MINIX is a free UNIX clone that is available with all the source code. Due to its small size, microkernal -based design, and ample documentation, it is well suited to people who want to run a UNIX-like system on their personal computer and learn about how such systems work inside.

  It is quite feasible for a person unfamiliar with operating system intervals to understand nearly the entire system with a few months of use and study.  

  MINIX has been written from scratch, and therefor does not contain any AT&T code-not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries. For this reason the complete source can be made available.

  MINIX has evolved over the years, so several versions exist. Two of these are still current. The rest are obsolete.

The current versions are:

MINIX 2.0 (Intel CPUs from 8088 to Pentium)
MINIX 1.5 (Intel, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari, SPARC)

MINIX Features

Full multiprogramming (multiple programs can run at once)

Runs in protected mode on 286, 386, 486, Pentium

Support for extended memory up to 16M on 286; 4GB on 386,486, and Pentium RS-232 serial line support with terminal emulation, kermit, zmodem, etc.

Up to 3 simultaneous users on one machine.

System call compatible with POSIX (well, almost)

Full C Source code (OS, utilities, libraries, etc.) supplied

ANSI C compiler

Shell that is functionally ideal to the Bourne shell

Networking with TCP/IP

Five editors (emacs subset, vi clone, ex, ed, and simple screen editor)

Over 200 utilities (cat, cp, ed, grep, kermit, Is, make, sort, etc.)

Over 300 library procedures (atoi, fork, malloc, read, studio, etc.)

Spelling checker with 40,000 word

Online manual pages.

Hardware Required

  To run MINIX 2.0, you need a PC driven by an 8088, 286, 386, 486, or Pentium CPU. The system must be 100% hardware compatible with the PC-AT and its successors (i.e, EISA bus, IDE disk, etc.). To run the 16-bit version, 640K is the minimum. To run the 32-bit version, 2MB is the minimum. To run comfortably, another 512K is needed.

  A hard disk is not technically required, but is strongly recommended to take full advantage of the system. To load all the sources and be able to recompile the system, 30MB is the practical minimum but with a 20MB disk partition, you can still run and compile parts of the system. The system must have either a CGA, EGA, VGA, monochrome, or Hercules video card, or another card that emulates one of these.

  Both 5.25" and 3.5" diskettes are supported, as are printers using the parallel port and modems and terminals using the serial ports. Mitsumi CD-ROMs are also supported, as are some Ethernet cards.

  MINIX has been designed as a teaching system. It is easy to learn and maintain. A book describing operating systems in general and how MINIX works in particular is available. It can be used as a textbook or for independent study.

  The bibliographic information is: Title: Operating Systems: Design and Implementation, 2/e Authors: Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Albert S. Woodhull Publisher: Prentice-Hall

Legal Status of MINIX

  Although MINIX is supplied with the complete source code, it is copyrighted software. However, the copyright owner has granted everyone the right to redistribute or sell it, with or without source code, in unmodified or modified form. For all practical purposes, MINIX can be treated as if it were in the public domain.

News

  Since its introduction in January 1987, there has been a large an active USENET newsgroup about MINIX, comp.os.minix. Tens of thousands of messages have been posted to this group so far.

  These messages have contained questions, bug reports, bug fixes, and new software. MINIX users on Bitnet can be put on a mailing list by sending mail to: info-minix-request@udel.edu. Various archives store newsgroup traffic for newcomers to the newsgroup.

Courtesy:Deepika Education