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OS/2 hardware questions...

Started by Kerdo, 2010.11.25, 00:03:24

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Kerdo

I'm preparing to get home PC via custom-build shop, and considering OS/2 for one of the HDDs. Been trying to figure out if this OS is only for server, or will work on x86-64 type home PC. Wikipedia says one thing, another site says the opposite. If it will work on home PC, are there any maximum hardware limitations I should know about. For example, I think XP Pro SP 2 cannot handle more than 2 or 3 GB RAM, or hard disk drive larger than 1 or 2TB. Are there any 'hardware compatibility notes' as there are with PC-BSD, Linux distros, etc.? Lastly, can't seem to find 'system requirements' through google search, as with all previous OS I've looked into. Advice?

RobertM

Quote from: Kerdo on 2010.11.25, 00:03:24
I'm preparing to get home PC via custom-build shop, and considering OS/2 for one of the HDDs. Been trying to figure out if this OS is only for server, or will work on x86-64 type home PC. Wikipedia says one thing, another site says the opposite. If it will work on home PC, are there any maximum hardware limitations I should know about. For example, I think XP Pro SP 2 cannot handle more than 2 or 3 GB RAM, or hard disk drive larger than 1 or 2TB. Are there any 'hardware compatibility notes' as there are with PC-BSD, Linux distros, etc.? Lastly, can't seem to find 'system requirements' through google search, as with all previous OS I've looked into. Advice?

Yes and yes (server or client). With some hardware considerations either way. I'll take a look at the Wikipedia article again soon. One of my fellow editors on there and I plan on fixing it up, but are finding more and more references dissappearing...


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DougB

QuoteBeen trying to figure out if this OS is only for server, or will work on x86-64 type home PC.

It depends on which version of OS/2 you are talking about, and it depends on what hardware you are having built. OS/2 (even the latest eComStation) will not work with all hardware. You need to do the research, or buy from one of the OS/2 system builders. All versions of OS/2 have the client. Only the server versions have the server software (which is now so old, that it is becoming unusable, but SAMBA is being developed to replace it).

Quoteare there any maximum hardware limitations I should know about.

Yes, many. It is easier to know what you want to build, and comment on that, than to try to list all of the limitations.

QuoteI think XP Pro SP 2 cannot handle more than 2 or 3 GB RAM, or hard disk drive larger than 1 or 2TB.

It is actually about 3.5 GB of RAM, and OS/2 has that same limit, but it, apparently, doesn't matter if there is more in the machine, it just won't use it. You will also have problems trying to set up a physical disk that is larger than 500 GB (actually a little larger) as a boot disk. You can boot from it, but Boot Manager will give you problems. OS/2 can use drives up to about 2 TB, when you use the very latest Dani driver, and the very latest JFS support, but the physical boot drive itself still needs to be smaller, or it will cause trouble.

QuoteLastly, can't seem to find 'system requirements'

That is a really tough one, because OS/2 is OLD. If you check out eComStation, you will probably find some information about what does, and doesn't work. Since you are getting a new system, my suggestion would be that you absolutely require eCS 2.0, or you will have a terrible time trying to get enough stuff updated to be able to install it. Even then, if your system has hardware that is "too new", the required support may not exist, and it isn't going to work.

Google will find you a lot of information, if you can sort out the good from the bad, but you would be better off to tell us, exactly, what it is that you are getting, and users here can probably suggest whether it will work, or not.

Kerdo

#3
Main goal is three hard disk drives, hopefully all SATA2 (or at least SATA), and was planning on 750GB each. HDD#1 will be usual internal sort, for XP Pro SP2. The other two HDDs will be removable type (I'm thinking 'Syba CL-HD-MROF Mobile Rack for SATA2'), and each will have two hard disks to swap in and out. These four hard disks will have Linux Mint 7, PCLinuxOS 2010, PC-BSD, and OS/2. I'm hoping for a Gigabyte Dual BIOS motherboard with AMD processor, either Phenom II (x4,x3, or x2), or Athlon II (x4,x3, or x2). ATI graphics card. TV tuner card. Three SATA2 (or SATA) hard drive connectors. One eSATA port. At least two PCIe slots. FireWire port. Two or more USB 3.0 (or 2.0) ports. Gigabit Ethernet port. Onboard thermal sensor to monitor temperature. I'll definitely be using router with NAT/SPI, and two printers (B&W laser, color inkjet).
That's as far as I know for now.

DougB

QuoteMain goal is three hard disk drives, hopefully all SATA2 (or at least SATA), and was planning on 750GB each.

SATA or SATA2 should be no problem, as long as you use the latest Dani drivers, AND the machine supports Compatibility mode (AHCI will NOT work, yet). 750 GB could also be a problem. I have successfully installed eCS 2.0 to a 640 GB drive, BUT Boot Manager doesn't work right with anything much bigger than 500 GB. It will work, but you need to be careful about selecting the boot system, because Boot Manager does not get set up properly. Note that this is only for the eCS boot drive. Using drives up to, at least 1.5 TB will work with JFS, as long as they are just used for data and programs.

QuoteHDD#1 will be usual internal sort, for XP Pro SP2

Bet you will need SP3 for XP PRO.

QuoteThe other two HDDs will be removable type

I don't know much about removable racks etc. I do use a NexStar - CX enclosure that has both USB and eSata interfaces. The eSata works just like a normally connected hard disk, but you do need to reboot to attach/detach it while using eCS.

QuoteI'm hoping for a Gigabyte Dual BIOS motherboard with AMD processor,

Check the Russian hardware list about the board (I am not familiar with it) http://en.ecomstation.ru/hardware.php

I do know that the AMD Phenom processors work fine on an Asus M3A78-EM board. Check the graphics card, and other hardware at the above site. Temperature monitoring will depend on how well the system is supported by ACPI (it doesn't work with the M3A78-EM motherboard). The router should be no problem, but the printers may be a problem, depending on what they are. Not much hope to get Firewire to work with eCS, and having the adapter enabled introduces a 1 minute delay at boot time, for me. USB 3.0 is also not, yet, supported, but I don't think that will cause a problem.