IBM Virtual Universe Operating System - OS/VU

 

û15,80

 

The following is a running dialogue that went on over VMSHARE - a computer

conferencing system available to IBM installations with VM Operating Systems.

a copy of this dialogue was given to NTSU by some friends at the University of

Kentucky Computing Center and was published by NTSU in "BENCHMARKS" the

publication of the NTSU Computing Center.

 

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From:   'CYC at MIT-MC (U of MD Cyclotron Labs)' Arpanet. . .

 

Programming announcement released from IBM:

 

NEW OPERATING SYSTEM

 

Because so many users have asked for an operating system of even greater

capability than VM, IBM announces the Virtual Universe Operating System - OS/VU.

 

Running under VU the individual user appears to have not merely a machine of

his own, but an entire universe of his own, in which he can set up and take

down his own programs, data sets, system networks, personnel, and planetary

systems.  He need only specify the universe he desires and the OS/VU system

generation program (IEHGOD) does the rest.  This program will reside in

SYS1.GODLIB.  The minimum time for this function is 6 days of activity and 1

day of review.  In conjunction with OS/VU, all system utilities reside in

SYS1.MESSIAH.  This program has no parms or control cards as it knows what

you want to do when you execute it.

 

Naturally, the user must have attained a certain degree of sophistication in

the data processing field in an efficient utilization of OS/VU is to be

achieved.  Frequent call to non-resident galaxies can for instance, lead to

unexpected delays in the execution of a job.  Although IBM through its wholly-

owned subsidiary, the United States, is working on a program to upgrade the

speed of light and thus reduce the overhead of extraterrestrial and meta-

dimensional paging, users must be carefulfor the present to stay with in the

laws of physics.  IBM must charge an additional fee for violations.

 

OS/VU will run on any IBM x0xx equipped with Extended WARP Feature.  Rental is

twenty million dollars per cpu/nanosecond.

 

Users should be aware that IBM plans to migrate all existing systems and hard-

ware to OS/VU as soon as our engineers’ effect one output that is (conceptually)

error free.  This will give us a base to develop an even more powerful OS, target

date 2001, designated Virtual Reality'.  OS/VR is planned to allow the user to

migrate to totally unreal universes.  To aid the user in identifying the difference

between 'Virtual Reality' and 'Real Reality', a file containing a linear record

of multisensory total records of successive moments of now will be established. 

Its name will be SYS1.EST.

 

For more information contact your IBM data processing representative.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     08/08/80     15:14:10     by     TYM     <<<<<<<

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WARNING TO USERS OF VU:

 

During the IPL do not respond to the message "SPECIFY SYSTEM COMMANDMENTS" with

MOSES.  I did, and we were down for forty days and forty nights.

 

OTHER QUIRKS OF INTEREST:

 1.  Programs don't simply abend; they nova.

 2.  A black hole occasionally appears in the supervisor and sucks up

     CICS.  (I thought this was an enhancement, but IBM assures me it’s a

     bug.)

 3.  Great care must be taken to avoid mixing data and anti-data.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     04/24/81     16:16:48     BY     MKN     <<<<<<<

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RUMOR:

 It is reported that problem 2, above, is caused, not by software, but

 by production difficulties with a new part, the light-absorbing diode

 (LAD).  This device, with 2 inputs and no outputs, is rumored to be

 used throughout the VU system.  Some installations are reported to fear

 that damage from this problem could spread.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     04/24/81     23:51:56     by     STU     <<<<<<<

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Many users of the Virtual Universe operating system have discovered that their

6670 laser printers are now capable of producing output on tablets, thereby

increasing the credibility of the reports.  This is achieved by using high-intensity

attribute bytes instead of the usual carriage controls.  Unfortunately, this

practice can have undesirable side effects upon operators, particularly during

forms changing and line-up.  IBM has announced that it will accede to OSHA demands,

and has retained Robert Heinlein, noted author of "Starship Troopers", to assist

in the development of proper operator attire.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     05/05/81     15:57:04     by     MKN     <<<<<<<

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Another quirk of VU has been discovered.  I tried to create a development

library, but misspelled the dataset name.  It seems that when there is a

SYS2.DEVILIB around, everything goes to Hell.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     05/07/81     15:53:50     by     MKN     <<<<<<<

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Should that read "another quirk" or "another quark"?     ...Joe Morris

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     05/11/81     12:36:52     BY     UNT     <<<<<<<

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IBM today announced that a new teleprocessing method, the Warped Hyperspace

Access Method (WHAM).  This spectacular product will soon be available to OS/VU

users.  The most significant feature being that data transmitted at a given

time will arrive at it's destination before it has been transmitted.  This is

due in part to some of the development work being done by the OS/VU development

team while attempting to solve the aforementioned paging problems with non-

resident galaxies.

 

Although the planning for this project has not yet begun, it is expected that

the ability to send data backward in time will result in near immediate

availabity.  IBM plans to transmit this new access method to current users of

OS/VU directly from the future.

 

 

Specifications will not be available until the product has been fully tested

(which means probably never).  When asked what communications controller

would be used, IBM declined to answer on the basis that they simply didn't know yet.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     05/19/81     21:58:34     by     MTE     <<<<<<<

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Announcement of a new network architecture for users of OS/VU:

 

IBM today announced the development of the Teleporting Network Architecture

(TNA) which will replace SNA for users of OS/VU.  With this advanced networking

capability, telephone lines or satellite communications will no longer be need-

ed.  With TNA's revolutionary new molecular protocol, data will be directly

beamed between nodes in your network.  With the Multi-Planetary Network Facility

(MPNF - optional at an additional charge.), you may beam data to nodes on

different planets and/or galaxies.

 

"It is IBM's intention to expand this capability to allow the beaming of

operators btween nodes, although this is still in the testing phase", the

originator of TNA, Carl Sagan, was quoted as saying.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     05/21/81     09:58:25     by     AMX     <<<<<<<

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Is WHAM a replacement for ESAM (Extra-Sensory Access Method)?  The latter is

really a headache.

 

>>>>>>>     APPENDED     05/22/81     12:29:23     by     MKN     <<<<<<<

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TO MKN:   The response that takes the system down for forty days and forty

nights is "NOAH".  If you specify "MOSES", the system is down for forty YEARS.

However, once this period of time has elapsed, it is no longer possible to

specify the "MOSES" option.