Seasoned UNIX guys are maniacs at the keyboard. They want vi,
autocomplete, and basically everything else that's available on a native
Linux console. We shouldn't surmise what they want console access for -
it may be to fix a network problem, maybe not. If VM is to support Linux
in a transparent way, the console does need to be more usable. I've
dealt with quite a few UNIX people who get instantly frustrated with the
current setup.

As if vi weren't tough enough for a VMer, I've had to learn sed and
several other tricks to revive misconfigured images. I see it as merely
quirky, but others see it as a detractor to serious implementation. And
yes, that puts me in a small pool of folks willing to bridge the
knowledge/education gap. In all, especially where Linux390 is a marginal
sell, VM should be offering more than merely 'good enough'.

Simplicity & Familiarity are two things that need to be considered in
any kind of console solution.

Ray Mrohs
U.S. Department of Justice
202-307-6896


> Let me pose this question: how many of your colleagues know what to do
> after hitting L1-A on a Sun console, or accidentally disconnecting a
> serial cable to a console port? If they do know, how did they
> learn? Do
> they understand the difference between how to respond on a
> SPARCstation
> versus an E15000 (bonus points if they know *which* console
> on the E15K
> to use to respond)?
>
> If they do, then that's the result of education, not
> technology. I think
> the same consideration applies here -- but now we're in the realm of
> philosophy, not technology.
>
> Let's try both approaches and see what comes of it. My
> approach will fit
> either one; maybe we're solving different levels of the same problem.
>

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