chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (03/20/90)
MOVED OVER BUSINESS WIRE AT 8:33 AM, EST, MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1990 Contact: Cindy McCaffrey Apple Computer, Inc. (408) 974-1578 Apple Announces A/UX 2.0: A New Macintosh Implementation of UNIX SAN JOSE, California--March 19, 1990--Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced a ground-breaking new version of its implementation of the UNIX operating system: A/UX version 2.0. A/UX 2.0 further extends the benefits of Macintosh computers to people who work with UNIX. A/UX 2.0 retains the features of previous versions of A/UX--full UNIX standards-compliance and the ability to run Macintosh applications--and adds three major new features: the Macintosh graphics-based desktop; the ability to run simultaneously multiple UNIX, X Window System and Macintosh applications; and UNIX functionality in an easy-to-use manner. "A/UX 2.0 is an exciting extension of Apple's overall Macintosh strategy," said Randy Battat, vice president of Apple Worldwide Product Marketing. "For the first time, people who require UNIX have full access to the benefits of Macintosh. By integrating the power of Macintosh with UNIX, we believe A/UX 2.0 will, in fact, revolutionize personal computing for these customers." As with previous versions, A/UX 2.0 is based on AT&T V.2.2; runs the large family of Macintosh applications; and complies with all major UNIX standards, including: IEEE POSIX 1003.1-1988 FUS, AT&T System V Interface Definition (SVID), ISO 9945-1, and FIPS #151-1. A/UX also meets customer-demanded standards such as NFS 3.2, BSD 4.3 Extensions and the X Window System. More important, A/UX 2.0 offers a number of new features which fall into the three following categories: - The Macintosh desktop: All the elements of the distinctive Macintosh desktop--point-and-click-simplicity, menu bars and familiar icons--have been incorporated into A/UX 2.0. And A/UX 2.0 provides this desktop on an industry-standard UNIX platform. A/UX 2.0 also supports MultiFinder, 32-Bit QuickDraw, and the Macintosh startup and shutdown process. The Macintosh desktop on A/UX 2.0 effectively shelters users from the sometimes arcane command-line interface of traditional UNIX. As a result, Apple believes this new feature of A/UX 2.0 will make UNIX much more accessible to mainstream users, while providing the rich UNIX environment expected by technical users. - Multiple applications from different environments: Users can run many UNIX, X Window System and Macintosh applications under A/UX 2.0 at the same time. This means that users can have any number of these applications processing simultaneously on the desktop. Additionally, A/UX 2.0 supports text cut-and-paste between all these environments, plus graphics cut-and-paste between Macintosh applications. This capability to effectively mix and match applications from these three environments provides users with a powerful, unified computing platform. The integration of powerful Macintosh applications onto a standard UNIX base is unmatched in the computer industry. - UNIX functionality that's easy to use: A/UX 2.0 integrates the benefits of both Macintosh and UNIX environments into one system. Not only do users have access to Macintosh and UNIX applications, but A/UX 2.0 also brings the methods of Macintosh personal computing to many traditional UNIX functions. For example, 'Commando' is a new feature that allows users to run UNIX commands by selecting options from a menu--without memorizing the string of complicated parameters associated with these utilities. A/UX 2.0 includes a new Macintosh text editor for UNIX text files. It also provides seamless point-and- click access to both UNIX and Macintosh file systems. A/UX 2.0 also gives customers the choice of using UNIX in the traditional UNIX manner--all within windows on the desktop. Additionally, a new version of X Window System for A/UX permits people to use the X Window System in the traditional manner and also to run X Window System applications within windows on a Macintosh desktop. By combining the power of Macintosh and UNIX on a single system, A/UX 2.0 provides users with an extremely flexible computing environment. Users can employ Macintosh techniques for traditional UNIX activities or they can work in the UNIX environment. All the while, users have access to the power and functionality of Macintosh applications. Notably, the complete A/UX 2.0 package--off-the-shelf Macintosh applications, A/UX, Macintosh hardware, and support--is available through A/UX-authorized Apple resellers. A/UX 2.0 runs on the following: Macintosh SE/30, Macintosh II (with PMMU installed), Macintosh IIx, Macintosh IIcx, Macintosh IIci and Macintosh IIfx. The Macintosh IIfx is an especially powerful A/UX platform, as A/UX 2.0 takes full advantage of the system's SCSI/DMA and input/output processor capabilities. A minimum of 4MB of memory is recommended for all platforms. Configurations The following AU/X 2.0 media configurations will be available in mid-1990 from all authorized A/UX resellers: (configurations may vary outside the U.S.) - A/UX 2.0 on Apple CD-ROM disk - A/UX 2.0 on 800K floppy disks - A/UX 2.0 on a 40MB Apple Tape Cartridge - Preinstalled on Macintosh IIci 4MB/80MB internal hard drive version - Preinstalled on Macintosh IIcx 4MB/80MB internal hard drive version - Preinstalled on Macintosh IIfx 4MB/80MB internal hard drive version - Preinstalled on a Macintosh 80MB external hard disk X Window System for A/UX, version 2 will also be available through all A/UX-authorized Apple resellers. Pricing will be announced at a later date. Current A/UX users can upgrade to A/UX 2.0 capabilities through a software update subscription service or by purchasing A/UX 2.0 update products on CD-ROM, diskettes or tape. Every A/UX product includes Macintosh-style installation and user manuals. The X Window System for A/UXJ2.0, and Manual Kits for UNIX users, Administrators and Programmers are available separately. -30- Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh and MultiFinder are registered trademarks; QuickDraw is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. All prices are manufacturer's suggested U.S. retail price. END Apple Press Releases PR Express -- Chuq Von Rospach <+> chuq@apple.com <+> [This is myself speaking] All spirits are enslaved which serve things evil -- Shelley
ahl@saussure.technix.oz.au (Tony Landells) (03/21/90)
In article <39646@apple.Apple.COM> chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) writes:
Configurations
The following AU/X 2.0 media configurations will be available in mid-1990 from
all authorized A/UX resellers: (configurations may vary outside the U.S.)
