jng@CS.PURDUE.EDU (08/22/90)
************************************************************
A n n o u n c i n g
V i r t u a l M e m o r y X i n u
************************************************************
New Release
-----------
The VM Xinu operating system (Xinu Version 8) is now
available for the Sun 3 architecture. VM Xinu is the latest
version of the Xinu operating system with virtual memory
support for user programs requiring large amounts of (vir-
tual) memory as well as many other features. The VM Xinu
operating system is designed to execute on diskless Sun 3
machines, communicating with network servers for remote file
access and backing storage.
VM Xinu System
--------------
The VM Xinu operating system is a product of the VM
Xinu research project. The Virtual Memory Xinu project
explores a new model of virtual memory in which dedicated,
large-memory machines serve as backing storage (page
servers) for virtual memory systems operating on a set of
(heterogeneous) clients. The dedicated page server allows
sharing of the large physical memory resource and provides
fast access to data. The VM Xinu operating system executes
on the client machines, providing the functionality required
to access the shared, large-memory, resource provided by the
page server.
The VM Xinu operating system builds on and enhances the
functionality found in Version 7 Xinu. Operations like
interprocess communication, synchronization via semaphores,
i/o operations, device drivers operation, and network com-
munication are the same semantically and syntactically as
they were in Version 7 Xinu. Wherever possible, we have
kept the kernel code identical to the code found in Comer's
"Operating System Design: The Xinu Approach" volumes I and
II.
Version 6 and 7 Xinu arrange the system's components
into a layered hierarchy, making the design clean and
elegant. VM Xinu extends the hierarchy by integrating vir-
tual memory support into the hierarchical design, clarifying
the relationship between the various components of the sys-
tem.
Although VM Xinu is based on Version 7 Xinu, the
August 21, 1990
- 2 -
similarities pale in comparison to the enhancements provided
by VM Xinu. The VM Xinu kernel provides support for multi-
threaded user level processes executing in large, protected,
virtual address spaces, a multi-threaded kernel, shared
memory, dynamically loaded user processes, and high speed
access to remote memory backing storage. At the user level,
libraries provide access to Xinu kernel routines, process
creation, thread creation, network access, and remote file
system access. Moreover, a UNIX simulation library provides
support for unix style user programs.
The VM Xinu system includes a page server that provides
high speed access to remote memory backing storage. Clients
communicate with the server using a high speed, reliable,
special purpose protocol. The server executes as a user
level UNIX process on a wide variety of architectures.
Software Availability
---------------------
An implementation of the VM Xinu system, including
source code, for the Sun 3 architecture is now available and
can be ordered as described in the Xinu Order Information
Chart below. The distribution tape contains:
o VM Xinu Kernel source code.
o Remote File Server and Xinu Page Server source code
o Cross Development Software with source code that facil-
itates kernel development in a UNIX environment and
provides methods for downloading and testing the VM
Xinu kernel on a second SUN 3.
o Xinu System Call Library and source code for use with
user level programs
o UNIX Simulation Library and source code for use with
user level programs. The library simulates many of the
UNIX system calls reducing the effort required to port
UNIX applications to VM Xinu.
o C Library (subset) and source code. A small public
domain C library for use with user programs.
o Xinu User Programs and source code. Several dynami-
cally loaded Xinu user programs (cat, cp, ls, mv, ...)
o Manual Pages for the VM Xinu kernel and the Xinu System
Calls
o Installation Instruction to get VM Xinu up and running.
August 21, 1990
- 3 -
Authors
-------
The VM Xinu operating system was designed and imple-
mented by Douglas Comer and James Griffioen. Please direct
questions/suggestions to jng@cs.purdue.edu or
{ucbvax,decvax,hplabs}!purdue!jng.
Pre-Announcement
----------------
VM Xinu with full TCP/IP support! Due to be released
in just 6 months. Watch this newsgroup for more informa-
tion.
