[comp.unix.wizards] Real-timeness of System V R4?

mark@intek01.UUCP (Mark McWiggins) (03/03/90)

My company does quite a bit of work in factory and warehouse automation,
where a certain degree of real-time control is necessary in controlling
warehouse machinery, etc.   We've mostly been running DOS for these 
parts of the application; since there's very little operating system
there, there's very little to get in the way of the application.  Of
course, that cuts both ways; there's also no memory protection, no tasking,
etc., etc.

We're always looking for something better and are aware of various Unixish
efforts in the real-time direction (LynxOS, etc.).   I've seen various
mentions of System V R4, besides finally coming in with the nice 
Berkeleyisms, being more configurable towards real-time applications.

I haven't seen any details on this.  Is there someone close to the porting
effort that could comment?  Is SysVR4 going to be a true contender in
this arena?  We don't require microsecond response time, but it is nice
to stop those machines before they drive through walls, etc ... :-)

Thanks in advance for any insight.

-- 
Mark McWiggins			Integration Technologies, Inc. (Intek)
+1 206 455 9935			DISCLAIMER:  I could be wrong ...
1400 112th Ave SE #202		Bellevue WA  98004
uunet!intek01!mark		Ask me about C++!

ram@attcan.UUCP (Richard Meesters) (03/05/90)

In article <226@intek01.UUCP>, mark@intek01.UUCP (Mark McWiggins) writes:
> I haven't seen any details on this.  Is there someone close to the porting
> effort that could comment?  Is SysVR4 going to be a true contender in
> this arena?  We don't require microsecond response time, but it is nice
> to stop those machines before they drive through walls, etc ... :-)
> 
> Thanks in advance for any insight.

According to the SVR4 Product Overview, SVR4 introduces new process-scheduler
architecture, and high-resolution timing services to support real-time 
processing.

The high resolution timers are based on the BSD system timing services, and 
give microsecond resolution.

If you want more information, you can try and get the SVR4 "System
Administrator's Guide" and the "Programmer's Guide:  System Services and
Application Packaging Tools."  I'm not sure if they are yet available though.

Regards,
Richard Meesters