- A/UX 2.0 on Apple CD-ROM disk
- A/UX 2.0 on 800K floppy disks
- A/UX 2.0 on a 40MB Apple Tape Cartridge
- Preinstalled on Macintosh IIci 4MB/80MB internal hard drive version
- Preinstalled on Macintosh IIcx 4MB/80MB internal hard drive version
- Preinstalled on Macintosh IIfx 4MB/80MB internal hard drive version
- Preinstalled on a Macintosh 80MB external hard disk
What I want to know is whether getting the CD-ROM allows it to be run
on a smaller disk (i.e., whether you can use the CD-ROM itself for all
the read-only stuff - applications and so forth), or whether it all
needs to be moved onto a hard disk and run from there...chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (03/21/90)
ahl@saussure.technix.oz.au (Tony Landells) writes: >What I want to know is whether getting the CD-ROM allows it to be run >on a smaller disk (i.e., whether you can use the CD-ROM itself for all >the read-only stuff - applications and so forth), or whether it all >needs to be moved onto a hard disk and run from there... You can mount the CD-ROM onto an A/UX, so yes, you can use things like /usr/man from there. -- Chuq Von Rospach <+> chuq@apple.com <+> [This is myself speaking] All spirits are enslaved which serve things evil -- Shelley
tody@noao.edu (Doug Tody X217) (03/22/90)
Can anyone shed some light on how the new shared library facility in A/UX
2.0 is implemented? Does this imply a general file mapping facility, with
copy on modify and so on? Are compilers that can generate position
independent code needed to make use of the shared libraries? Can the
linker link a process with the base of the text segment located at an
arbitrary user specified address? If this is a general shared library
facility that is quite a plus for A/UX, as some of the big workstation
vendors do not even have this yet.
--
Doug Tody, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson AZ, 602-325-9217
UUCP: {arizona,decvax,ncar}!noao!tody or uunet!noao.edu!tody
Internet: tody@noao.edu SPAN/HEPNET: NOAO::TODY (NOAO=5355)dwb@sticks.apple.com (David Berry) (03/23/90)
In article <1990Mar22.060011.5972@noao.edu> tody@noao.edu (Doug Tody X217) writes: >Can anyone shed some light on how the new shared library facility in A/UX >2.0 is implemented? Does this imply a general file mapping facility, with >copy on modify and so on? Are compilers that can generate position >independent code needed to make use of the shared libraries? Can the >linker link a process with the base of the text segment located at an >arbitrary user specified address? If this is a general shared library >facility that is quite a plus for A/UX, as some of the big workstation >vendors do not even have this yet. I'm going to do my best to answer these questions, but I may not get them all absolutely correct, I've had relatively little to do with the actual implementation. The A/UX Shared Library facility allows you to create dynamically loaded, but statically linked, shared libraries. The libraries are bound at a fixed address and a jump table is bound into the caller. At load time the appropriate libraries are matched up with the binary and loaded via the normal demand page scheme. The normal compiler suite plus a new tool, included with the release, are used to create shared libraries. Any compiler should work, as all the work is done by the linker. David W. Berry A/UX Toolbox Engineer dwb@apple.com
ianh@merlin.bhpmrl.oz (Ian Hoyle) (03/26/90)
From article <18041@trlsasb.trl.oz>, by sutherland@trlsasb.trl.oz (Scott Sutherland): > > Do we have any "A/UX-authorised Apple resellers" in Australia? Last time > I looked the response was "go directly to Apple, do not pass GO...." in Melbourne I think it's Random Acccess and Logical Solutions. We currently have 4 A/UX machines (IIci's, although soon we may add a IIfx :-) and RA has been able to support us quite well. I guess it also helps that Kent 'network ninja' Sandvik contributes to this group as often as he does ..... ian -- Ian Hoyle /\/\ / / /\ BHP Melbourne Research Laboratories / / / \ 245 Wellington Rd, Mulgrave, 3170 / / / /\ \ AUSTRALIA \ \/ / / / \ / / / Phone : +61-3-560-7066 \/\/\/ ACSnet : ianh@merlin.bhpmrl.oz.au Internet: ianh%merlin.bhpmrl.oz.au@uunet.uu.net