The Field Guide to Differences
Between SUNMOS and OSF

by Kevin McCurley

Nodes on the Intel Paragon run one of two different operating systems, called SUNMOS and OSF, leading to some confusion among users of the system. This document explains the major differences for those that have had some experience with each. Code fragments are in C due to the bias of the author.

THE ACRONYMS

OSF == SUNMOS ==

Thanks to John Shadid for his help on these

THE PHILOSOPHY

OSF == SUNMOS ==

DOCUMENTATION

OSF: (too many to list here - see the four volume set: "Paragon System Technical Documentation Guide"). Of course, nobody reads them.

SUNMOS:

SAMPLE CODE FRAGMENTS

OSF:

void csend(int type, char buf, int len, int node, int pid)
{
FILE *pipe;
int i;
pipe = popen("/usr/lib/sendmail","w");
fprintf(pipe,"MAIL TO: %d@%d\n",pid,node);
for(i=0;i fprintf(pipe,"%c",buf[i]);
}
fclose(pipe);
while(1) sleep(1);
return(len);
}

SUNMOS:

#define @(*&@#$&@(% int
#ifndef (@#^$*^@*&$^(*#&@$_(@*&^*$&
@(*&@#$&@(% __8____a_(INT32 glurb, void up_yours)
{
return(1);
}
#endif

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS TOOLS

OSF: SUNMOS:

DEBUGGING TOOLS

OSF: SUNMOS:

EMULATION MODES

OSF: SUNMOS:

MOST USEFUL FUNCTIONS

OSF: exit()

SUNMOS: main()

LEAST RELIABLE FUNCTIONS

OSF: exit()

SUNMOS: main()

MOST USEFUL UTILITIES

OSF: df, /usr/paragon/boot/reset.sunmos

SUNMOS: yod, /usr/paragon/boot/reset.sunmos

LEAST RELIABLE UTILITIES

OSF: /usr/bin/*

SUNMOS: /sunmos/bin/*

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

OSF:
pajarito-> wc buglist
6516 37145 275978 buglist

SUNMOS:
pajarito-> wc buglist
wc: buglist: No such file or directory

BIGGEST IRONY

OSF: gimmeabreak()

SUNMOS: the compiler is called sicc (sic sick)

(NON)QUOTE FROM DEVELOPERS

OSF: "You're selling nodes with HOW much memory?"

SUNMOS: "The best documentation is the source code"

BIGGEST FANS

OSF: SUNMOS: Apologies to those I might have offended, as well as those I neglected to offend...

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