🚀 go-pugleaf

In <3m4poo$q4o@stud.Direct.CA> ericw@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_DOMAIN_FILE (Eric) writes:

>What is an X Terminal, and why would I need one.

An Xterminal is a machine that is used solely as an intelligent graphics
terminal running X Windows. It does nothing else. Normally an Xterminal
runs a special kernel (termed an 'Xkernel') that has X protocol stuff
built in, and it is usually connected to a host network via ethernet.
Another arbitrary machine runs a suitable Xserver utility for this
Xterminal, while the special kernel on the Xterminal communicates with
this Xserver utility across the network. 

>I run a Linux Box, but can get 3 free Sun X Terminals.  Are they graphical
>dumb terminals?  If so, does it require my poor 486 to handle everything,
>including graphical update?  What type of hardware would I need on my PC to
>hook up to one of these things?

They aren't 'dumb' terminals at all. A 'dumb' terminal has no intelligence
of it's own. An Xterminal on the the other hand is a much more intelligent
device since it has to do all of the basic raw, low-level things that any
diskless Unix workstation would normally do (except run a regular Unix
kernel) as well as talk to an Xserver on another host machine. 

Your Linux box can service Sun Xterminals as long as you're already
running X on your Linux machine. An Xterminal isn't a stand-alone device. 
The X system is totally integrated, so to use an Xterm you must first have
X running on another machine for the Xterm to have something to talk to. 

I think Xterms talk a protocol called xdmcp or something similar. They
can't really work over serial lines as the bandwidth it too small. 

>Why would anyone buy one of these new for 4000 bux when you could get a
>whole station?

Buy what new? An Xterminal? Because there are places that have one giant
machine running Xservers for many Xterminals, and current generation
Xterminals that are both good quality and fast cost lots of money. 

If all you want is a simple, no fuss X-terminal, a Sun 3/60 will do fine,
as there are pre-compiled binaries for an Xkernel for the machine
available from a couple of public ftp sites. It won't be anywhere near as
fast as a 'modern' Xterminal, but it will be much cheaper. 

You can also run normal SunOS on it and build X yourself from the source
if you wish (like I did). 

Regards,

Craig.
-- 
      Craig Dewick, Passenger Train Driver residing in Sydney, Australia.
      Please send email to craig@zeta.org.au OR cdewick@orb.apana.org.au.
 "It is without question that planning should be for the long term. Not for the
     next day, but for the next millenium. Otherwise we shall not survive."