iBCS EMULATION FOR LINUX
========================
13 Apr 1995 release
INTRODUCTION
------------
The iBCS kernel module for Linux provides access to the wide variety
of applications available for i386 based implementations of Unix.
Support of SVR4, SVR3, Xenix and BSD is provided with the iBCS module
handling the non-standard extensions made by various vendors in a
completely transparent fashion on a per process basis allowing your
applications from a SCO based PC to run side by side with those from
a multiprocessor Wyse system on your Linux PC(*).
Not only does this give Linux arguably the largest application base
of any i386 Unix but it also makes Linux the ideal tool to integrate
and extend existing i386 Unix systems.
(*) It is, of course, the user's responsibility to ensure that any
licensing requirements of your existing packages are adhered to.
SUPPORTED BINARY FORMATS AND STATUS
-----------------------------------
* A.OUT Release (standard kernel)
* ELF Release (standard kernel)
* COFF Release
* XOUT Beta
SUPPORTED OS EMULATIONS AND STATUS
----------------------------------
* i386 BSD (386BSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, BSDI/386) Alpha
* SVR4 (Interactive, Unixware, USL, Dell etc.) Release
* SVR3 generic Release
* SCO (SVR3 with extensions) Release
* Wyse V/386 (SVR3 with extensions) Release
* Xenix V/386 Beta
* Xenix V/286 Alpha
SUPPORTED SUBSYSTEM EMULATIONS AND STATUS
-----------------------------------------
* SYSV IPC Release
* /dev/socksys socket interface Release
* System call socket interface Release
* /dev/spx STREAMS device for local X server 0 Release
AVAILABILITY
------------
FTP: tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/BETA/ibcs2 and mirrors
BBS: The Purple Tentacle (UK), +44 1734 266974
PRICING
-------
The iBCS emulator costs you nothing. Install it on as many machines as
you like. There is no small print to read and no lawyers will pursue
you for license infringement (of the iBCS emulator).
If, on the other hand, you simply do not believe that anything good
is free then the cost is 99 pounds sterling per machine you run the
emulator on. Send this money to any iBCS developer (or developers) of
your choice who I am sure will make good use of it. Alternatively you
may send the money direct to the charity of your choice or use it any
other way that will benefit society (or not - your choice).
SUPPORT
-------
There should be nothing in the emulator to support, however if you have
questions feel free to ask the developers. If you think you have found
a bug in the emulator you can employ anyone you like to fix the problem
at any price you care to pay. It would be appreciated if you send the
patch to jaggy@purplet.demon.co.uk so it is incorporated in future
releases.
If you feel you cannot live without paying money regularly to someone
on the off chance you may wish to ask them a question sometime then
contact the developers who will be happy to discuss how much you should
send them.
A list of people who are believed to have contributed to the iBCS
emulator is contained in the CREDITS file in the main distribution.
APPLICATION VALIDATION
----------------------
In general the application vendor will be better placed to test their
applications on iBCS/Linux as they will have the knowledge and test
procedures to fully exercise the product. If you really do not wish
to install a Linux PC and run your application yourself you will find
that there are plenty of people interested in being paid to use your
software for a change.
Some applications that people have used successfully are listed in
the COMPAT file of the main distribution. This is however a *very*
small ad hoc subset of applications which work.