In article <[log in to unmask]> Ken Hirsch wrote:
>Date:  Sat, 4 May 1996 17:12:57 -0400
>From:  Ken Hirsch <[log in to unmask]>
>Sender:        HP-3000 Systems Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
>Newsgroups:    comp.sys.hp.mpe
>Subject:       MPE v. Unix
>
>I agree with Monsieur Beauchemin that we should avoid
>intellectual arrogance when comparing systems, especially
>those of us who use systems that are less popular (MPE, Mac).
>
>But I do want to hear from those who prefer MPE over Unix
>and have used (or administered) both enough to compare
>them.
>
>Please be specific.  Some of these deficiencies in Unix
>may represent business opportunities!
>
>Some things I have heard about UNIX:
>   (1) Crashes more often.
>       Which versions?  Can you quantify this (MTBF)?
>       Interestingly, I have heard that Linux (a free Unix)
>       is very stable.
Not true from personal experience. BTW comparing linux to MPE is kind of
facile. A free less supported shareware as to a robust, fully supported
operating system such as HP-UX, AIX or Solaris 2.5?
 
>   (2) Uses more resources -  memory and CPU.
>       I know most Unix programs tend to have
>       character-by-character interfaces or GUI
>       interfaces while MPE programs tend to
>       be block-mode or line-mode.  Are there
>       other reasons why Unix uses more system
>       resources?
True primarily because of the nature in which systems like HP-UX or AIX
optimize throughput. Although it has been awhile since I have worked on
MPE-XL, it is still probably the most efficiently memory managed OS's
available. On the other hand, because of Unix memory management Transaction
throughput per second is superior on HP-UX or AIX today. Transaction per
cost on the hand....
 
>   (3) File system takes longer to recover after crash.
>       I hope HP-UX 10 solves this.  I also know you
>       can buy add-on journaling file systems (from Veritas,
>       e.g.) for Solaris and some other Unix system.
So also does AIX 4.1X. (JFS) For example. full crash recovery of an RS6000
running AIX 4.1.4/SAP 3.0B. 2 hours in a disaster recovery test. This was
to point in time via oracle archivelog mode with a 15gb database.YMMV
 
>   (4) No good print-spooling.
>       This is a case where add-ons won't necessarily help
>       if the existing applicatons don't use a standard
>       way of printing.
HP-UX, and AIX both have very good spooling mechanisms. Case in point:
6 months in SAP without a print failure...
>   (5) No built-in support for KSAM, CIR, or database (IMAGE).
>       Does this really matter?
>
This is absolutely true. And a reason why deciding to move off of MPEXL
should be compelling from a business requirements sense.
>Please, substantive replies only; no flames!
>
>Ken Hirsch
>Carrboro, N. C.
 
Byron.