VM/386
DeveloperSoftguard Systems, Intelligent Graphics Corporation (IGC)
Working stateHistoric
Initial release1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Available inEnglish
PlatformsIntel 80386
LicenseProprietary

VM/386 is a multitasking operating system or 'control program'[1] that took early advantage of the capabilities of Intel's 386 processor. By utilizing Virtual 8086 mode, users were able to run their existing text-based and graphical DOS software in safely separate environments.[2][3][4] The system offered a high degree of control, with the ability to set memory limits, CPU usage and scheduling parameters, device assignments, and interrupt priorities through a virtual machine manager menu.[5] Unique CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files could be configured for each application, and even different DOS versions.[6][3][4] In 1991 the vendor announced intentions to support DPMI 1.0 in VM/386.[7]

Overview

VM/386 had initially been developed by Softguard Systems, a producer of copy-protection software, with plans to include features like non-DOS system support,[8] but financial constraints forced its sale to Intelligent Graphics Corporation (IGC),[9] which launched the product in 1987.[10] It won a PC Magazine award for technical excellence in 1988.[11][3][4] The company also introduced a multi-user version, which allowed a number of serial terminals and even graphical systems to be connected to a single 386 computer.[12] Current versions of the software have built on the multi-user support, and can handle tens of users in a networked environment with Windows 3.11 support, access controls, virtual memory and device sharing, among other features.[13]

A version of the software designed to cooperate with Unix was bundled with Everex Systems workstations.[14] The system now sees use mainly in vertical applications like point-of-sale systems, where its ability to run reliably on cheap, reliable hardware outweigh any gains from newer operating systems that are more complex and less reliable.[15]

Early competition included DESQview 386, Sunny Hill Software's Omniview, StarPath Systems' Vmos/3,[3][4] and Windows/386 2.01.[6] As the target market shifted away from single-user systems to multiple-user setups with many serial terminals it began to compete more directly with the likes of Multiuser DOS and PC-MOS/386.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Release 1.0: IBM's Next Generation: From PC to System" (PDF). Edventure Holdings Inc. 1987-04-06.
  2. ^ "Of Interest". Dr. Dobb's. 1988-06-01.
  3. ^ a b c d Tamm, Rüdiger (1991). "VM/386: Der Ferrari-Motor für den Trabbi". In Wurthmann, Gerold; Wopperer, Bernhard; Wiesböck, Johann (eds.). Vorträge und Begleittexte zum 2. Entwicklerforum der Design & Elektronik zum Thema: PC-Architektur, 17. September 1991, München [Presentations and supplemental material for the second developer forum on PC architecture on 17 September 1991, Munich] (book) (in German) (1 ed.). Munich, Germany: Markt & Technik Verlag Aktiengesellschaft. p. 205. (NB. The forum was organized by the German magazine Design & Elektronik and Intel.)
  4. ^ a b c d Tamm, Rüdiger (March 1990). "VM/386: Der Ferrari-Motor für den Trabbi". Design & Elektronik - die Spezialzeitschrift für Hard- und Softwareentwickler (in German). Markt & Technik.
  5. ^ Clement Shammas, Namir (July 1988). "VM/386: A Virtual Solution". BYTE. pp. 155–158. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  6. ^ a b Miller, Michael J.; Capen, Tracey (1989-02-13). "Multitasking". InfoWorld: 57–58.
  7. ^ Wurthmann, Gerold; Wopperer, Bernhard; Wiesböck, Johann (1991). "Die DPMI-Spezifikation – Eine Einführung – Appendix B: DPMI Hosts" [An introduction to the DPMI specification – appendix B: DPMI hosts]. In Wurthmann, Gerold; Wopperer, Bernhard; Wiesböck, Johann (eds.). Vorträge und Begleittexte zum 2. Entwicklerforum der Design & Elektronik zum Thema: PC-Architektur, 17. September 1991, München [Presentations and supplemental material for the second developer forum on PC architecture on 17 September 1991, Munich] (book) (in German) (1 ed.). Munich, Germany: Markt & Technik Verlag Aktiengesellschaft. pp. 223, 239. (NB. The forum was organized by the German magazine Design & Elektronik and Intel.)
  8. ^ "Alternativen zu MS-DOS auf der Rollbahn: Alle sind schneller als Microsoft". Computerwoche (in German). 1987-02-06.
  9. ^ Bright, David (1987-06-22). "Softguard unloads VM/386". Computerworld. XXI (25): 33. Citing a drain on its resources Softguard Systems, Inc. recently announced that it has agreed to transfer the rights to its VM/386 virtual machine operating system project to Intelligent Graphics Corp., also in Santa Clara.
  10. ^ "VM/386". Archived from the original on 2013-06-06.
  11. ^ "The 5th Annual Awards (1988): 386 Software Technology". PC Magazine.
  12. ^ "Finally: Multi-user DOS". InfoWorld (ad). 1989-03-27.
  13. ^ "VM/386 Technical Specifications". Archived from the original on 2012-03-24.
  14. ^ Everex Systems Inc. announces DOS multitasker for UNIX workstations, 1989-10-23
  15. ^ "MRE Consulting Group, Inc. - Solving Business Problems Since 1978".

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