On Thu, 6 Mar 2008, Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
> On 6 Mar, 19:27, darko <darko.krs...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Mar 6, 1:04 am, "Martin Rubenstein" <ma...@sbohp.com> wrote:
> > > I have a medical practice with all of our billing, appointments,
> > > etc. running on a proprietary software called Script Systems by
> > > Mysis. Â*The server is a 4 year old IBM eServer with OS 5.07 as OS..
> > > Â*I am concerned about the need to replace the server before a
> > > hardware failure creates a crisis, as I figure most hardware is good
> > > for about 5 years and we are near that. Â*Mysis would prefer
> > > (naturally) that I migrate to a different software they offer that
> > > is GUI instead of character based, although they still support our
> > > product. Â*The OS on our server is OS 5.07. Â*How realistic is it that
> > > I stick to our prior method of buying an Intel based server and load
> > > OS 5.07 and our data myself, and have Mysis still do software
> > > support for their product (but not hardware or OS) given Sco's
> > > financial problems. Â*Our vender's solution is considerably more
> > > expensive, but has the advantaage that they will support the new
> > > hardware and software. Â*All thoughts appreciated.

The information is given. The OP knows that the SW is only supported on
the SCO OS. He is asking for assistance with a specific problem.

> > At least one major server vendor, HP, still sells new servers that can
> > run SCO OpenServer 5.0.7, and are certified for that OS. I am not sure
> > about other vendors, since all Intel/AMD based servers I've dealt with
> > recently were HP. For example, task of installing 5.0.7 on ProLiant
> > DL380 G5 is doable, from my recent personal experience. I had to use
> > external USB optical drive and floppy (broader described in another
> > thread in this news group).
> >
> > The other option is to use virtualization like VMWare Server or
> > Workstation on some Linux or Windows. That is also doable. You should
> > just check if it is supported by your vendor(s). I am not sure if
> > OpenServer is supported on VMWare officially.

OpenServer is not supported by VMWare. So taking it to a virtualized
state causes the SW to become unsupported by the vendor.

> Just because a server is "compatible" doesn't mean you can get it to
> work. I've been doing hardware evaluations and integrations with various
> OS's since BSD 4.1, and I've got to say that SCO configuration harkens
> back to the bad old '80's of having to know the answer to everything in
> advance. including details of SCSI configuration and driver
> installations that any modern OS either auto-detects or has decent probe
> tools to detect. The result is that adding peripherals, such as tape
> drives, external USB drives, graphics tablets, or slightly unusual
> monitors is awkward if not impossible. And it's only going to get worse.

That is why there is OpenServer 6. It does not have the old knowledge is
required to get the devices working. Sadly the market has to provide for
clueless Admins, that do no understand UNIX.

> Virtualizing lets you sidestep these problems and leave them with a
> current operating system capable of handling contemporary hardware, and
> allows trivial transfer of your entire virtualized operating system to
> an arbitrary virtualization server. It also installs in a fraction of
> the time, because the underlying OS and hardware do the bad block
> management for you and that *AMAZINGLY* slow OpenServer disk
> configuration tools stays the heck out of your way.

Yes, but it is a non supported configuration by the vendor. And yes I use
virtualization. But to report problems to the vendor you have to follow
their rules. Some out right reject any thing done virtually. Sadly we
have to follow vendor rules to get bugs fixed. What you need to realize
is that there are various target audiences. We have to address them.

The SoftWare Applications chooses the OS. We have to look at what is best
for the OP/business. Not pick a ...


--
Boyd Gerber <gerberb@zenez.com>
ZENEZ 1042 East Fort Union #135, Midvale Utah 84047