Xenix on a 386 box + 4 or more terminals

[Peter Black]

In article <35049 at unix.cis.pitt.edu>, sean at unix.cis.pitt.edu (Sean R Owens) writes:
> 
> Has anyone here had experience with hanging four or more terminals off a Xenix
> box? (Preferably 36 20mhz or faster, also 386sx 16mhz).  How was the response
> time for the users?  I'm interested in doing an I/O bound database system
> for up to 4 or more users, but I'm worried about degradation of response time.

We have a Compaq 386/20, 130 meg ESDI hd, with 9 meg of ram and a math
co-processor, running SCO Xenix 2.3.3 with VP/ix.  We have 15 Wyse 60
terminals; 1 dos machine (running a terminal emulation program); 3 serial
printers; 1 parallel printer; 3 modems; a 60 meg, 1/4" tape drive; 1 Anvil
Stallion 16 intelligent port and 1 Arnet 8 port.  The principal software we
run is Unify RDB 4.0, vi, nroff and a few simple minded dos programs under
VP/ix.  We seldom experience system degradation.  Based on my experience with
my system and others in the area, I think the following things are important:

	* Get good quality hardware WITH good quality support
	* Use intelligent i/o cards
	* Don't create large filesystems, a /root & /u work better and
	  it is much easier to deal with file fragmentation with a
	  separate /u filesystem.
	* SCO Xenix 2.3.2 GT (SCSI support) is faster, costs more, is
	  larger (and therefore harder to create a boot floppy, must tinker)
	* Get a tape backup system and use it
	* Make a boot floppy and TEST IT with your tape drive before you
	  need it
	* Buy a separate MS-Dos machine for desk top publishing  - Windows,
	  PageMaker, etc.

Peter M. Black, Peter M. Black Real Estate Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 2227, 315 E. Washington Street, Sequim, WA 98382
Voice (PST): (206) 683-1171 or 800-962-7307, FAX: (206) 683-5415
E-Mail: {attmail,uunet}!sequim!pmb