Corvus Systems Inc of San Jose, California has announced Version 1.1 of its PC/NOS network operating system for the company’s Omninet network, bringing several enhancements to the distributed network operating system. The cost of the enhancements is $695 for any number of users up to the 64-user maximum that Omninet supports. Corvus’ evaluations of comparable […]
Corvus Systems Inc of San Jose, California has announced Version 1.1 of its PC/NOS network operating system for the company’s Omninet network, bringing several enhancements to the distributed network operating system. The cost of the enhancements is $695 for any number of users up to the 64-user maximum that Omninet supports. Corvus’ evaluations of comparable operating systems for networks indicate a minimum three-to-one cost saving by using PC/NOS. Corvus says that PC/NOS removes the need for investing in an expensive, dedicated server, since the operating software uses all resources on the network in a distributed manner. The company points to three main features of the PC/NOS network operating system software: full distributed resource sharing; simple, easy installation; and no requirement for file servers, although the system can accommodate servers when desired by the users. The concept of full distributed resource sharing means that personal computers connected over Omninet can share all files and peripherals, including printers, RAM disk alternative, system clocks, directories, program files and data files.The new version of PC/NOS expands this capability with spooler utilities that offer print queue management, but with the ability to spool files from any system on the network for printing. PC/NOS Version 1.1 also adds full support for MS-DOS 3.3, as well as MS-DOS 3.1 and 3.2. Through a new Netpoll util-ity, the operating system is compatible with multitasking applications programs, such as Microsoft’s Windows and IBM’s TopView, which can be run concurrently with PC/NOS. A duplication utility installs PC/NOS on an existing hard disk without reformatting of the disk, eliminating disruption of the network during installation or expansion, thus removing the risk of loss or corruption of data during relocation prior to reformatting. The company claims that the simplified installation sequence allows the user to install PC/NOS in about 10 minutes per workstation. Version 1.1 adds a utility that maintains all resource connections when the user logs off. In addition, it incorporates a unique capability called Automatic Resource Connection. With this, the connection to the network is re-established automatically if a computer fails and drops out of the network, and then comes back on line later.
