Version 1.3
16 September 1998
Q.1. Where does this FAQ reside, and who maintains it ?
Q.2.What is Linux, and where can I get it?
Q.3. What is the Linux iBCS2 emulator, and where can I get it ?
Q.4. Why use Progress under Linux ?
Q.5. How do I get Progress to run under Linux ?
Q.6. How do I increase semaphores ?
Q.7. What PROTERMCAP settings work well for Linux ?
Q.8. Which versions of Progress work well under Linux ?
Q.9. Message texts received, but not yet tested by the author (bleeding edge technology!!)
Q.1. Where does this FAQ reside, and who maintains it ?
The FAQ should always be available at http://marathon-man.com/pl/Progress-Linux-FAQ.html and is authored and maintained by Grant S. Smith. I'm no relation to Greg Smith, who maintains the Progress Performance FAQ and has also kindly offered to mirror this FAQ at http://www.westnet.com/~gsmith/Progress-Linux-FAQ.html. If you'd like to have something added or have a relevant question, you can email me at grant@ipgis.co.za
Q.2. What is Linux, and where can I get it?
Linux is best described by the Linux Documentation Project (LDP). You can find out more by surfing to http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html . There are all sorts of interesting links on that site relating to linux, where to get it, how to install it, etc., etc.
Q.3. What is the Linux iBCS2 emulator, and where can I get it ?
The Linux iBCS2 emulator is a loadable kernel module that allows linux to recognize and execute binaries which conform to Intel Binary Compatibility Specification. All applications which run under SCO UNIX conform to this specification. The latest version of the emulator can be found at ftp://tsx-11.mit.edu/pub/linux/BETA/ibcs2
Q.4. Why use Progress under Linux ?
It's up to you. I use it because I find the performance of Linux superior to SCO. I also like having the source for the operating system and not being dependent on a single vendor for support. Bear this in mind though - PSC currently does not support Progress under Linux and there is little indication that they will ever produce native Linux binaries.
Q.5. How do I get Progress to run under Linux ?
This section describes the procedure of running Intel SCO versions of Progress on Linux. I have not attempted Unixware SVR4 versions. If anyone manages to get other iBCS2 compliant Progress binaries to run please email me the procedures you followed. Also please be aware that I still use the original SCO shared libraries from my copy of SCO UNIX (those are the files under /shlib). I can legally do this because I bought the package. SCO is now giving away Open Server 5 to non-profit and educational institutions - so if you are one of those you can use the shared libraries from that package. In time, the shared libraries distributed with the iBCS2 emulator may indeed be advanced enough.
Q.6. How do I increase semaphores ?
If you need more semaphores in the Linux kernel, you will have to edit /usr/src/linux/include/linux/sem.h and modify SEMMNI and SEMMSL in that file to reflect the amount of users you plan to have connecting to your database. Remember to recompile the kernel and re-install it!
Q.7. What PROTERMCAP settings work well for Linux ?
Strictly speaking, this isn't a Linux specific question. Linux has a default TERM environment setting of 'linux', which is essentially equivalent to 'vt102'. The default behaviour of the linux console is for the BackSpace key to send ^? (octal 177), which I prefer to remap to ^h. See loadkeys(1). You can either modify the keyboard to match the default vt102 protermcap entry with loadkeys, or you can modify protermcap with a personalized 'linux' entry, which is what I recommend (except for changing BackSpace, of course). Here is an entry which works for me [ http://www.marathon-man.com/pl/protermcap ] - I've just added linux to the vt100 protermcap, so there are some functions with multiple lines. If you're running PROGRESS from within an xterm, or rxvt, you can use the 'xterm' section in the supplied protermcap file.
Q.8. Which versions of Progress work well under Linux ?
It has been reported that 6.2D will not start the multi-user server under Linux, but 6.2G will, so it seems like anything under 6.2G is no-go. 7.3C works perfectly. Version 8.2C now works for me too, using the instructions sent by Jef Waite <waitjl@meisoft.com>. Those instructions are covered in Q.9.
Q.9. Message texts received, but not yet tested by the author (bleeding edge technology!!)
Below are messages from fellow Progress and Linux enthusiasts which may help with later Progress versions...
Disclaimer
Neither I, nor the company I work for take any responsibility for any liability, damage, loss of data, breeches of license agreements or personal injury which may occur as a result of reading or using the knowledge contained in this FAQ. That responsibility lies SOLELY with the reader.
Copyright 1998