REAL/IX Operating System for Open Architecture Systems

205-863001-000

 

PREFACE

Concepts and Characteristics provides an overview of the REAL/IX Operating System for technical users who may or may not be familiar with the internal structure of other UNIX operating systems. It describes how the system works, including the standard features of the UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. UNIX System V operating system and the extensions added to provide realtime performance.

This white paper should be read by all users and potential users of the REAL/IX Operating System to get a general understanding of the system features and functionality. The description of system internals provides the necessary background for a number of administrative and programming tasks. New users will find the information in Chapters 7 and 8 helpful for getting started with the system. Chapter 10 lists commercial books and articles that provide in-depth coverage of topics that are not fully discussed in the REAL/IX documentation set.

 

Open Architecture Systems Defined

The term "open architecture system", in its simplest form, implies that a user may add a variety of vendors' components to a single system. This is possible when certain industry-accepted standards have been implemented in the system. MODCOMP open architecture systems are based on such software and hardware standards as the UNIX System V operating system, industry standard bus interfaces, and CPUs built around standard microprocessors. By building on these standards, open architecture systems provide computer solutions that are portable and compatible.

The REAL/IX Operating System which runs on all MODCOMP open architecture system hardware platforms, allows applications to be ported easily between traditional UNIX systems and MODCOMP open architecture systems. Furthermore, by using industry standard interfaces such as the SCSI bus, MODCOMP open architecture systems ensure compatibility among a wide range of peripheral and I/O devices and the ability to expand as needs dictate. MODCOMP open architecture systems meet networking and communications needs with such industry standards as Ethernet and TCP/IP and have the flexibility to accommodate new standards as they are developed.

 

Related Publications

Refer to the following publications for additional information. When ordering, use the order number shown in parentheses. The most current revision level (REV) will be shipped.

Note:  The numbers shown in this list and on the front covers of manuals are the numbers for the text pages of the books only. See your MODCOMP sales representative for order numbers that include binders and tabs.

 

Books for All System Users

Concepts and Characteristics  (205-863001-REV).

Gives an overview of the internals of the REAL/IX Operating System and an introduction to the tools and facilities that are available.

POSIX Conformance Guide  (206-863001-REV).

Describes conformance to IEEE Std 1003.1-1988. This document describes only those areas where the specification allows implementation-defined behavior, or where the behavior of an implementation may vary.

Reference Manual, Sections 1, 1M, and 1R  (211-863002-REV).

Contains manual pages for user commands (Section 1), administrative commands (Section 1M), and realtime commands (Section 1R).

Reference Manual, Sections 2, 3, and 5  (211-863003-REV).

Contains manual pages for system calls (Section 2), library routines (Sections 3C, 3M, 3N, 3S, and 3X), and miscellaneous information (Section 5).

Reference Manual, Sections 4, 7, and 7A  (211-863004-REV).

Contains manual pages for system files (Section 4), special device files for standard devices (Section 7), and special device files for add-on packages (Section 7A).

User's Guide  (240-100295-000).

Discusses basic user procedures including the login procedure and getting around the file system. Information is included about general user tools; for example, the vi and ed text editors, electronic mail, the shell programming language, and the Korn shell.

Using UUCP and Usenet  (240-100217-001).

Introduces UUCP communications, describes how to transfer files and execute remote commands over UUCP, how to check on UUCP requests, and how to access the Usenet electronic bulletin board.

 

Books for System Administrators

Software Installation Guide  (214-863001-REV).

Gives instructions for installing the operating system (either for the first time or as an upgrade) and initially setting up the system.

System Administrator's Guide  (232-863001-REV).

Gives instructions and background information about administering the REAL/IX Operating System. Topics covered include ensuring system security; creating and maintaining user and group IDs; working with file systems (creating, repairing, backing up); setting up terminals and printers; using the sysgen(1M) utility to modify tunable parameters and to configure or deconfigure standard system devices; and setting up and using the Job Accounting System. Appendices discuss the system files that control system operations and the file naming conventions for special device files.

Trouble Analysis Guide  (213-863001-REV).

Gives guidelines for avoiding system problems and lists some common system problems with suggestions for solving them.

Software Engineering Release Notes  (117-661991-010).

