The RSX Multi-Tasker

Summary This document is the April 1984 issue of The RSX Multi-Tasker, a newsletter published by the DECUS (Digital Equipment Computer Users Society) RSX SIG. The issue features columns, technical notes, and articles aimed at users of the RSX-11 operating system.

Key highlights include:

• Editorial News: Announcements regarding changes in the RSX SIG leadership and a discussion concerning the necessity of a subscription fee for the publication.

• Columns:

  • Help Yourself: Includes a call for proposals for a Spring DECUS meeting session and user-submitted questions.
  • Library News: Updates on new submissions to the DECUS software library, including various utilities and patches.
  • It’s on the SIG Tape: An overview of the "EMPIRE" simulation game available on the Fall 1983 SIG tape.
  • Speak Out: A technical critique and discussion regarding the comparison of different versions of the "RUNOFF" document formatter.
  • Whither Goest the SIG?: A reflective and opinionated article by Bruce R. Mitchell discussing the future of the RSX operating system, the evolution of the hardware/software landscape, and the role of the SIG in the face of the VAX transition.

• Technical Articles:

  • NanoRSX: A guide on how to fit an M-Plus system onto a single RX50 floppy disk.
  • Systemization of RSX-11M Generation: An approach to standardizing the system generation process for multiple remote lab systems.
  • User-Written Loadable Directives: Technical documentation on implementing loadable directives to avoid repeated system generations.
  • Multi-user F11ACP: Detailed instructions for building a multi-user F11ACP to optimize disk I/O performance.

• Hints and Things: Technical patches and workarounds for common issues, including an RSX-11M-Plus HELLO login patch, performance hints for I/O drivers, and solutions for RP11 controller and RP06 disk drive configuration issues.