Jump to content

TSX-32

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bumm13 (talk | contribs) at 15:47, 2 July 2022 (formatting fixes). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

TSX-32
DeveloperS&H Computer Systems, Inc.
OS familyDOS
Source modelClosed source
Initial release1989; 35 years ago (1989)
Latest release6.34 / 2002?
LicenseProprietary
Official websitewww.sandh.com/tsx32.htm

TSX-32 has been a general purpose 32-bit multi-user multitasking operating system for x86 architecture platform, with a command line user interface. It is compatible with some 16-bit DOS applications and supports file systems FAT16 and FAT32. It was developed by S&H Computer Systems, and has been available since 1989.

DEC-oriented columnist Kevin G. Barkes noted that TSX-32 is "not a port of the PDP-11 TSX-Plus" and that it runs well on 386, 486 and Pentium-based systems.[1] He reported a limitation: since it supports the MS/DOS (FAT) file system, filenames are DOS's 8+3.

TSX-Plus

An earlier non-DEC operating system, also from S&H, was named TSX-Plus. Released in 1980, TSX-Plus was the successor to TSX, released in 1976.[2]

The strength of TSX-Plus is to simultaneously provide to multiple users the services of DEC's single-user RT-11.[3] Depending on which PDP-11 model and the amount of memory, the system could support a minimum of 12 users[4] (14-18 users on a 2Mb 11/73, depending on workload). A productivity feature called "virtual lines" "allows a single user to control several tasks from a single terminal."[5]

History

S&H wrote the original TSX because "Spending $25K on a computer that could only support one user bugged" (founder Harry Sanders); the outcome was the initial four-user TSX in 1976.[4]

For TSX-32, they said in an interview,[4] "We started with a clean sheet of paper" rather than starting with a "port."

As of 2021, it appears to be defunct.

VAX

The company's product line was ported/expanded for the VAX line. [2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "DCL dialog". March 1995.
  2. ^ a b "Cutting comes with TSX-Plus". Hardcopy. December 1984. pp. 54–63.
  3. ^ Milton Campbell (January 1985). "The RT-11 Perspective". Hardcopy. p. 125.
  4. ^ a b c "S&H TSX-Plus on 11/23, 11/34". Computerworld. December 1, 1980. p. 67. efficient, general-purpose timesharing for up to 20 users on 11/23 and 11/34 based ...
  5. ^ "TSX-Plus: Time Share RT-11". Hardcopy. October 1982. p. 9.