🚀 go-pugleaf

If you aren't tied to particular applications which require AIX,
and you're at a University, I think ACIS 4.3 is still a much better
operating system for the machine.  It is cheaper.  It runs the
disks and network interfaces faster, or did not too long ago (I had
both systems side by side about 6 months ago).  No VRM(!!).  The most
current version comes with X11R2 as well as both NFS and the Andrew
File System.  It is quite vanilla 4.3BSD, which means you get to have
file names longer than 14 characters and a terminal driver that won't
delete your prompt and stuff like that.  It also means you can move
software from a lot of other machines by simply recompiling it (mostly.
The C compiler they use is fussier than pcc, and actually complains
about things that even lint won't find.  Good for software development,
though.  If you can get your code through that compiler without complaint
it is very likely to port well).

Support is interesting.  The system comes with full sources, meaning you
can get by without support if you're into doing it yourself.  You can
also arrange for support via uucp.  You can submit problem reports this
way, and get fixes and updates back.

I like the manuals, too.  You essentially get the parts of Volumes I and II
which are additional to the 4.3 distribution.  The new stuff in Volume
II is well written, complete and to the point.

My experience with both operating systems would also lead me to agree
that AIX generally is more complicated to deal with than ACIS 4.3.
A particularly acute memory is that of the upgrade from the original
RT processor to the newer one (it required, in addition to replacing
cards, reformatting of the disks, which meant deinstalling and
reinstalling the operating system).  The AIX-oriented book that came
with the upgrade kit was a depressing 120 pages or more.  The
replacement documentation that came with the ACIS 4.3 upgrade was
no more than a dozen pages of concise, idiot-proof instructions.

I like ACIS 4.3 on the RT.  I'm still not too fussy about AIX on
anything, though my salesman keeps telling me they're working hard
to improve it.

Dennis Ferguson
University of Toronto