Abstract
In Brief . . .
The PowerPC Edition of IBM OS/2 Warp Connect will combine the award
winning features of OS/2 Warp with the advantages of RISC
architecture.
- Consistent OS/2 user interfaces and programming APIs for easy
migration to IBM Power Series hardware
- Support for advanced applications including 3-D graphics
- Easy installation and usability of the Workplace Shell
- Comprehensive networking and communications software
- Ability to run DOS and Windows 3.x and recompiled 32-bit OS/2
applications
- IBM microkernel technology for easy scalability, portability, and
modularity for additional hardware platforms
The IBM microkernel technology and other IBM shared services (for
example, system registry, and file server technology) is available by
calling 800-816-7493 or 407-443-6805.
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OS/2(R) Warp Connect (PowerPC(TM) Edition) will combine the major
features of OS/2 Warp with the power to handle a new range of
applications made possible by RISC architecture for the Power
Series(TM) systems. OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will
continue the growth of the OS/2 product family and reinforces IBM's
strong commitment to OS/2.
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will support direct execution of
x86 DOS and Windows+ 3.x binary applications used on today's personal
computers. A comprehensive set of developers tools will be available
to assist in porting 16-bit to 32-bit OS/2 applications. Investment
in OS/2 32-bit applications is preserved, as most existing
applications only require a recompile to exploit the IBM PowerPC
microprocessor. OS/2 users and developers can exploit their existing
skills because of the single and consistent implementation of the
OS/2 API set.
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will also provide a valuable set
of networking and communications software as part of the software
strategy defined by IBM's Open Blueprint. This software will support
NetBIOS, SNA, IEEE 802.2, TCP/IP, and LAN Requester; provides an
easy-to-use, integrated installation utility and plugs into your
existing network.
OpenGL(R) for OS/2 adds the industry standard 3-D engine and API set
granting developers and users access to graphics capabilities
previously available only on more expensive workstations.
The IBM microkernel technology within OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC
Edition) will provide the means of implementing the familiar
OS/2 environment on new platforms. The operating environments that
can be built using this powerful technology range from
special-purpose systems designed for embedded controllers and
hand-held devices upward to OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) and
beyond.
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) went into initial beta test in
December 1994. IBM will expand the current beta program to allow a
larger set of customers to participate. For information on how to
participate, members of the IBM Developer Assistance Program should
contact their SDO relationship manager. Corporate developers should
contact their IBM OS/2 marketing specialist.
General availability in U.S. English for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC
Edition) is planned for 4Q95 (depending on beta test results). OS/2
Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will be competitively priced. Special
bid requests will be accepted immediately. The announcement and
availability of these products, features and components is subject to
IBM business and technical judgement.
Previews provide insight into IBM plans and directions. General
availability, prices, ordering information, and terms and conditions
will be provided when the products are announced.
(R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation
(TM) Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation
+ Trademark of Microsoft Corporation
DESCRIPTION
IBM OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
Integrated Connectivity: OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will
provide a valuable set of networking and communications software.
Network Services will provide a framework to support multiple
networking protocols including: NetBIOS, IEEE 802.2, TCP/IP, and SNA
APPC and APPN(R) End Node.
A series of communications APIs (based on Berkeley sockets) will be
supported for TCP/IP, NetBIOS, and Local Inter-Process Communications
(IPC). APPC and CPIC APIs will be provided for SNA.
IBM OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) LAN Requester will provide a
subset of function in OS/2 LAN Server 4.0 LAN Requester. IBM
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) LAN Requester will support
attachment to:
- OS/2 LAN Server Version 3.x or 4.0
- IBM LAN Server for AIX(R)
- LAN Manager
- Windows for Workgroup 3.11
- Windows NT Advanced Server
The user interface will provide:
- A command line interface for network commands and LAN Server
Services support
- Programming interfaces for Net APIs, Named Pipes and Mailslots
- Graphical user interface based on OS/2 LAN Server 4.0 and an
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) Workplace Shell Interface
The LAN Requester Redirector will support the Physical File System,
printer devices, and pipes.
Development Tools: OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) includes a
new object oriented scripting language, Object REXX. Object REXX is
used to drive the user interface as well as other object based
technologies. Object REXX is an extension to the REXX language and
supports existing REXX programs.
The following application development tools for the IBM Power Series
family, although not part of OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition), are
separately available. For a list of additional application
development tools, see the Statement of General Direction section.
The combination of application development function contained in
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition), the Developer Connection for
OS/2, and these separately available tools, will provide a superior
set of development tools and aids.
