How Do You Solve the Multi-OS Development Nightmare?

[Adnan Yaqub]

Currently I find myself involved in driver development for multiple
Unix-like operating systems for 386 boxes (PS/2, ISA, et al).  When I
produce a new version of a driver, I am obligated to test it on
several platforms to make sure it installs properly and works as
advertized.  However, around here, it is a real pain to be able to
find a "virgin" disk with the OS you need to test.

I suppose we could build up some disks just for testing, one OS per
disk, but that would still not guarantee a "fresh" OS (i.e., the guy
before you may have really hosed things up).  Also, this ties up a lot
of resources.  (I don't know about you, but we still find disks
expensive.)

An ideal situation, IMHO, would be to have a bunch of operating
systems on tape which you could dump onto a disk.  Thus, when it comes
time to test your driver with an OS, you grab the tape, run some
magical program which makes the disk "right" for the OS and blasts the
OS from tape to disk.  You then load your driver and test to your
hearts content.  I know Interactive allows you to load from tape, but
not other common OS companies.  Is any one doing this?  Do you have
any other ideas on how to solve this nightmare?

Thanks.
--
Adnan Yaqub (adnan at sgtech.uucp)
Star Gate Technologies
29300 Aurora Rd, Solon, OH, 44139, USA, +1 216 349 1860