SCO mistakes: no UW multi X11 screens
Antonio Joaquim
X server in UW2.1.2 doesn't support multiple Matrox Millenium video cards
(not even one).
I've tried two commercial servers: Metrolink X-server and XiGraphics
X-server for Unixware.
Both recognize multiple Matrox boards and work fine with xclock, x-logo and
other useless clients.
However, if your X-client calls a resource-merge routine in X11 shared lib
(.so) it core
dumps. As Desktop and all important X-clients make a heavy use of X11
resource data base, they simply does't work with multiheaded platforms.
The problem must be corrected inside X11 lib. SCO's contribution to X11 is
to clip one of the nicest X11 features: displays with multiple screens.
Do you think XFree86 X-server would be an good alternative?
Can it replace native UW X-server without disturbing desktop functionality?
Is there an alternative I'm not aware of ?
Thanks for any help,
Antonio.
Dave Parker
I've been using UnixWare since 1.0 and I think I've used almost every
X-server EXCEPT XFree86 and MetroX with UnixWare. Kumar's stuff is great,
the XiG stuff is great, but I had numerous problems with ALL the servers
on UnixWare dying or locking up under high memory usage (lots of stuff
iconized on the desktop) and/or high color modes. Netscape and
WordPerfect were particulary fragile.
I'm now displaying the UnixWare 2.1.2 desktop on a RedHat Linux machine
using the Xig 4.1 X-server with a Matrox Millenium II 16MB card and I'm
having virutually NO problems. I actually like the UnixWare desktop, but
the native UW server seems extremely fragile to me. Displaying it on the
linux box and running no Xserver at all on the UW box has been so far
(about a year) a very reliable combination.
I've not tried the dual-headed server so I can't comment on that, but I
got rid of a lot of headaches by not running any X-servers on the UW box,
and I'm still accessing everything through the UW desktop.
--
Dave Parker/DLP, Inc dlpa...@dlpinc00.com
Jeremy Chatfield
Antonio Joaquim wrote:
...
> However, if your X-client calls a resource-merge routine in X11 shared lib
> (.so) it core
> dumps. As Desktop and all important X-clients make a heavy use of X11
> resource data base, they simply does't work with multiheaded platforms.
> The problem must be corrected inside X11 lib. SCO's contribution to X11 is
> to clip one of the nicest X11 features: displays with multiple screens.
>
> Do you think XFree86 X-server would be an good alternative?
> Can it replace native UW X-server without disturbing desktop functionality?
> Is there an alternative I'm not aware of ?
I'm puzzled by your question. You point out that the failure is in the
libs provided with UnixWare, and then ask if an alternative X Server
will fix the problem. The Server and libs are two separate entities.
Imagine using the application across a network, with a completely
different platform for the X Server. The Server would not be using the
same libs as the client, but you'll still see the same problem
manifested. The only way in which the Server can fix the problem, is to
offer only a single screen ;-)
This is an old bug. I first saw the problem at the Uniforum trade show
in 1994, when we had a part of the Univel area on the Novell display.
The problem existed long before SCO took over UnixWare, and probably has
its origins at USL. The bug has been reported by us and by customers on
several occasions over the years, but usually ends up being closed by
UnixWare support, either as a Server error , or as "cannot reproduce
(with UnixWare X Server)".
If you want to report the library problem, and name me as a contact at
the third party software developers, I'll happily try to get this
resolved again.
Cheers, JeremyC.
--
Jeremy Chatfield, Xi Graphics mailto:j...@xig.com tel:+44(0)1234.710030
Commercial X Products: Servers, CDE, contracts and custom development
http://www.xig.com ftp://ftp.xig.com/ mailto:majo...@xig.com
tel:+1.303.298.7478 fax:+1.303.298.1406 mailto:in...@xig.com