IBM microkernel technology: The IBM microkernel technology will
provide the means to implement the familiar OS/2 environment on new
platforms. The microkernel was designed with three express purposes
in mind: portability, scalability, and modularity. Because the
range of new chipsets coming into the market is growing increasingly
more diverse, traditional monolithic operating systems built and
written expressly to one chipset architecture may not be able to be
quickly and easily moved to new families of processors. This
scenario impacts your ability to leverage existing code bases and
skillsets in order to take immediate advantage of the new
opportunities created by these evolutions of technology.
Use of IBM microkernel technology also establishes a highly modular
architecture whereby components written to its interface can be
scaled along with the microkernel. These components, known as
"services", are written to specific functional purposes such as file
systems, transport providers, security systems, or LAN services.
Whichever services are needed in a particular environment for a
particular purpose are simply "plugged into" the microkernel. A
grouping of these services yields the familiar OS/2 operating system.
OS/2-specific elements such as the Workplace Shell user interface,
32-bit API and libraries, command set, and other functions are
entirely consistent across all members of the OS/2 family.
The operating environments that can be built using this powerful new
technology range from special-purpose systems designed for embedded
controllers and hand-held devices upwards to the new PowerPC Edition
of OS/2 Warp Connect. OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) over time
will scale from powerful user-centric desktops to massively parallel
servers.
IBM microkernel technology is available in source code form by
calling 800-816-7493 or 407-443-6805.
OpenGL 3-D Graphics Support: OpenGL is a highly functional 3-D API
currently available on many workstation platforms. It supports
precise immediate mode 3-D rendering of points, lines, polygons, and
Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) surfaces. OpenGL contains
support for multiple light sources, anti-aliasing, texture mapping,
fogging, hidden surface removal, transparency, motion blur, and
double buffering. OpenGL is used by CAD, entertainment, industrial
design and modeling, biochemistry, and scientific visualization
applications.
OpenGL on OS/2 does not require additional 3-D graphics hardware
support. It is a complete software implementation whose performance
scales with CPU power. The OpenGL graphics pipeline has been tuned
extensively for the PowerPC architecture to take advantage of its
floating-point power.
OpenGL device driver source code will be available in The IBM
Developer Connection Device Driver Kit for OS/2. This device driver
source, when tailored to 3-D graphics boards, can bring a much higher
level of performance to 3-D graphics applications.
Multimedia Support: The multimedia application development support
of OS/2 Warp Version 3 is carried over to OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC
Edition). Included will be CD Audio, MIDI playback, image support,
animation, video support, Kodak** PhotoCD**, and support for the
Yamaha** OPL3 FM Synthesizer.
- IBM SoftMIDI Synthesizer
The IBM SoftMIDI Synthesizer will use high-quality audio sampling
and supports the General MIDI standard. MIDI files will allow
complex musical compositions to be represented in a very compact
form and played back on music synthesizers. This exciting music
synthesizer will be capable of responding to General MIDI files to
produce high quality music. The General MIDI files will provide
music for multimedia presentations, games, educational software
and any other multimedia application with files much smaller than
digitized .WAV files. The IBM SoftMIDI Synthesizer can be
configured for different environments, providing entry level to
high level music sound quality without additional audio hardware.
It supports up to 32 voices. Normally a special add-on card is
required to provide wavetable music synthesis. The IBM SoftMIDI
Synthesizer is another example of using the advanced architecture
and floating point capability of the IBM PowerPC processors.
- Crystal** Business Audio Driver
The IBM Power Series systems will have built-in audio support via
the Crystal 4231 or the Crystal 4232 Audio Systems. OS/2 Warp
Connect (PowerPC Edition) supports the Crystal 4231 Audio System
that is included on the ThinkPad(R) Power Series and the Crystal
4232 Audio System that is included on the IBM Personal Computer
Power Series.
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will provide the standard
support of Wave, Aux, and MIDI functions. In addition to this
standard feature set, the audio driver will support a full duplex
mode of operation, wherein playback and record can be performed
simultaneously, and an enhanced full duplex mode where playback
and record can be performed simultaneously at different sample
rates. The audio driver will also provide for the control of the
volume of sound to be recorded.
Internationalization: OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will
contain XPG/4, a library of APIs, commands, and locales defined by
the X/Open Portability Guide, Version 4. This will allow for
portability of applications and a code-set independent, locale-based,
internationalization model.
Improved Installability:
- CD-ROM availability -- OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will be
bootable and installable from CD-ROM.
- Feature Install program -- will allow use of the same method to
install the operating system as well as service updates that may
be required in the future; and it provides a means to remove
unwanted features, in essence providing an un-install capability.
