14 Nov
2005
14 Nov
'05
8:15 p.m.
Subject: Re: semi-homemade micro
From: woodelf <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca>
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 18:02:27 -0700
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>
Scott Stevens wrote:
It is. I have the version that came with 2.02 on CD. Excellent book and
reference. Worth the price. Whats nice about it I can read the text,
look at the code, run it if I care to and borrow ideas.
Allison
It's not licence-bound to a book the way
earlier versions were. You can download Minix from their website at no cost at all.
http://minix1.hampshire.edu/
or
http://www.minix3.org/
But I like the book, note I lost my copy a few years ago. Hard copy is nice.
15 Nov
15 Nov
10:06 a.m.
[Minix]
Seconded. I bought the first edition of the book (red cover) and a Minix
1.5.10 (I think) on 360K floppies distribution) about 15 years ago, and the
second edition (with the CD-ROM) somewhat later. I am not really a
programmer, but I learnt a lot about operating systems from that book,
and from fiddling with the code.
It's one of those books, like TAoE, that I would seriously recomend
everyone here should read. Sure it doesn't cover everything, and you may
not agree with all the methods in it, but at least you'll learn enough to
understand other books on the subject.
-tony
But I like the
book, note I lost my copy a few years ago. Hard copy is nice.
It is. I have the version that came with 2.02 on CD. Excellent book and
reference. Worth the price. Whats nice about it I can read the text,
look at the code, run it if I care to and borrow ideas. 
16 Nov
16 Nov
4:08 a.m.
New subject: Minix (was: Re: semi-homemade micro)
Tony Duell wrote:
[Minix]
Seconded. I bought the first edition of the book (red cover) and a Minix
1.5.10 (I think) on 360K floppies distribution) about 15 years ago, and the
second edition (with the CD-ROM) somewhat later. I am not really a
programmer, but I learnt a lot about operating systems from that book,
and from fiddling with the code.
It's one of those books, like TAoE, that I would seriously recomend
everyone here should read. Sure it doesn't cover everything, and you may
not agree with all the methods in it, but at least you'll learn enough to
understand other books on the subject.
I'm not sure if it's out yet, but very soon the 3rd edition will be
available, so if you consider buying the book make sure you buy the 3rd
edition. As lots has changed to minix I assume that the new book will
reflect those changes.
Bert
But I like
the book, note I lost my copy a few years ago. Hard copy is nice.
It is. I have the version that came with 2.02 on CD. Excellent book and
reference. Worth the price. Whats nice about it I can read the text,
look at the code, run it if I care to and borrow ideas. 
11:35 a.m.
New subject: Minix
Bert Thomas wrote:
That is exactly why I did not buy the 3 ed. Minux has been re-wrtten
Seconded. I bought the first edition of the book (red cover) and a
Minix 1.5.10 (I think) on 360K floppies distribution) about 15 years
ago, and the second edition (with the CD-ROM) somewhat later. I am
not really a programmer, but I learnt a lot about operating systems
from that book, and from fiddling with the code.
It's one of those books, like TAoE, that I would seriously recomend
everyone here should read. Sure it doesn't cover everything, and you
may not agree with all the methods in it, but at least you'll learn
enough to understand other books on the subject.
I'm not sure if it's out yet, but very soon the 3rd edition will be
available, so if you consider buying the book make sure you buy the
3rd edition. As lots has changed to minix I assume that the new book
will reflect those changes.
from a 8088 to a 386+
in the 3rd ed. 8 meg of ram
min is needed, 16 recomended. I was buying
the book for ideas for a small
computer I building. ( hardware real soon ... ) that I have to write
since I have a unque instruction
set and word length. This version of the computer will have 64kb of
memory of 12k to 16kb I want
to save for the OS.
Bert
11:57 a.m.
New subject: Minix
woodelf wrote:
That is exactly why I did not buy the 3 ed. Minux has
been re-wrtten
from a 8088 to a 386+
Crap -- just confirmed this, and Intel-2.0.2 is the last branch that will work
on 8088 (2.0.3 and 2.0.4 require more than 640K mainboard so they'll only work
on 1MB 286 or later).
--
Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/
Want to help an ambitious games project? http://www.mobygames.com/
Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/
7:35 p.m.
New subject: Minix
> Seconded.
I bought the first edition of the book
(red cover) and a
> Minix 1.5.10 (I think) on 360K floppies
distribution) about 15 years
> ago, and the second edition (with the CD-ROM)
somewhat later.
17 Nov
17 Nov
10:20 a.m.
New subject: Minix
Chris M wrote:
IINM, the first edition was yeller, and had no media.