Xinu Order Information Chart
----------------------------
Xinu Types and Price List
Target Xinu Host Compiler Media Price Make Check
Machine Version Operating Payable to
System
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LSI (@) 6 (Book I)Cross Compiler 1600 BPI $100 Douglas Comer
Included 9-Track UNIX
4.3BSD UNIX Tar Tape
LSI (@) 7(Book II) Cross Compiler 1600 BPI $200 Douglas Comer
Included 9-Track UNIX
4.3BSD UNIX Tar Tape
_____________________________________________________________________
8086 (%)6 (Book I) Cross Compiler 1600 BPI $100 Douglas Comer
Derived Included 9-Track UNIX
from 4.3BSD UNIX Tar Tape
LSI-11
______________________________________________________________________
Sun3 (%)6 (Book I) Sun Micro- 1600 BPI $100 Shawn Ostermann
Systems C 9-Track UNIX
Sun OS Tar Tape
Sun3 (%)7 (Book II) Sun Micro- 1600 BPI $200 Shawn Ostermann
Systems C 9-Track UNIX
Sun OS Tar Tape
************************ N E W R E L E A S E ***********************
Sun3 (%)8.0 VM Xinu Sun Micro- 1600 BPI $200 Jim Griffioen
Systems C 9-Track UNIX
Sun OS Tar Tape, or
1/4 inch cartridge
**********************************************************************
______________________________________________________________________
August 21, 1990
- 4 -
IBM-PC 6 PC-Xinu Microsoft C 5 1/4 floppy ~ $80 Contact Prentice
(Book I) MS/DOS Hall
ISBN #0-13-638271-1
IBM-PC (%)6 (Book I) Aztec C 5 1/4 floppy $100 Andy Thomas
Book 2 version 7 is not available yet for the PC.
For information on version 7 software for the PC, Please contact:
Prof. Timothy Fossum
Department of Applied Computer Science
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI 53141
(414) 553-2314
(414) 553-2297 office
FAX: 414-553-2630
fossum@vacs.uwp.wisc.edu
______________________________________________________________________
Macint (%)6 (Book I) Aztec C two 3 1/2 floppy $200 Steven Munson
tosh & Macintosh &
512K 7 (Book II) 1600BPI
9-Track UNIX
Tar Tape
Macint (%)6 (Book I) Aztec C two 3 1/2 floppy ~ $80 Contact Prentice
tosh Macintosh Hall
512K ISBN #0-13-638545-1
or
$100 Steven Munson
_________________________________________________________________________
VAX 6 (Book I ) VAX UNIX C 1600 BPI $200 Douglas Comer
& Compiler 9-Track UNIX
7 (Book II) 4.3BSD UNIX Tar Tape
_________________________________________________________________________
VAX (*) ConcurrenC VAX UNIX 1600 BPI $50 Ken Rodemann
Compiler 9-Track UNIX
4.3BSD UNIX Tar Tape
_________________________________________________________________________
(@) Less expensive if purchased from Prentice-Hall.
For Prentice Hall, contact Rob Dewey, (201) 592-2862;
or Mail Order dept. (201) 767-5937.
(%) Prepared by students. These versions are "as is".
August 21, 1990
- 5 -
(*) Requires UNIX source license. Send a mailing tape.
4.2 BSD UNIX available.
If you have a UNIX source license, please send a copy
of the signature page; otherwise, we will send you dis-
tributions without UNIX source.
Send your order and check to: Professor Douglas Comer,
Department of Computer Sciences, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, IN 47907.
Information about Xinu is exchanged through electronic mail. To
have your name added to the mailing list, send to xinu-info-
request@purdue.edu. To send mail to the Xinu list, address it to
xinu-info@purdue.edu.
Titles by Comer
Operating System Design Vol. 1 The Xinu Approach, 1984
ISBN 0-13-637539-1
Operating System Design Vol. 1 The Xinu Approach (PC Edition), 1988
By: Comer & Fossum
ISBN 0-13-638180-4
Software ISBN 0-13-638271-1
Operating System Design Vol. 1 The Xinu Approach (Macintosh Edition), 1989
By: Comer & Munson
ISBN 0-13-638529-X
Software ISBN 0-13-638545-1
Operating System Design Vol. II Internetworking with Xinu, 1987
ISBN 0-13-637414-X
Internetworking with TCP/IP: Principles, Protocols, and Architecture, 1988
ISBN 0-13-470154-2
All books and listed software are available from Prentice
Hall, College Marketing Department, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
07632 . Phone Mail Order Dept. (201) 767-5937 Software,
except those listed above, available from the Xinu Project,
Computer Science Department, Purdue University, West Lafay-
ette, IN 47907.
August 21, 1990
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jng@cs.purdue.edu Internet
jng%purdue.edu@relay.cs.net CSNET
{ucbvax,decvax,hplabs}!purdue!jng UUCP
(317) 494-7836 AT&T
(317) 494-0739 FAX
Jim Griffioen
Dept. Of Computer Sciences,
Purdue University,
West Lafayette, IN 47907 US Mail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------