Apollo Computer Inc has, as reported briefly (CI No 858), extended the capabilities of its ambitious Network Computing System for interconnecting heterogeneous computer systems with the launch of a new operating system, Domain/OS, for its workstation product line. Domain/OS is a single system combining three operating environments – Unix System V.3, Berkeley 4.3, and Apollo’s proprietary Aegis system, and also addresses criticisms that the company’s previous Domain/IX implementation of Unix included a non-standard kernel. It also clears the way for future workstation developments such as RISC architecture. According to Mike Gallup, Apollo’s product marketing director, the system forms the cornerstone for future workstation architecture and other Apollo product and technology developments. Domain/OS implements software tools, and a distributed registry based on its Network Computing System architecture to provide a distributed operating environment, with facilities such as transparent file sharing, automatic concurrency control, and the simple addition of new workstations to the network. Also included is dynamic linking of global shared libraries, demand paging across a network, and access control lists. Internationalisation support, using the International Standards Organisation’s Latin 1 8-bit character set, reflects the growing importance of Apollo’s non-US business. Domain/OS also supports Apollo’s computer aided software engineering toolset, and standard communications products. Set to be available in the early summer, the new operating system is claimed by Apollo to provide a clear migration path to future standards, such as Posix.
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