I don't have it in front of me, but I'm pretty sure it
was numero uno. The source code of course is printed
in the book. And I thought 3 editions were already
released?
Well my copy did have media. Just too many moves with no storage.
I checked the minux 3 faq and and it says 4 meg of ram needed,
the web blurb says 8 and all want 16 meg.I guess you could
compile it for a smaller system. Did not early 386's only
have 2 or 4 meg ram?
3:40 p.m.
New subject: Minix
>
Seconded. I bought the first edition of the book
(red cover) and a
> Minix 1.5.10 (I think) on 360K floppies
distribution) about 15 years
> ago, and the second edition (with the CD-ROM)
somewhat later.
6:23 p.m.
New subject: Minix
You might be right. The first 'minix book' I
bought
was certainly red,
and came with no mefia. The source code to much of
the OS (kernel,
drivers, etc) was printed in the book.
Well I should hope it came w/no mafia. O mefia. Well
I wouldn't want a book that came with that
either...whatever it is. LOL LOL
I bought a MInix installation kit seperately. It
came in a 'software
size' 3 rignt binder with a lot of 5.25" 360K
floppies inside. And the
manual pages for the standard programs, etc. IIRC
that kit cost me
somewhat over \pounds 140.00 (back in about 1992).
-tony
It very well could have been printed in different
colors. A red one...hmmm. Possible collectible? Mine
is yellow, and in pristine condition save for the
blanking razor slit on the spine. Didn't see any first
editions on Amazon, but the 2nd (white) wasn't exactly
cheap. Mine was a buck on Epay ;)
__________________________________
Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
http://farechase.yahoo.com
18 Nov
18 Nov
6:08 p.m.
New subject: Minix
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 15:23:48 -0800 (PST)
Chris M <chrism3667 at yahoo.com> wrote:
There are a lot of copies of the first edition on abe.com for a buck or a bit
more. I always go to abe first, it's a consortium of used bookstores worldwide in a
common database. It beats Amazon in MANY ways.
I ordered a $1 copy a few days ago. I paid full retail for a second edition copy but
think the first edition will have enough significant differences to be worth the dollar.
You might be
right. The first 'minix book' I bought
was certainly red,
and came with no mefia. The source code to much of
the OS (kernel,
drivers, etc) was printed in the book.
Well I should hope it came w/no mafia. O mefia. Well
I wouldn't want a book that came with that
either...whatever it is. LOL LOL
I bought a MInix installation kit seperately. It
came in a 'software
size' 3 rignt binder with a lot of 5.25" 360K
floppies inside. And the
manual pages for the standard programs, etc. IIRC
that kit cost me
somewhat over \pounds 140.00 (back in about 1992).
-tony
It very well could have been printed in different
colors. A red one...hmmm. Possible collectible? Mine
is yellow, and in pristine condition save for the
blanking razor slit on the spine. Didn't see any first
editions on Amazon, but the 2nd (white) wasn't exactly
cheap. Mine was a buck on Epay ;)
__________________________________
Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
http://farechase.yahoo.com
9:20 p.m.
New subject: Minix
It very well could have been printed in different
colors. A red one...hmmm. Possible collectible? Mine
I;'ve found it. It's a red paperback. The front cover reads :
Operating Systems
Design and Implementation
Prentice-Hall Interational Editions
Andrew S Tanenbaum
Inside is the curious comment
'This edition may be sold only in those countries to which it is
consigned by Prentice Hall International. It is not to be re-exported and
it is not for sale in the USA, Mexico or Canada'
No idea why not.
-tony
11:05 p.m.
New subject: Minix
On Nov 18, 2005, at 9:20 PM, Tony Duell wrote:
'This edition may be sold only in those countries
to which it is
consigned by Prentice Hall International. It is not to be re-
exported and
it is not for sale in the USA, Mexico or Canada'
The US had a different version of the book... hardcover from memory.
The US version cost an arm and a leg, the version I got (red, like
that one) was poorer quality printing and available for something
like 1/4 of the "real" book. I got it while I liked in Japan. I
believe the one I have was supposed to be used in Taiwan only.
19 Nov
19 Nov
10:29 a.m.
New subject: Minix
International editions of the textbooks are cheaper. Usually published in
paperback and on thinner paper, etc. We have many international students
here at UTA, many from India. They almost always have international editions
of their texts that they buy over there and bring with them. I am not sure
of the difference, but I think it must be substantial. Less than 50% of the
price of the standard edition I am sure.
Gil
A. G. (Gil) Carrick, Director
The Museum at CSE
Coach - ICPC Programming Team
University of Texas at Arlington
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Box 19015, 471 S Cooper Street
Arlington, TX 76019
817-272-3620
http://www.cse.uta.edu/TheMuseum at CSE/
...
