An evaluation plan for the IBM PC/IX Operating System designed for IBM PC/XT computers is discussed. The evaluation plan covers the areas of performance measurement and evaluation, software facilities available, man-machine interface considerations, networking, and the suitability of PC/IX as a development environment within the University of Southwestern Louisiana NASA PC Research and Development project. In order to compare and evaluate the PC/IX system, comparisons with other available UNIX-based systems are also included

Dominick, Wayne D.

Granier, Martin

Hall, Philip P.

Triantafyllopoulos, Spiros

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

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* U S L  / D B M S  N A S A  / P C  R & D  8 
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* W O R K I N G  P A P E R  S E R I E S  * 
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Re po r t Numb e r 
DM.NASA/PC m - 1 4  
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The USL/DWIIS NASA/PC R B I  Working Paper Series contains a 
collection of formal and informal reports representing results of 
PC-based research and development activities being conducted by 
the Computer Science Department of the University of Southwestern 
Louisiana pursuant to the specifications of National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration Contract Number NAW-3846. 
For m o r e  information, contact: 
Wayne D. Dominick 
Editor 
USL/DBMS NASAIPC =Working Paper Series 
Computer Science Department 
University of Southwestern Louisiana 
P. 0. Box 44330 
Lafayette, Louisiana 70504 
(318) 231-6308 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890005615 2020-03-20T05:06:00+00:00Z
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IIEJl PC/IX OPERATING SYST€M 
EVALUATION PLAN 
MARTIN GRANIER 
PHILIP HALL 
SPIROS TRIANTAFYLLOPOULOS 
The University of Southwestern Louisiana 
Computer Science Department 
Lafayette, Louisiana 
November 28, 1984 
- 1 -  
IBM PC/IX OPERATING SYSTEM 
EVALUATIUN PLAN 
ABSTRACT 
This document contains a n  evaluation plan for the I I M  
PC/IX Operating S y s t e m  designed for I I M  PC/XT 
computers. The evaluation plan covers the areas of 
performance measurement and evaluation, software 
facilities available, man-mac hi ne interface 
considerations, networking, and suitability of PC/IX as 
a development environment within the USL NASA PC/I&D 
project. In order to compare and evaluate the PC/IX 
system, comparisons with other UNIX*-based systems 
available are also included. 
* UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laboratories. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
1.0 PURPOSE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4 
2.0 PERSONEL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5 
3.0 HARKSV!E/SOF'IWARE REQUIRAENTS . . . . . . . . . .  5 
4 . 0  EVALUATION PLAN OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6 
- I  
5.0 TIME FRAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9 
- 3 -  
Iwll PC/IX OPERATING SYSTEM 
EVALUATION PLAN 
1.0 PURPOSE 
T h e  evaluation of the PC/IX operating system for the Iwll 
personal computer will be performed in order to determine the 
suitability of such a high-end operating s y s t e m w i t h i n  PC/R&D as 
w e l l  as production environments. In particular, in light of the 
interest of NASA in low-end and high-end UNIX-based workstation 
systems, this evaluation will attempt to determine the usability 
- <  
of such a software product for our own PC/RBu) environment. 
O t h e r  aspects of the evaluation will be the human aspects of 
interacting with a "full-scale" operating system, i.e., 
user-machine interfacing, problems with slower response time, 
increased complexity, etc. Finally, a n  attempt will be m a d e  to 
"place" PC/IX within the framework of other UNIX systems, in 
particular the ones available at USL. Such UNIX systems include 
