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From: bnathan@ncratl2.Atlanta.NCR.COM (bnathan)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2,comp.realtime
Subject: Re: OS/2, real-time, question
Keywords: OS/2, real-time, question
Message-ID: <1028@ncratl2.Atlanta.NCR.COM>
Date: 24 Oct 89 13:29:55 GMT
References: <34689@beta.lanl.gov>
Reply-To: r.nathan@Atlanta.NCR.COM
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Corporation, E&M Atlanta
Lines: 33

In article <34689@beta.lanl.gov> tss@beta.lanl.gov (Timothy S Sullivan) writes:
>
>I realize this is an absurdably premature question, but is anyone doing
>anything about implementing a real-time OS/2? Given its single-user,
>multitasking orientation it would be a great platform for process control,
>data acquisition, and the like.

It depends on your definition of real-time, I suppose, but we've implemented
something that I believe qualifies.  Since the announcements have been in
the trade journals, I think its ok for me to discuss it here.  Kentucky Fried
Chicken has purchased from NCR Corp. a system that includes Point of Sales
terminals (nee cash registers) and a 386sx PC that runs OS/2.  Within that
PC, we've placed quasi real-time software that "samples" data from the 
live transaction data (how many chickens have been sold) and issues cooking
instructions to the CRT screens by the chicken cookers.  The PC also 
maintains data files and performs various services for the POS terminals,
all "background" operations on the PC under OS/2.  The CRT/keyboard on the
PC is an interface for the store manager to obtain reports, etc.  This was
implemented on OS/2 1.0 last winter, and installed in stores  starting this
summer, I think.  In fact, I think its been installed with OS/2 1.1, but
since we did the work with 1.0, we used none of the features of 1.1.  (All
the "I thinks" are due to the fact that once the basic architecture was
in place, the development was transferred to a more applications-oriented 
group, and I've sort of lost touch.)

And yes, OS/2 does make a good platform for real-time stuff.  The 
implementation of threads, queues and ram-semaphores, exitlists, and so
forth provides all the mechanisms one really needs.  I can't say how well
it would work for real-time controls at the milli-second precision range,
but in the relatively slow environment I designed for, it was (dare I say
it?) great.

Bob Nathan  (404)441-8143  NCR, 5555 Oakbrook PKWY, Norcross, GA 30093