Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 13:00:39 -0500 (EST) From: Thomas David Rivers <rivers@dignus.com> To: rivers@dignus.com, sgk@troutmask.apl.washington.edu Cc: hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: linux software installation and uname Message-ID: <199811091800.NAA24094@lakes.dignus.com> In-Reply-To: <199811091756.JAA10389@troutmask.apl.washington.edu>
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> > According to Thomas David Rivers: > > > > > > to report "Linux" to install the software. With the > > > expected availability of more commericial software for Linux, > > > it seems necessary to provide uname(1) the capability to > > > report "Linux" in place of "FreeBSD". > > > > We've been here before. The consensus - after considerable > > debate - was to not make such a change. > > It was only a pro-active suggestion. I was unaware of previous debate. > > > The problem is that several automated processes - particularly > > WEB related - use uname to determine what kind of machines > > they are running on. If we return "Linux" - then we inflate > > the linux numbers at the cost of our own. > > It's better to infate the linux numbers, than to cut-off one's only > means to run certain software. For example, there are no open > source Fortran 90 compilers. You must purchase a commerical > F90 compiler and run it under linux emulation. > > > In my particular instance, I was able to persuade the vendor > > that it was artificially limiting its customer base. And thus, > > the uname check was changed to accept either "FreeBSD" or "Linux". > > Perhaps you could do the same with the Lahey people. > > Been there. PGI has no intention at this time to support FreeBSD > because they do not have sufficient tech. support for FreeBSD. > Ah then... seems like putting a uname in /compat/linux might be the way to go... You mentioned it was the install program, right; does it run the uname command? In my case, the license manager was call the uname() system function... I know how frustrating this can be - fortunately, my vendor didn't have a really good reason for checking the uname to begin with... so I was able to persuade him. Perhaps you can follow that route? i.e. ask them what they do with the uname.... point out that it may not be that useful anyway... Good luck! - Dave Rivers - To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message
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