the VAX-11/780 BSD 4.2 UNIX, and the AT&T Version 5 Unix on the 
Pyramid 90x systems. Also, literature research can help compare 
PX/IX with other micro-based UNIX systems, i.e., VENIX-86, XENIX, 
UN*X, etc. Again, this phase of the evaluation will be performed 
f r o m  the viewpoint of the USL NASA PC/R&D project goals. 
2.0 PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS 
T h e  1 0 / 2 5 / 8 4  meeting of the USL NASA PC R&D team, as well as 
individual discussions between t e a m m e m b e r s ,  actual system use, 
the evolution of the evaluation plan (Section 4 1 ,  and previous 
evaluation experience, have dictated that 3 Research Assistants to 
w o r k  on the project. The t e a m m e m b e r s  to be primarily involved 
with the evaluation wi 1 1  be Phi 1 ip H a l l ,  Spiros 
Triantafyllopoulos, and Martin Granier. Philip Hall’s m a i n  duties 
will include user interface evaluation, suitability of use for PC 
RBU) environments, and user-end related evaluation in general. 
- i  - .  
Spiros Triantafyllopoulos’ primary duties will include software 
evaluation, software/hardware configurations, software tools 
available, and general comparison against other UNIX versions. 
M a r t i n  Granier’s rensponsibilities will include the literature 
overview, and the relationship of PC/IX to the USL NASA PC R&D and 
educational activities. These duties will be shifted if the 
circumstances require so, in order to produce a n  accurate 
evaluation. Also, assistance from other t e a m m e m b e r s  will be 
requested, if needed. 
3.0 HARIlWARE/SOF?WARE REQUIREMENTS 
T h e  PC/IX evaluation will require a fully equipped PC/XT for 
the period of the evaluation, with one printer attached and the 
appropriate paper and floppies supplies. Software needed, except 
- - - - - - - - - - -  
I N A S A  I 
PC/IX itself, will be the various tools available on the PC-DOS 
environment for comparison (i.e., a C compiler, MASM-86 assembler, 
etc.) Additional hardware/software to be used, if possible, will 
include the W C P  interface, one EtherNet Board, and other 
conmunications support software. For evaluation of a W C P - b a s e d  
network, a second PC/IX may be required for a short (1-2 days) 
period, with a notice well in advance. Finally, the USL VAX-111780 
and Pyramid 90x will be our additional "guinea pigs". Pyramid 
accounts will have to be requested. 
4.0 EVALUATION PLAN OVERVIEW 
T h e  evaluation will be divided in the following 8 sections. 
T h e  evaluation comparisons will revolve around the areas of: 
- -  PC/IX vs. PC-DOS. 
- -  PC/IX vs. other full-size and m i c r o  UNIX systems. 
- -  PC/IX in the USL NASA PC R&D environment. 
T h e  evaluation plan is as follows: 
4.1 Literature Overview 
- What others said about i t  
- Other references on PME 
- Attemt to define a UNIX public view, i.e., h o w  
other people see UNIX. 
4.2 Operating System Performance Measurement and Evaluation 
- Facilities available 
- User interfacing 
- Man/machine cooperation 
4 . 3  System Completeness 
- W h a t  the system has (compared to Unix V & BSD 4.2). 
- W h a t  the system does not have. 
- User’s view of completeness. 
- User expectations fullfilment. 
- W h a t  can be used to make i t  m o r e  complete 
- W h a t  is available to make i t  m o r e  complete 
- H o w  i s  the markrt oriented towards add-ons 
- Special hardwarelsoftware support (i.e., PC-DOS) 
4 . 4  System Compatibility 
- Compatibility with DOS 3.0, 3.1. 
- Local Area Network support 
- Other UNIX-based systems 
- Software Compatibility 
- U s e r ’ s  v i e w  of c o m p a t i b i l i t y  (i.e., s a m e  coxunands?). 
4 . 5  Programning Language PME 
- C language 
- M A N - 8 6  assembler 
- Snobol (possibly versus Multics Snobol) 
- Evaluation between different UNIX versions 
and/or implementations 
- Other language-oriented tools (i.e., yacc, lex, awk) 