Gives an overview of the new features in this release of the REAL/IX Operating System and provides usage notes for the system.

Managing UUCP and Usenet  (240-100220-001).

Provides background information about UUCP for administrators and gives instructions for setting up a UUCP link, verifying that the link works, administering UUCP communications, and setting up and administering the Usenet access. This information is supplemented by the System Administrator's Guide, which includes information for administering UUCP over the TCP/IP protocol, and the Software Installation Guide.

 

Books for Programmers

Languages and Support Tools Guide  (211-863006-REV).

Provides tutorials for many of the special purpose languages and the programming support tools available on the REAL/IX Operating System.

Languages and Support Tools Guide Supplement  (211-863x06-REV).

Contains information that is specific to the released system as it operates in the native microprocessor environment of your hardware platform. Note that the "x" in the manual number represents a number specific to the supplement shipped with your system.

Programmer's Guide  (211-863005-REV).

Gives an overview of the REAL/IX Operating System and realtime computing, describes the REAL/IX programming environment and the operating system interface, and provides programming examples for using the realtime extensions of the REAL/IX Operating System as well as the standard UNIX operating system features.

GLS Programming Guide Host and Cross Development Environments  (216-856001-REV).

Describes how to install and execute each GLS compiler (C, FORTRAN, Pascal) in the host and cross environments.

The C Programming Language, First Edition (240-100221-001).

Describes the traditional UNIX C language compatible with the GLS C compiler.

The C Programming Language, Second Edition  (240-100271-000).

Describes the ANSI C language compatible with the GLS C compiler.

 

Books for Kernel Programmers

Driver Development Guide  (230-863001-REV).

Introduces the process of writing device drivers for the REAL/IX Operating System, including detailed information about porting and installing drivers.

Driver Development Guide Supplement  (230-863x01-REV).

Contains information that is specific to the released system as it operates in the native microprocessor environment of your hardware platform. Note that the "x" in the manual number represents a number specific to the supplement shipped with your system.

Kernel Programming Guide  (234-863001-REV).

Gives background information about topics of interest to programmers writing device drivers and system calls. Topics discussed include how drivers and system calls execute and how various types of I/O operations are implemented.

Kernel Programming Guide Supplement  (234-863x06-REV).

Contains information that is specific to the released system as it operates in the native microprocessor environment of your hardware platform. Note that the "x" in the manual number represents a number specific to the supplement shipped with your system.

Kernel Reference Manual  (211-863001-REV).

Contains reference pages for driver entry-point routines (Section D2X), kernel functions and macros (Section D3X), and kernel data structures (Section D4X) used for coding system calls and device drivers.

 

Industry Standard Publications

The REAL/IX Operating System and its supported C programming language comply with the industry standards listed below. These standards are commercially available and can be obtained from the following sources. While an effort was made to ensure that the ordering information was complete and up-to-date at time of printing, we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

ANSI X3.159-1989 Programming Language C Standard

American National Standards Institute, Inc.
Sales Department
1430 Broadway
New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 642-4900
Fax: (212) 302-1286

IEEE Std 1003.1-1988 Standard Portable Operating System Interface for Computer Environments (POSIX)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
Publications Sales, IEEE Service Center
P.O. Box 1331
445 Hoes Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331
Phone: 1-800-678-IEEE
Fax: (201) 981-9677

 

Documentation Conventions

The following table gives the textual conventions used in this book. Note that commands, library routines, system calls, kernel functions, driver entry points, files, and data structures are sometimes followed by a number enclosed in parentheses (for instance, "cat(1)"). This denotes the refeerence section in which they are located; Sections D2X, D3X, and D4X are in the Kernel Reference Manual; all others are in the Reference Manual  volumes and available online through the man(1) command. Commands followed by empty parentheses (for instance, "false( )") are available through the man command, but do not have their own manual page.

Please comment on the publication's completeness, accuracy, and readability. We also appreciate any general suggestions you may have to improve this publication. If you found any errors in this publication, please specify the page number or include a copy of the page with your remarks.

You may send your comments to the following address:

MODCOMP, Inc.
Technical Documentation, MS 230
1650 West McNab Road
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309-1088

Fax: 954-977-1250
Email: info@modcomp.com

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