[63] in OS/2_Discussion
OS/2 through 1999
bjaspan@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (bjaspan@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Mon Aug 31 15:27:29 1992
Article: 33021 of comp.os.os2.misc
From: bgm@cray.com (Bert Moshier)
Date: 30 Aug 92 03:39:02 GMT
Everyone / Anyone:
IBM sent two "pros from Dover" (to use a MASH the movie term) to the last
MN OS/2 End-user Group meeting. The topic was the future of OS/2. They
covered this topic very well with great details when ask and lightly when
not asked.
I plan on writing a Watching OS/2 column (OS/2 Monthly Magazine) based upon
the information presented.
They covered the future of OS/2 through 1999. They provided details with dates
through 1994 and a projected time line between 1995 and 1999.
The highlights are: (note the items on: Alpha chip, C2 Security exists today
for OS/2 2.0, the OS/2 shrinkwrap ship rate, AND ASYNC support for almost
everything including REMOTE PM and remote updates):
- AIX and OS/2 are receiving and will continue to receive technology
from Taligent. Talegent licenses in and licenses out
technology, and uses this technology to create Pink.
IBM's goal with the Apple, IBM and Motarola(sic) alliance is to
create the defacto standard in RISC chips and Object Oriented
support (DOE, operating system, etc.) The chart showed this
occuring for the OO technology slowly (1992-94), picking up steam
(1995-96), and in full swing (1997-99). The chart did not show
the RISC chip acceptance plan.
The first Taligent operating system will come out 1995 and will
be for very high-end machines. Since AIX and OS/2 will have the
Taligent OO technology, there won't be a pressing business case
for end-users to go to Pink immediately.
The alliance doesn't want another OS/2 1.x to occur. By providing
AIX and OS/2 OO technology the alliance will get existing
applications to move towards Pink at a rate acceptable to end-users.
Pink will support existing technology so existing applications will
have a binary level migration path.
- IBM has OS/2 running on the alpha chip today. To quote one
presenter ("very nicely, thank you.")
- IBM will have all its DCE products available in 1994. The first
toolkits will appear starting in December 1992.
- All IBM products by the end of 1994 will be DCE aware. I asked
about this from several directions. The answer came back that
yes, this included existing and future IBM applications/products.
Aware means they will exploit DCE if the user installed it. For
example PMTape, the Workplace Shell, etc., will be DCE aware.
While this might be wrong, I got the impression that DCE will be
shipping with IBM operating systems. One can optionally install
it or ignore it.
- I asked about the two side issue of DCE applications. Its nice if
the product uses DCE but something on another computer needs to
exist. They said that their mainframes (existing operating system)
will provide the other side.
I asked if other manufacturers could participate in this split up
of their products. They said yes, there would be a released standard.
They would not provide specifics.
- OS/2 has (through a PRPQ) B1 security (uncertified) today. Basically,
IBM is taking the VM approach. The operating system has security
exits that IBM or another vendor can use. The end-user can run with
dummy exits (no security and the default) or any security system
of their choice.
IBM's OS/2 PRPQ is RACF. It will stay a separate product till after
9/93 (when the Microsoft/IBM agreement on code ownership ends). IBM
will release OS/2 with RACF (optionally installed) fourth quarter
1993. They will begin the certification process (for C2 first and
then higher) at that time. They expect to have OS/2 certified in
1994.
- IBM system management plans include the ability for desktop
machines to automatically update themselves when a server change
occurs. Plans include support for DME and Netview for administrators.
Additionally, machines (eg: laptops) can update through Async
modems.
IBM will be announcing CID (Configuration, Installation and
Distribution). CID provides a common end-user interface for
all IBM and ISV products on OS/2 (possibly AIX). Once the end-user
knows CID, (s)he knows how to install and configure all applications.
- IBM will be providing at no charge with all OS/2 communications
products, NTS/2 (Network Transport Services/2). This product
contains the SNA, TCP/IP, OSI (X.25), Apple Talk, NETBIOS, 802.3,
POPS, IXP, and DECNET drivers for OS/2.
- IBM plans on fully supporting Async modems. This includes DCE, DME,
Remote PM (which includes X-Windows client/server support), DOE, etc.
- While I don't understand how the alliance will do it, the Taligent
techology calls for a binary compatibility layer. Three components
will allow this -- API, a source library, and an object oriented
subsystem. The BCL will allow an application (compiled once!) to
run on portable OS/2, System 7, Pink, and AIX.
- An interesting note, the ratio of PC-DOS sold .vs. IBM machines
shipped is 1.22. This meanss people are using PC-DOS on clones.
The ratio is going up monthly.
- OS/2 2.0 sold 300,000 copies in the last 10 days. If this continues,
it has a daily ship rate of 30,000 copies.
Bert.
