moe@clsib21.UUCP (Moses Peabody) (09/25/87)
Hello, 9/25/87 Has anyone out there had any experience interfacing front end processors with multi-tasking software on IBM PC's running MS/DOS. I've had good results with AST's 4 port asynchronous cluster adapter which adds 4 RS-232 serial ports to the IBM PC/AT and compatibles. It comes with a software interface to "C", 4k/port buffering, float control, etc.. After building a no handshaking DTE/DTE cable adaptor, I was able to use all 4 ports to talk to different microprocessors (eg A IIe, DEC PRO 380 & IBM PC/AT). The software interface includes a Basic I/O System (BIOS), DOS drivers and an interrupt driven buffer program that are loaded into system memory at startup. I'm working on an IBM based "inventory control" program and want to spawn it as background jobs at several ports so that multiple dumb terminals can access the program and common data base simultaneously. I've just started researching the MS/DOS multi-tasking packages and don't know that much about them yet. I expect to encounter some incompatibil- ities during integration with the FEP. What multi-tasking packages are best? Do they come with source code? Is there a one time charge or must one pay royalties on distribution? Would it be easier to modify the FEP drivers or multi-tasking package? Do they support the Greenleaf communications library? Should I modify GLEAF or am I better off without it? Are there other helpful software tools available? Where is the path of least resistance? What obstacles might I encounter on my journey? Does anyone have a life preserver? Moses Peabody CLSI, Inc Newtonville, MA