Path: utzoo!attcan!ncrcan!ziebmef!stephen
From: stephen@ziebmef.uucp (Stephen M. Dunn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: QNX Operating System
Summary: QNX Multitasking for PC,XT,AT,386 etc.
Keywords: operating system
Message-ID: <1989May18.221329.8584@ziebmef.uucp>
Date: 19 May 89 02:13:28 GMT
References: <634@pmafire.UUCP>
Reply-To: stephen@ziebmef.UUCP (Stephen M. Dunn)
Organization: Ziebmef Public Access Unix, Toronto, Ontario
Lines: 51

In article <634@pmafire.UUCP> alan@pmafire.UUCP (alan herbst) writes:
$
$Does anyone have any experience with the QNX operating system by Quantum 
$Software Systems, Kanata, Ontario?  Their ad states QNX is both multiuser
$and multitasking and only uses 150K RAM and works on PC, AT, PS/2.  It 
$supports 32 terminals with an AT, 150 tasks per AT, has C compiler, runs 
$DOS tasks, and costs $450.  Sounds as if it may be good for a small
$business or home use instead of UNIX or OS/2.

   This reply comes from my brother, Andrew Dunn, who is an independent
software consultant in Brampton, Ontario:

   I have been working with QNX for 2 years.  We use it as a general-
purpose office automation and software development system and to control
shop floor processes in an electronic factory setting.

   In its latest version, QNX (whether loaded from disk or across ARCNET-
based network) fits in 100-200K (depending on what tasks you run) on each
node, and all nodes have access (optionally) to the resources of any other
node.  Terminals or other devices can be added to each node, either as user
terminals (i.e. supporting logins) or dedicated devices under the control
of other programs.

   As well as supporting multiple users, multiple tasks per node are supported
on all versions, as well as SEND/RECEIVE/REPLY message-passing amongst tasks.
Programs can be written in C (using the compiler supplied with the
development system) or FORTRAN or dBASE (using third-party supplied
compilers).  Also, code development packages such as PRO-C from Vestronix
ease development efforts on this system.

   As far as supporting DOS, this is handled two ways.  The DFS (DOS File
System) allows access to DOS disks and files as if they were QNX disks and
files.  Also, on selected compatibles, QDOS allows MS-DOS 3.20 and PC-DOS
3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 to be run as a single task under QNX.

   My experiences with QNX have been very good and I would heartily
recommend it.  If you require more information, Quantum Software Systems
can be contacted at 175 Terrence Matthews Crescent, Kanata, Ontario.  They
also have a bulletin-board/conferencing/update system ... contact them for
details.

Regards, Andrew

----------------
   Any questions directed to my brother can be mailed to this account
(stephen@ziebmef.UUCP) and will be brought to his attention.
-- 
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! Stephen M. Dunn              stephen@ziebmef.UUCP ! DISCLAIMER:  Who'd ever !
! Take off to the Great White North eh, ya hosehead ! claim such dumb ideas?  !
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