> Does anyone have TCP/IP working ok on an XT?
> According to an article on FreeDOS's site, this is impossible due
> to required CPU speeds. It says that its quite heavy, and therefor IPX
> is more recommended for anything below 286 systems.
It depends on the speed you want to work at and how many things you want
going on at any one time. I used to regularly run a version of KA9Q
(internal PPP and with 2 or 3 tasks active) on a 10 Mhz XT "laptop"
without any problems, but in those days I only had a V32 modem and the
tasks were limited to mail, FTP and telnet.
Later, with a GT 16Mhz 286 it coped with a V34 modem and was up to four
of five tasks including news and diagnostics.
By the time the giddy heights of a 386SX25 came my way, nine tasks could
just about run and and HTTP/Browse had been added. I didn't have a V90
modem at the time, but the next machine boasting a 486DX33 was perfectly
happy with that. I've yet to find the current 486DX100 wanting which is
why it's still in use, allied to the fact that I've yet to find anything
faster than a P90 thrown away and they gave more trouble than the 486.
All that is with DOS text-mode stuff and anything graphical will slug
performance dramatically. I'd imagine that something like Bobcat will
work quite happily on hardware which will struggle with Arachne. Having
said that, my old 486DX66 was quite happy with a V90 modem under Windows
3.11 WfW. My needs obviously lag far behind what the Wintel alliance
thinks are required :)
One thing which can distort the evaluation of what can be done is the
CPU (and possibly the mobo) design. In my experience, running 16-bit
software, the older chips (up to the 486) were far better at interrupt
handling and hence realtime operations like comms. For fast modem work
in DOS, a couple of 486DX66s gave me far less trouble than the later and
supposedly faster P75/P90s. Indeed, I couldn't run a V90 flat out on the
P75/P90s without errors.
Alex.
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