Improved Operations: The system registry will:
- Provide the capability to dynamically modify the system
configuration without having to reboot the system.
- Provide a database to store information such as, system
information, process environment variables, and application
profile information normally kept in .INI and CONFIG.SYS files.
- Be available in object code form by calling 800-816-7493 or
407-443-6805.
IBM DEVELOPER CONNECTION OFFERINGS
IBM Developer Connection for OS/2
The IBM Developer Connection for OS/2, continuing proof of IBM's
commitment to OS/2 developers, can greatly increase your productivity
by providing you with the latest IBM Power Series family and x86
application development tools, each under the appropriate software
license agreement, pre-release software, which may include the
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) beta, product demos, and
information you need on today's most convenient medium -- a CD-ROM.
IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition): The
IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will
be available as part of The Developer Connection for OS/2. The
toolkit is positioned to assist developers of Power Series family
specific applications and allow a recompile of existing
OS/2 applications running on x86 processors to run on the IBM Power
Series family.
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will provide application enabling
services that allow end-user functions such as database, office
system support, system management, and multisystem support to operate
transparently over a network. By integrating the Open Blueprint
elements of networking and communication services, OS/2 Warp Connect
(PowerPC Edition) will provide many of the APIs upon which
network-aware applications can be written. The network and
communications APIs are defined and available through The IBM
Developer Connection offering.
The IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
will include:
- Tools for building programs such as linker, archiver, resource
compiler, object, and executable file analysis tools
- Resource editors and build tools (OS/2 Warp Version 3.0 level)
- System Object Model (SOM) compiler and emitters
- Headers and import libraries for defining and resolving OS/2 Warp
Connect (PowerPC Edition) API calls
- Online documentation -- programming references and guides
- Code tutorial to demonstrate coding techniques for:
- Presentation Manager(R)
- Workplace Shell
- Multimedia
- Object REXX
- System Object Model (and others)
- Application debugging aids
- IBM Code Analysis Tool (ICAT)
Technical support for The IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 Warp
Connect (PowerPC Edition) will be available by calling 800-992-4777
and is free for up to 60 days. Electronic support will be provided
through CompuServ, OS/2 BBS, and the Internet.
An annual subscription to The IBM Developer Connection for OS/2 keeps
your tools and information from becoming dated. Each year you'll
receive four volumes including CDs and the Developer Connection News,
each packed with the tools and information you need for your
OS/2 development efforts. To subscribe and receive IBM Power Series
family development tools, call IBM at a number listed below and
subscribe to The IBM Developer Connection for OS/2:
800-6-DEVCON (633-8266), 303-330-7655 (fax)
To order The IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC
Edition) Technical Library only, call 800-426-7282.
The IBM Developer Connection Device Driver Kit for OS/2
The IBM Developer Connection Device Driver Kit for OS/2 contains
sample source code for developing display drivers for OS/2 Warp
Connect (PowerPC Edition). This includes the display drivers based
on the new layered Graphics Adapter Display Driver (GRADD)
architecture, as well as the new printer models that use the Graphics
Raster Engine (GRE) and the Generic Printer Library (GenPLib).
The GRADD model simplifies the work of development drivers because
the device dependent code has been separated from the device
independent code. The printer model allows you to use a common code
base for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) and the x86 platform.
This means that all of the printer source code available for x86
platform also runs on OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition). The GRE,
coupled with the GenPLib, make developing printer drivers simpler and
faster than ever.
OpenGL device driver source code will be available in The IBM
Developer Connection Device Driver Kit for OS/2. This device driver
source, when tailored to 3-D graphics boards, can bring a much higher
level of performance to 3-D graphics applications.
To order The IBM Developer Connection Device Driver Kit for OS/2,
call:
800-6-DEVCON (633-8266), 303-330-7655 (fax)
STATEMENTS OF GENERAL DIRECTION
The following products, features and components will be offered
independently of OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) and will be
announced with their own packaging plan, prices, terms and
conditions, and availability schedules.
OS/2 Server for IBM Personal Computer Power Series
IBM will provide OS/2 based server software that supports IBM
Personal Computer Power Series systems.
OS/2 Application Development Tools for IBM Power Series
IBM offers tools for application developers to help leverage
investments in existing systems, find new ways to gain quantum leaps
in productivity via workflow-enabled applications, and gain
competitive advantage by building applications based on
object-oriented technology. These tools will enable the development
of software that conforms to many of the standards supported by the
Open Blueprint. The tools will allow application developers to be
more responsive to the changing business needs of the organization.
