Draft: Information about PC Unix Platforms for Unidata Sites
Several Unix systems are now available for inexpensive PC platforms, including
various versions of BSDI, FreeBSD, Linux, NetBSD, Solaris x86, SCO UNIX, and UnixWare.
Other systems such as Interix provide Unix-like platforms running over Windows
NT. Unidata does not have the resources to support our applications on all of
these. This document attempts to provide information based on our limited experience
and reports from Unidata sites on the suitability of these platforms for Unidata
applications and systems software. There is no attempt here at an exhaustive comparison
of the platforms, but merely a collection of relevant information that we will
try to maintain as long as it proves useful.
Linux
Linux comes with a GNU software development environment that is adequate for current
Unidata applications. We have found that binary distributions created on one version
of Linux may not work on other versions of Linux. UPC-created binary distributions
are currently available only for the version of RedHat Linux to which we have
access. Linux comes without Motif, which must be purchased separately (about $150
per machine). Linux has a freely available version of Motif named Lesstif, but
the UPC hasn't tested it's adequacy for the N-AWIPS and GARP applications that
require Motif. Linux comes with perl and the Netscape web browser. Java support
for Linux is expected to be good, since Sun recently announced it will provide
help in porting JDK 1.2 (the latest version of Java) to Linux.
Solaris x86
Solaris x86 is now
free for non-commercial
use and includes Motif, needed by applications such as N-AWIPS and GARP. A
commercial software development environment for Solaris x86 can be purchased from
Sun (about $400) or the GNU development environment may be downloaded at no cost.
The UPC attempts to port and test applications on both the commercial and freely
available development environments, and to make binary distributions available
for use by those without access to a software development environment. Solaris
x86 currently comes without perl or a web browser; since some Unidata software
requires these, they must be downloaded for use with Solaris x86 platforms. Solaris
x86 comes with good Java support, although the Java3D extension is not supported
yet.
Recently Sun announced a change in their priorities for support for Solaris
on Intel platforms. For Solaris 7, some devices that were supported in the past
will no longer be supported, and Sun will not support Solaris on notebook or
laptop systems. For more details, see Sun's Solaris
7 (Intel Platform Edition) Hardware Compatibility List.
Other
Some Unidata sites have experimented with using other version of PC Unix platforms.
In particular, Plymouth State has reported success with FreeBSD and recommends
it as a Unidata applications platform.
Since use of Windows NT at Unidata sites is growing, systems such as Interix
that provide a Unix environment for Windows NT also deserve evaluation for suitability
as Unidata systems and applications platforms.
This document is maintained by
Russ Rew <russ@unidata.ucar.edu>