'This edition may be sold only in those countries
to which it
is consigned by Prentice Hall International. It is not to be
re-exported and it is not for sale in the USA, Mexico or Canada'
No idea why not.
-tony
16 Nov
16 Nov
7:38 p.m.
New subject: Minix
That is exactly why I did not buy the 3 ed. Minux has
been re-wrtten
from a 8088 to a 386+
in the 3rd ed. 8 meg of ram min is needed, 16 recomended. I was buying
BLETCH!!!
That means it wouldn't run on this PC (too little RAM), for all I am
running an old version of linux with no problems.
The reason I bought Minix in the beginning was that it would run on my
PC/XT machine (the only PC I had at the time). And I learnt a fair bit
about OSes and enough C to be dangerous by playing about with it.
8MB and a 386 is not a small machine!
the book for ideas for a small
computer I building. ( hardware real soon ... ) that I have to write
since I have a unque instruction
set and word length. This version of the computer will have 64kb of
memory of 12k to 16kb I want
to save for the OS.
Feel like porting Unix V6 (as in the Lions Book)?
-tony
8:16 p.m.
New subject: Minix
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 00:38:07 +0000 (GMT)
ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote:
It is small for any 'modern' version of Linux. Most 'distros' now are
being built with compile options that don't even allow it to run on a regular 386.
There isn't the same problem for Net or OpenBSD. Probably one of the reasons I like
the BSDs more than Linux: the fact that they support as 'equal' all those old
architectures 'keeps them honest' and keeps the install system from by default
installing a horrendous amount of bloat. I have the same basic compliment of binaries,
built from the same source tree, on a little old Sparc IPX and on a Pentium III system.
Early versions of Linux are reaching the age where they are 'technically' on topic
here.
That is
exactly why I did not buy the 3 ed. Minux has been re-wrtten
from a 8088 to a 386+
in the 3rd ed. 8 meg of ram min is needed, 16 recomended. I was buying
BLETCH!!!
That means it wouldn't run on this PC (too little RAM), for all I am
running an old version of linux with no problems.
The reason I bought Minix in the beginning was that it would run on my
PC/XT machine (the only PC I had at the time). And I learnt a fair bit
about OSes and enough C to be dangerous by playing about with it.
8MB and a 386 is not a small machine!
17 Nov
17 Nov
4:09 a.m.
New subject: Minix
Tony Duell wrote:
Oh it will run on your machine. But you have to tweak it somewhat. The
whole idea behind moving drivers to userland is to make a very minimal
kernel. The kernel is only a 8k of code or something like that.
Obviously it needs some ram as well, but that also depends on the number
of processes you want to be able to have in memory.
I checked with Tanenbaum last night and he thinks it won't work on a
8086 anymore:
That is exactly
why I did not buy the 3 ed. Minux has been re-wrtten
from a 8088 to a 386+
in the 3rd ed. 8 meg of ram min is needed, 16 recomended. I was buying
BLETCH!!!
That means it wouldn't run on this PC (too little RAM), for all I am
running an old version of linux with no problems.
The reason I bought Minix in the beginning was that it would run on my
PC/XT machine (the only PC I had at the time). And I learnt a fair bit
about OSes and enough C to be dangerous by playing about with it.
8MB and a 386 is not a small machine! >
I doubt it runs on 8086s any more. Should
work on 386s but
I don't know if anyone has tried. If memory is tight, it
will be necessary to tweak the system and reduce the FS cache.
The third edition of the book will be out in a month. I would
indeed suggest waiting for it.
<<
So this should help getting it to work on your machine. ;-)
Bert
4:16 a.m.
New subject: Minix
The reason I bought Minix in the beginning was that it
would run on my
PC/XT machine (the only PC I had at the time). And I learnt a fair bit
about OSes and enough C to be dangerous by playing about with it.
Yes indeed
8MB and a 386 is not a small machine!
8MB and the equivalent of a 386 is getting to be pretty close to a single
chip these days.
Feel like porting Unix V6 (as in the Lions Book)?
I quite fancy porting Minix to the PDP-11, but I'm sure it's been done
before.
Gordon.
6821
days inactive
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16 comments
10 participants
participants (10)
-
ajp166＠bellatlantic.net -
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
bert＠brothom.nl -
bfranchuk＠jetnet.ab.ca -
chenmel＠earthlink.net -
chrism3667＠yahoo.com -
gilcarrick＠comcast.net -
gordonjcp＠gjcp.net -
gtn＠mind-to-mind.com -
trixter＠oldskool.org