IBM application development offerings deliver design and modeling
capabilities, a broad set of languages to build applications and an
application management environment for effective team development.
IBM intends to deliver application development offerings that will
run on OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition). Examples include:
- VisualAge Family
The VisualAge family represents IBM's object-oriented offerings
for enabling a powerful new vision of programming based on
constructions from parts. The VisualAge family is an
award-winning, visual development environment for creating
line-of-business applications.
VisualAge C++ for OS/2 provides a means of deploying
high-performance buisness applications by combining a high degree
of compatibility with VisualAge C++ Version 3 on OS/2 Warp
Version 3 (x86) with state of the art RISC optimization. Both a
native version and a version hosted on OS/2 Warp Version 3 (x86)
will be provided.
VisualAge Smalltalk for OS/2 offers an easy-to-learn and use
visual development environment for creating business applications.
- VisualGen(TM) for OS/2
IBM's enterprise 4GL for developing network applications will be
enhanced to support application execution on IBM Power Series
hardware. VisualGen for OS/2 combines a powerful visual
programming facility with a robust 4GL to deliver an object-based
application development environment. VisualGen enables
programmers to develop distributed, multiplatform applications for
complex business solutions.
- VRPG CLIENT/2(TM)
VRPG Client/2 is an integrated development environment for
building client/server applications with the AS/400(R) as the
target server. With VRPG Client/2 distributed logic, business
applications can be built by utilizing existing RPG skills.
- IBM COBOL for OS/2 and IBM PL/I
IBM will extend the capabilities of COBOL and PL/I, third
generation programming languages, to take advantage of the
capacity of the PowerPC platform and leverage existing investments
in line-of-business applications.
- IBM TeamConnection Client for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
Software for managing, versioning, and building applications in a
team environment.
- DataAtlas
A data dictionary that manages data models and versioning.
The IBM Developer Connection Device Driver Kit
The IBM Developer Connection Device Driver Kit will contain the
source code and tools for building device drivers on the PowerPC and
x86 platforms. This product will be delivered with The IBM Developer
Connection for OS/2, which will contain The IBM Developer's Toolkit
for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition).
OS/2 Products for IBM Power Series
IBM intends to offer the following products, features, and components
to run on OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition):
- Networking
- Systems Management
- Data Management
- DB2(R) Client Application Enabler for OS/2 Warp Connect
(PowerPC Edition)
- IBM DB2 Software Developer's Kit for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC
Edition)
- DataGuide(TM) for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
- DataPropagator(TM) Relational
- Workgroup
- IBM WorkGroup for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
IBM WorkGroup for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) will
deliver a rich palette of modular, customizable, scalable
functions that encompass group communications, information
management, and workflow. The initial delivery of IBM
WorkGroup consists of agent, directory, fax, mail, and
scheduling and calendaring. Additional function will be
derived from products such as:
- Visual Document Library -- document management
- Visual Info -- image management
- BookManager(R) -- softcopy publication
- FlowMark(TM) -- workflow
- Visualizer -- data analysis
- UltiMail Lite E-Mail for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition)
IBM OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) Client Function
IBM intends to enhance the function of OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC
Edition) to provide additional client functions included in OS/2 Warp
Connect Version 3.
IBM OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) BonusPak: IBM intends to
provide a BonusPak for OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) with a
function similar to that contained in the OS/2 Warp Version 3
BonusPak.
RELATED SOFTWARE ANNOUNCEMENT
IBM Human-Centered(TM) Experience (Software Announcement 295-266,
dated June 19, 1995)
IBM announces the Human-Centered Experience, a group of applications
designed to make working with computers more natural. The
Human-Centered Experience will be included with the purchase of an
IBM Personal Computer Power Series or IBM ThinkPad Power Series
system when OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) is ordered. The
Human-Centered Experience will be available in U.S. or U.S.
International English only, within 90 days of the availability of
OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition).
RELATED HARDWARE ANNOUNCEMENTS
- IBM Personal Computer Power Series and IBM ThinkPad Power Series
Overview (Refer to Hardware Announcement 195-176, dated
June 19, 1995)
- IBM Personal Computer Power Series 850(TM) and Power Series
830(TM) and Supporting Options (Refer to Hardware Announcement
195-177, dated June 19, 1995)
- IBM ThinkPad Power Series 850 and Supporting Options (Refer to
Hardware Announcement 195-178, dated June 19, 1995)
- IBM ThinkPad Power Series 820 and Supporting Options (Refer to
Hardware Announcement 195-179, dated June 19, 1995)
** Company, product, or service name may be a trademark or service
mark of others.