Multiuser-DOS

MEG-Glaser Dr-Multiuser DOS - REAL/32

.
True
multitasking
for DOS programs

	REAL/32
Das DOS-kompatible Mehrplatzbetriebssystem The DOS compatible multiuser operating system Die preisgünstige, betriebssichere Lösung The reliable, low cost solution

REAL/32 is the product name by IMS Ltd.

Herkunft
inventor

Dr Multiuser DOS kommt aus dem Hause Digital Research, den Erfindern von CP/M, CP/M-86, CP/M-Plus, DRDOS, Novell-DOS 7 und Concurrent CP/M Cuncurrent DOS.

Dr Multiuser DOS was invented by Digital Research, the famous company which invented the first operating system for microcomputers in the seventies: CP/M

Up to 63
terminals via serial
RS232
(or modem)
cabling.
Cheap and reliable.

HOST
COMPUTER
host computer - main console (CRT)

with main console
CRT+kbd
host computer with multi serial ports, opt. modems

up to 63 Terminals
.

each Terminal and the main console has up to 8 DOS sessions, i.e. DOS programs, which RUN concurrently in DOS textmode. All running programs (tasks) share the CPU and the disks of the host computer. The user selects with a keystroke, which task to switch to the CRT and kbd.

each task can send its data to a local printer or to any other printer in the system. The spooler keeps track of the documents. File sharing considerations on the host apply the same as with networks, yet all files are concentrated on the host.

terminals are less expensive than PC's, but any PC can be used as a terminal as well. The IMSTERM emulator program runs on DOS simultaneously with another DOS or Windows application program. So the user has up to 9 distinct programs on his/her machine.

DR-Multiuser DOS is a trademark of Novell corporation which bought the Digital Research company, the inventor of CP/M and DR-DOS
CP/M and DR-DOS are trademarks of Caldera corporation (see at bottom of this page)

Intelligent
Micro
Software
Ltd.

IMS Ltd.

REAL/32 has a 32-bit kernel, but the DOS and CP/M-86 application programs run in real (8086) mode. LIM/EMS and DPMI is supported.

all well known DOS COMMAND.COM
C>
commands are used the same way as usual.
.COM .EXE .BAT and .CMD (CP/M-86) programs run on REAL/32.

REAL/32 can be booted alternating with DOS.

look for the REAL/32 WIN Server on the IMS LTD homepage

related
links

TCL UK

intelligent
serial
multiport
cards

maxspeed
corporation
remote
VGA
graphic

clk2000.zip clk2000 (2kB) auxiliary program to circumvent Y2k problem with DR-Multiuser DOS 5.x, read included instructions please.
Please send me an email if you use it or if you have suggestions or fault messages - or a better solution.

explanations

Multiuser DOS ist das, was Sie von Unix kennen, aber eben für DOS - Anwendungsprogramme. Es gibt auch eine spezielle Hardware (maxspeed), die graphische Terminals erlaubt, aber die typische Anwendung sind text-basierte Anwendungsprogramme, Datenbank-Anwendungen usw.

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What is REAL/32? Introduction

Wir verwenden DR-Multiuser DOS bzw. REAL/32 in den PC - Anwendungen. Im ATLAN Computer läuft degegen ATLAN 4th, ein PROM-fähiges Betriebssystem speziell für Steuerungsanwendungen, wo es auf direkte Verbindung zur Anlage ankommt.

We are using DR-Multiuser DOS and REAL/32 respectively for our PC programs. As opposed to the ATLAN computer, where ATLAN 4th is running, a PROMable real time executive OS especially suited for applications with direct interface to the plant.

ATLAN computer

MEG-Graph
process visualisation

strain gage chopper amplifier for scales, pressure and torque metering

MULTITASKING
explanations
Erläuterungen

Natürlich ist auch Windows NT ein echtes Multitasking - Betriebssystem, und OS/2 ist es schon lange. Und Linux ist dazu noch ein Multi-User Betriebssystem.
Das Anforderungsprofil in der Automatisierungstechnik ist aber überhaupt nicht mit den typischen Büro - Anwendungen vergleichbar.
why not windows

Windows NT is of course a true multitasking OS and OS/2 is it since several years. And Linux and all the other Unix - derivatives are multiuser OS in addition.
But the profile of requirements in industrial control applications is totally different from the typical office applications.

When looking for Windows or similar GUI overhead, the user wants several programs run not only concurrently, but also chained together with data exchange via OLE and DDE. So it does not help very much when the OS stops one outrunning application program - the chain is broken and the total system will crash.

The problem with GUI operatng system is wasting resources. The efficiency, the ratio between useful work and pretty overhead is terribly bad. And as experience tells, the errors are spread over all the program code, the more code, the more chances of errors.

It is tempting to have "standard" programs for the industrial customer for several respects. Maintenance and extendability is one of the major benefits, and GUI programs can be maintained by office - type people with little skill. But isn't it dangerous to let come people over a complex control system who are not skilled, where is the benefit then?

Simply imagine how Windows-2008 will look like, when the machines and plant installations are in the middle of their lifetime. What if the customer updates a particular "standard" application program to a newer version, will it cooperate with the other programs, even with the 12 year old Win95 system? No, it will not.

One of my major competitos installs a unix system to the customers plants only to inhibit the damned freaks running their DOS and Win - games and infect the PC with viri. The drawback is the overhead, he needs a battery backup power supply and the boot in the morning and power down in the evening takes 20 minutes each.

This is not a charge against GUI in general, but

who would use a sports car to carry tons of goods? No serious investor would ever buy a machine with so much unnecessary gamework and flourish, why should he listen to hobby experts when ordering a computer?
This is where the difficulty comes in to convince a customer about the difference between reliable plant control and office or laboratory applications, where trained people are sitting at the CRT, where flexibility and ease of modifications is more important than reliable workmanship. Our plant controls are designed to work 15 years, as opposed to the lab installation which will be broken up after three years of experiments together with all computer hard - and software.

download BATS2, the free menu program for DRMDOS + REAL/32
ACTUALLY THE DOWNLOAD PAGES DO NOT WORK. PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL

down
load
page

new (Jan-2000): some special utilities for the sysop and .BAT apps for free download.

BAUX and BSERVER, aux/com-port file transfer program

description+order page

new!.

links

MORE LINKS:
CP/M Main Page
IMS Multiuser DOS & textiles monitoring
REAL/32 and the IBM 4695 Touch Screen
Adobe PDF REAL/32 Overview
Rayfield Communications, Inc.

Ich habe noch Fragen
I have additional questions