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.