(CTOS, BTOS, STARSYS) /see-toss/ A modular,
message-passing, multi-process based
operating system.
Convergent Technologies' first product was the IWS
(Integrated Workstation) based on the
Intel 8086, which had
CTOS as its operating system. It is a modular operating
system with built in local area networking. CTOS supports
multiple processes or threads, and message-based
inter-process communication.
Companies which have licensed CTOS include
Burroughs (BTOS)
and
Bull (STARSYS). The largest customer was
Unisys, with
whom Convergent Technologies merged to become one company in
1988. CTOS now has over 800,000 users worldwide.
CTOS runs on Intel
Pentium computers, and can run
concurrently with
Microsoft Windows NT.
For some reason, CTOS is no longer marketted to new customers,
although there is a support comittment for existing customers
until 2001. Major customers include Police Forces, Banks, and
Airlines.
Latest version: CTOS III 1.3.2.
["Exploring CTOS", Miller E., Crook J., Loy J. - Prentice
Hall, ISBN 0-13-297342-1, 1991].