Robert E. Millstein
ABSTRACT
The National Software Works (NSW) is a significant new step in the development of distributed processing systems and computer networks. NSW is an ambitious project to link a set of geographically distributed and diverse hosts with an operating system which appears as a single entity to a prospective user. An initial version of NSW spanning TENEX, MULTICS, and IBM 360 computers has been in regular operation since May 1977. Further enhancement of this system to provide better reliability, improved response time, expanded facilities, and additional host computers is currently under way.
In the next section we describe the purpose of NSW and the problem that led to its creation. The following sections give a simplified overview of NSW system design and finally describe the individual components which comprise NSW.
- 1.Boehm, B. Software and Its Impact: A Quantitative Assessment. Datamation, May 1973, pp. 48-59.Google Scholar
- 2.Shapiro, R.M., and Millstein, R.E. NSW Reliability Plan. Massachusetts Computer Associates, Inc., CA-7701-1411,* June 10, 1977.Google Scholar
- 3.NSW Protocol Committee. MSG: The Interprocess Communication Facility for the National Software Works. Massachusetts Computer Associates, Inc., CADD-7612-2411 and Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., 3237, December 24, 1976.Google Scholar
- 4.Schantz, R.E., and Millstein, R.E. The Foreman: Providing the Program Execution Environment for the National Software Works. Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., 3442, and Massachusetts Computer Associates, Inc., CADD-7701-1111, January 1, 1977.Google Scholar
- 5.Millstein, R.E., and Schantz, R.E. NSW Tool Builder's Guide. Massachusetts Computer Associates, Inc., CADD-7702-1811, and Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., 3308, February 18, 1977.Google Scholar
- 6.Cashman, P., Fanuef, R., Muntz, C. File Package: The File Handling Facility for the National Software Works. Massachusetts Computer Associates, Inc., CADD-7612-2711, December 27, 1976.Google Scholar
Index Terms
- The National Software Works: A distributed processing system
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