. 

This new system will be based on the 386 processor and therefore one
of the 386 based unix systems.  With all this in mind, it has been
suggested that SCO's Xenix/386 would be a good choice of operating
system.  The other contenders are of course, Microport's 386 based
SVR3 and Bell Technologies equivalent system. 

There seems to be a move afoot by SCO and Interactive to get Xenix
to be fully System V Release 3 compliant.  What that really means is
anyone's guess.  From what I've been able to determine, all the
software that I've written for Focus so far should be easily ported
to Xenix.  Nothing I've done here is fancier than using the IPC
queues and some screen driver software. 

I am not excited about having to go through the learning curve on
the Xenix system, but if it offers us more, then that is what I'll
do.

I am ready to be corrected here.  If I have made an assumption that
is not altogether accurate, please tell me. 

Things I'd like to know are how SCO, Microport and Bell Technologies
compare in these areas:

    . technical support
        . cost of support contracts

    . documentation
        . who's is the best (hard to measure, subjective)
        . is it an extra cost item

    . quality (also hard to measure, subjective)
        . are they prone to crashes
        . does the clock keep accurate time
        . do these products use real 386 features or is the 386 just fast 286

    . hardware support
        . RLL controllers (how many supported, limitations)
        . ethernet controllers ( ditto )

    . cost
        . complete system including drivers, manuals, support contracts, etc.

I'm not looking for hard prices, just ball park.  I'll get hard
quotes when the time is right. 

I understand that SCO is more expensive, but I believe that you get
more stuff in the package.  For example, Microport sells their SVR2
for a reasonable price, but then nickel and dime you for what I
would have thought to be standard equipment, ie.  tape drivers are
an extra $100.00. 

Anyway, I think I've gone on enough. If anyone has any insight, thoughts,
ideas, etc. please email to me or post. I'll post a summary if there is
any interest.

thanks, larry
-- 
Larry Williamson                      Focus Automation Systems
UUCP: watmath!focsys!larry    608 Weber St. N, Waterloo, Ontario N2V 1K4
                                          +1 519 746 4918