From: Shawn Rapp <srapp@sinbad.net>
To: "coladam-list@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca"
<coladam-list@calum.csclub.uwaterloo.ca>

This message is mainly directed towards Geoff but I figured
others might be interested.

Over the last few months I have been working on a concept of like
the ADAMserve type deal but having it UNIX based server instead.

This is a current status report of what I'm currently doing... I
am doing a quick project for the ACiD group, but after that I
will be returning to my original project and start once again at
modifying and ripping code to building a operating system
interface for the ADAM that in a since resembles X-Windows 
operations.
This is how I project the system to operate.  You would boot the
system with a boot disk, tape, cartridge or whatever boot
machinism you use.
It will than just load a API stack and then tell the client(UNIX
Server) to start boot execution via serial cable.  The daemon on
the UNIX server than starts executing code and passes all API
back to the CV ADAM server. Where the API stack just processes
what to display and what to passes back any input necessary back
to the client(UNIX Server).

P.S. This project is using the old terms that was defined with
MIT's X-Windows. The client is the system that does execution,
the server is the one that serves up IO to the user.  So your
client workstation (is a client because of file sharing topology)
is a server do to user interfacing topology.

Questions that I have been asked...
Q: Will the ADAM that is booted into the UNIX server still be
able to access local drives and peripherals.
A: NO!  Once booted all that appears local is the execution going
on in the UNIX server.  To be able to have both local and remote
operations seems to me to be too much of a memory hog and need
tonz extra programming to interface.  Things may change later d!
own the road though.

Q: would this mean that ADAM COULD possibly be able to access
Internet and other abnormalities to the ADAM but is available to
UNIX.
A: YES!  This would allow doing more than what would be possible
feasible to a lone ADAM.  The Daemon itself is the operating
system that would have and be able to do emulation's of the old
OS7, EOS, and TDOS operating systems.  But if a programmer
bypasses these operating systems and addresses the adamd kernel 
itself then anything that UNIX can do could be interpreted and 
passed as a visual through to the ADAM.

Q: Why Solaris?  Why don't you write it for Linux instead.
A: OK! OK! OK!  You get your wish... I give up... Linux it is. 
To be exact Linux RedHat 5.0 package and will be bundled under 
as a RPM installable package. But it will be for the Intel
processors ONLY and will not be available (yet) for the Sparc
systems.  The daemon needs real CPU executing threads to work for
the emulation modes to work decent.  Even though the Sparc-
Stations are more geared towards doing this, popularity is 
driving me to write it for the Intel instead.  Pentium-133mgz 
with 64mb RAM is preferred!  May not be wise to get a weird 
clone, MMX, Pentium II or even a Pentium Pro due to the fact 
that Linux has yet to put any real support into these chips. 
You will be on your own with these chips.  The RAM requirement 
is based off of a person running the UNIX, with X-Windows and 
the adamd Daemon.  Extra Daemons loaded or applications might 
change the requirements for smooth operation.

Q: What kind of warranty? / Are you going to release source?
A: No warranty... if it nukes everything I will not take the
blame for it.  It's going to be free with all available source. 
I don't want to make money but than again I don't want to pay
money either.

Q: When is the release date?
A:  I have no official release date, YET.  It does look like 
late fall.  Maybe before ADAMCON *SHRUG* I'm not getting paid 
for this and I do have a regular job that I must attend too also.
Trust me you will know when it is released to the world.  All I 
know is I got tons of successful programmed test ideas to work, 
now I need to collorabrate them into a single working complete
package.

Q: What is after this?  (My own question)
A:  Anything!  It would be very feasible to do ADAM based TCP/IP
network workgroups.  Java Applet ADAM emulators.. so on and so
forth.  It will be a lot of work but the potential growth for my
fellow ADAMites would make it a very beneficial and rewarding pr!
oject.


Geoff... If you are still interested in making an ADAM clone it
would be cool if it had a built in boot ROM interface for the
adamd interface.  Just another crazy idea to throw your way. I
was just thinking with a new machine it would be more feasible to
do an interface for accessing local and remote devices at the same
time.  You were talking about it along time ago...I don't know if
it is still something you find as a possibility.  All I know is
that to build a ADAM clone is way over my limited knowledge on a 
few PIC's. :)

Laterz Bros 'n Sista's

/**
        /)eath //.arauder  (Shawn Rapp)
        "Java isn't a language, it's a way of life!"
 */



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