4.6 W C P  N e t w o r k  Evaluation. 
- H o w  can w e  use it?. 
- Comparison w i t h  other networks. 
- Configurations possible. 
- T o  what can we connect i t ?  
- There i s  interest from the W S  Department and the 
Computer Center f o r  UUCP-based networks. How can PC/IX 
WCP be used with W C P  in a campus-network? What are 
the pros and cons associated with PC/IX WCP? 
4.7 USL NASA/RECON Project - PC/IX Roles. 
- Operating Systems 
- User interfaces to D-, Is&R, etc. 
- Compatibility (for our own goals). 
- Transportability 
- Standarization 
- Complexity 
- Available hardware/software support 
- Compatibility with the Multics-based DIMS 
env i r onme n t 
- Relevance to the USL NASA PC R&D Objectives 
- As seen in the HICSS-18 PC R&D paper, & PC R&DWPS 
- 4, 5, 6 and 8 
- What d o  w e  need from PC/IX?? 
- How PC/IX can satisfy these requirements? 
- H o w w e l l  can PC/IX satisfy them? 
4.8 Conclusions 
In the final report, as well as during the evaluation 
process, no attempt will be made to decide upon specific software 
or hardware configurations. Facts reporting will be m u c h  more 
critical, along with a concise format for their presentation, in 
order to give a fairly complete idea of what PC/IX i s  and what i t  
c a n  do. 
5.0 TIME FRAME 
T h e  estimated time of completion of the project i s  the end of 
the year, December 31, 1984 (rather optimistic), or prior to 
comnencing of next semester, January 15, 1984. As soon as the 
final details are known, a n  evaluation schedule will be produced 
with dates/parties and status reports, as needed. 
The evaluation personel have arrived at these dates after 
consideration of the complexity of the tasks to be performed, and 
also in consideration of other time-critical activities that are 
to be performed in parallel by the USL NASA PC/R&D group. 
2. Government Accession No. /83$gfL 1. Report No. 
- 1,s. 4. Title and Subtitle 
USL/NGT-19-010-900: IBM PC/IX OPERATING SYSTEM 
EVALUATION PLAN 
3. Recipient's Catalog No. 
34 7&- 5. Report Date 
6. Performing Organization Code 
November 28, 1984 dgd--lril/ 
U n i v e r s i t y  of S o u t h w e s t e r n  L o u i s i a n a  
The Center f o r  Advanced Computer  S t u d i e s  
P.O. Box 44330 
7. Author(s1 
MARTIN GRANIER, PHILIP P. HALL, AND 
SPIROS TRIANTAFYLLOPOULOS 
9. Performing Organization Name and Address 
11. Contract or Grant No. 
NGT-19-010-900 
8. Performing Organization Report No. 
10. Work Unit No. 
L a f a y e t t e ,  LA 70504-4330 
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 
14. Sponsoring Agency Code 
15. Supplementary Notes 
13. Type of Report and Period Covered 
FINAL; 0 7 / 0 1 / 8 5  - 1 2 / 3 1 / 8 7  
16. Abstract 
17. Key Words (Suggested by Author(s1) 
IBM PC/IX Operating System, Evalua- 
tion Plan, PC-Based Research and 
Development 
- .  
18. Distribution Statement 
This Working Paper Series entry contains an evaluation plan for the IBM P C / X  Operating System 
designed for IBM PC/XT computers. The evaluation plan covers the areas of performance measure- 
ment and evaluation, software facilities available, man-machine interface considerations, networking, 
and suitability of P C / E  as a development environment within the USL NASA PC/R&D project. In 
order to  compare and evaluate the P C / E  system, comparisons with other LWI)I*-based systems 
available are also included. * UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. 
19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. NO. of Pages 
Unclassified . Unclassified 9 
This report represents one of the 72 attachment reports to  the University of Southwestern Louisiana's 
Final Repon on NASA Grant NGT-19-010.900. Accordingly, appropriate care should be taken in 
using this report out of the context of the full Final Report. 
22. Rice' 
For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 221 61 
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