IBM to support UNIX on 4300

[Ron Natalie]

I don't know where this piece of crap came from.  There was a standalone
version of UNIX for the IBM 370.  It was done by ripping apart an existing
IBM operating system and glueing a UNIX kernel to it.  This has not been
available to Joe IBM-owner.

The reason people have implemented no fewer than 3 UNIX's for 370's under
VM, is that you'd be stupid not to.

	1.  It's easier to do that way.

	2.  IBM correctly percieves that many sites that buy UNIX would
	    also still want the more traditional IBM operating systems
	    at the same time for compatibility.

	3.  Why not.

First, I can't see any of the UNIVERSITIES that I know that are currently
using IBM's, that would want it native.  As a matter of fact, if it were
only available native, they probably wouldn't switch.  Second, I percieve
a problem you are having with VM.  Running UNIX under VM is not like
running UNIX under VMS.  VM is not a full blown operating system in itself
but a system for handling the low level I/O and user protection (or should
I say isolation) problems.  One of the big indicators is that CP has very
few commands.  If you are going to run on an IBM mainframe, being under
VM is probably the only way to go.  The obstacles for a native O/S are
substantial.

Finally, does anyone know how much of IX/370 is being handled by IBM
itself, howmuch is being done by Inactive Systems, and how much is
being done by other people.  From the product announcements it would
seem that it doesn't reek as much of Santa Monica as PC/IX does.

-Ron