Re: CCL:G:G:Gaussian on a Mac ? ---Or Other Platforms

[frisch %-% at %-% lorentzian.com (Mike Frisch)]

 M. Nicklaus writes:
 >
 > Hi,
 >
 > On Thu, 10 Jul 97, "Frederick R. Bennett" <bennett %-% at %-%
 TheOffice.net wrote:
 >
 > >  I know that Gaussian Inc. hates this sort of thing but I will ask
 anyway. I
 > > am wondering whether anyone has G94 running on a PowerMac running one
 of the
 > > Linux operating systems (MKLinux or the non-Micro Kernal).
 > >
 > >  Just as a matter of opinion, I think that Gaussian Inc. should
 seriously
 > > consider supporting this platform, as they do the various Unices
 running on
 > > Intel machines. The motorola PowerPC chips are leaving Intel Pentiums
 for
 > > dead at the moment and with the new generation motorola chips on the
 way
 > > out, fast system buses and new cacheing technology, Mac's or Mac
 clones
 > > should/can provide the hardware for some high power/cost ratio
 workstations
 > > for chemistry.
 >
 > Since this can has been opened, let me chip in with a remark and a
 question.
 >
 > 1. I agree with Frederick R. Bennett in that Gaussian Inc. should support
 > more of the new fast, and *cheap*, platforms such as PowerPC systems
 > running Linux.  I'd like to expand this request to include Alpha CPU
 systems
 > running axp Linux.  These chips are even faster than the PowerPC's.  We've
 > benchmarked them with other software.  500 MHz machines (non-DEC) can be
 had
 > for $5,000-6,000.  The 600 MHz 21164 chip based systems are basically
 shipping
 > (albeit expensive, ~$11k), and the 800 MHz CPUs are in the pipeline.
 >
 We at Gaussian, Inc. agree with this, but in practice it requires a reliable
 operating system, and this is definately not the case for Linux/Alpha, and
 is questionable for Linux/PPC.
 > 2. We've tried to compile G94, Rev. E.1 for such a 21164 500 MHz Alpha
 based
 > system, running RedHat Linux 4.1, kernel v. 2.0.27 --- unfortunately,
 > unsuccessfully so far.  We've experienced problems with f2c, gcc, as well
 as
 > the linker.  So therefore my question: Has anyone been able to get G94 to
 > run on this platform?  If yes, how?
 >
 We have an Alphax/Linux machine in house but Linux for Alpha has turned out
 to be very, very far from the stable environment Linux is for Intel machines.
 For example, there are well-documented and very serious problems linking
 large programs which have not yet been resolved.  Anyone interested can
 subscribe to the Linux/Alpha mailing list and receive a dozen or so examples
 PER DAY of things that work under Linux/Intel but not under Linux/Alpha.
 When Linux is actually stable for production use on processors other than
 Intel, we certainly intend to support Gaussian there.
 Mike Frisch
 Gaussian, Inc.