Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!apple.com!rkn
From: rkn@apple.com (Hud Nordin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: What is A/ROSE?
Message-ID: <14018@goofy.Apple.COM>
Date: 11 Jun 91 23:32:40 GMT
References: <0E010021.1grw6l@gla-aux.uucp>
Sender: usenet@Apple.COM
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
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In article <0E010021.1grw6l@gla-aux.uucp> glenn@gla-aux.uucp (Glenn
Austin) writes:

> In article <1991May21.022750.13870@midway.uchicago.edu>,
> tisu@quads.uchicago.edu (Seth Tisue) writes:
> > What does the A/ROSE (I may be misremembering the exact filename, but
> > that's the gist of it) System Extension on one of the System 7 
> > installation disks do?
> > I've loaded it, to no visible effect.
> 
> A/ROSE (Apple Realtime Operating System Extension) is used with 
> intelligent cards, such as the TokenTalk and newer EtherTalk cards.
> It is an extension to the base Mac OS that makes it easier to build 
> intelligent NuBus cards which include their own 68000 processors.
> 
> ==================================================================
> | Glenn L. Austin      | "Turn too soon, run out of room.
> | Macintosh Wizard and |    Turn too late, much better fate."
> | Auto Racing Driver   |   -- Jim Russell Racing School Instructor
> |-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, Glenn. I expected we'd get some questions about the A/ROSE file in
the Extensions Folder. May I expand?

A/ROSE is the Apple Real-time Operating System Environment, a developer
package (from APDA) for implementing real-time applications on intelligent
NuBus cards. One part of A/ROSE is its kernel, a message-based
pre-emptive multitasking, real-time operating system that runs on
intelligent Macintosh II-family NuBus cards, the prime example being the
generic Macintosh Coprocessor Platform card. There also is a Macintosh OS
extension that provides interprocess communication for code on the
main logic board.

The A/ROSE file in the Extensions folder holds these pieces as well as
related resources. For the first time with System 7.0, A/ROSE comes as
part of a system release; it is installed as needed. As an extension,
A/ROSE is useless unless there is client software to utilize it.

The A/ROSE kernel and IPC were designed to be small, configurable,
distributed across processors, and to achieve high throughput. The
context switch on the 10 MHz 68000-based MCP card is 110 microseconds.
IPC rates are more than 4000 msgs/sec on an MCP card and more than
10000 msgs/sec on a Macintosh II. (Sorry, A/ROSE does not provide
pre-emptive multitasking for the Macintosh OS.)

A/ROSE is currently used in several Apple products, including MacAPPC
(IBM SNA Advanced Program to Program Communication), MacDFT (3270/3570
Terminal Emulation),  TokenTalk, SMB File Transfer and MacX25, with more
on the way; it is also being used by third party developers, mostly for
in-house applications.

Curiousity satisfied?

-------------------------------------------------
Hud Nordin
Apple Computer, Inc.      HUD@applelink@apple.com
20525 Mariani Ave.        rkn@apple.com
Cupertino, CA 95014       AppleLink HUD