skip@gatech.UUCP (10/21/83)
I haven't used VM/CMS in about 10 months so I'm a little weak on the
VM/CMS portions of the announcement. However, I have the announcement
that IBM sent to its branch offices right here in front of me, so I'll
try to quote the interesting parts. If you have a question, please
let me know by net or mail and I'll try to respond.
To make the IBM Personal Computer XT/370, IBM has added three new cards to the
standard IBM XT with 256KB of memory. These cards are:
o System/370 memory card of 512KB, in addition to the 256KB of personal
computer memory. This memory is accessible in "native" XT mode,
but is "marginally slower" than the 256KB of memory on the system
board. Must reside in "full featured slot number three."
o A System/370 processor card to execute System/370 instructions,
handle paging, etc. This card includes three microprocessors on
it. I understand from sources other than the announcement, that
one of them is a re-microprogrammed 68000. Part of the 512KB
memory is (I think) the micro-code. The three processors split
the 370 instruction set, including floating point instructions.
Must reside in "full featured slot number four."
o A 3277 Model 2 emulation card. The 3277 emulation can make use
of either the monochrome or color monitors, but colors on the
color monitor are not supported. This card must be in slot 2.
A separate cable connects the processor and memory boards; so the microcode
for the 68000 does not have to travel on the XT I/O channel.
You may purchase the XT with the cards included as the "IBM Personal
Computer XT/370" or they are available as a kit to upgrade existing XT's.
With the VM/PC software, the IBM XT/370 can:
o Manage minidisks in the System/370 workstation
o Use up to 4MB of a single user virtual memory work space for
a local CMS session -- programs are run locally, including most
of the standard CMS and (some, most, all?) of the #CP commands
o Emulate a 3277 Model 2 via a coaxial cable connected to a 3274
control unit with a type B adapter
o with an async adapter, emulate a 3101 (the 3101 emulation program
is separate.)
From PC-DOS, one enters the command VMPC and can toggle back and forth
between the 3277 emulation, the 3101 emulation, and the local CMS
session. While the user is in a local session, it is possible to LINK
and ACCESS any CMS format minidisk that exeists on the connected remote
VM system (assuming the passwords, etc are known). This may be the most
IMPORTANT feature of the new system.
Included with the VMPC product is the XEDIT editor and the EXEC2 command
processor. If you are interested in whether or not a particular command
is supported, you are welcome to ask -- the announcement includes a
list.
They list the criteria for running a CMS application program on the XT/370
as being:
o Use no more than one virtual address space
o Run in a virtual machine of up to 4 MB.
o Support 3277 Model 2
o Do not depend on System/370 DOS emulation (VSAM)
o Do not exceed the Fixed Disk capacity (Ed. note: Expansion chassis is
supported)
o Do not require more than 416K of real memory
o Use supported commands only
o Do not rely on internal VM/SP and/or HPO structure and formats
o Do not rely on time-dependent operations.
They list the many compilers, etc which can be licensed to run on the
XT/370. A brief summary:
o OS/VS Cobol (compiler, library, and Interactive Debug)
o VS Fortran
o BASIC/VM
o PL/I Optimizing Compiler
o Pascal
o Assembler H
o Document Composition Facility (Script/VS)
These programs may be downloaded from the host VM system for use on the PC
(but only with the proper licenses, etc.) A program for the host is
provided to do this.
As I read this announcement (is IBM ever short and concise?), the cost for
the "option kit" is $3,790.
-- Skip Addison {allegra,rlgvax,emory}!gatech!skip