TOPS10 7.03 Engineering Seminar 198606

This document is an "Engineering Seminar" for TOPS-10 version 7.03, presented by LCG Software Engineering in Colorado Springs from June 9-13, 1986. It outlines the seminar agenda, acknowledges key contributors, details product capabilities, and provides a summary of the field test for this significant operating system release.

Key themes and new functionalities covered include:

• Core Operating System Enhancements: Significant updates to the BOOT process, general monitor reorganization, and address space management (including KS Address Space and User Mode Extended Addressing). A major new feature is "Alternate Contexts," designed for saving and restoring job states, with corresponding commands (PUSH/POP) and Universal User Operations (UUOs). Changes related to monitor memory usage, debug DDT (DDT, FILDDT), and STOPCD names are also detailed.
• Hardware Support: Extensive support for KL Model B systems, single/dual/tri-processors, HSC50 (RA60, RA81) disks via the CI (Computer Interconnect) architecture, and NIA20 for direct KL10 connection. Specific microcode versions for KL10, KS10, CI20, NIA20, and HSC50 are provided. The seminar also covers new disk and tape technologies (e.g., TA78 tape drives on HSC50) and lists various hardware devices no longer supported in v7.03.
• Networking: A major focus on DECnet Phase IV implementation, including Ethernet support, LAT (Local Area Transport) Protocol, and CTERM (Command Terminal Protocol) for remote command terminals. This also covers networking configurations, data bases, new networking UUOs, network management (NML), and error reporting and diagnostics.
• System Management & Utilities: Introduction of a new accounting system, featuring ACTDAE (a central user profile repository), REACT (a rewritten program for managing profiles with enhanced flexibility and security), and LOGIN (improved with security restrictions and password encryption). GALAXY V 5.1 is detailed, including its components (e.g., QUASAR, CATLOG, PULSAR, LPTSPL) and spoolers. Changes to system utilities like COMCON and SCNSER (for command dispatching, security, and character editing) are also presented.
• Performance, Diagnostics, and Field Test: The seminar includes sessions on disk performance, scheduler changes, diagnostic engineering, and concludes with a "Final Field Test Summary Report." This report confirms the successful testing of TOPS-10 7.03 and its layered products (DECnet-10 4.0, GALAXY 5.1, RSX02F) across multiple customer sites, with most field test exit criteria being met and the product considered ready for shipment.

The document highlights the comprehensive efforts across various engineering teams to deliver TOPS-10 v7.03, addressing both core OS functionality and major subsystems like networking and accounting.