IBM RT PERSONAL COMPUTER (RT PC) (TM) NEW MODELS, FEATURES, AND SOFTWARE OVERVIEW IBM Announcement Letter Number 187-020 dated February 17, 1987 IBM US - Last Revised on February 17, 1987 Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability The IBM RT PC has been expanded to include a new series of RT PC models, new hardware features, new licensed programs, and enhancements to some existing licensed programs. These products bring to the RT PC improved performance, increased connectivity, a wider range of compatible devices, improved user interface, and additional software function. Today's announcements continue the increases in power and versatility that have characterized the RT PC since announcement. The Advanced Interface Executive (AIX (TM)) Operating System represents IBM's strategic commitment to a leadership UNIX (R) product. Starting in January 1986, and with the enhancements in June and September, the AIX Operating System demonstrates IBM's continuing ability to deliver advanced operating system function combining IBM architectures (SNA) with the architectures of UNIX. The RT PC is a cross-industry product designed to support technical, commercial and administrative applications in small, medium and large businesses. RT Personal Computer, RT PC and AIX are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. Customer Letter Section HIGHLIGHTS o New IBM RT PC models featuring improved performance, standard 4 MB fast memory, 16 MB memory capacity, built-in floating-point, and faster disk performance o Upgrade capability for current RT PC models o RT PC fast memory extensions in 4 MB or 8 MB increments o Improved performance of Advanced Floating-Point Accelerator o High resolution graphics display adapter o New peripherals, including displays, printers, tablets and projectors o Enhancements to AIX Operating System o New IBM RT PC Distributed Services licensed program o New IBM RT PC X-Windows licensed program o New RT PC VS FORTRAN compiler o Customer support offering for the new RT PC Advanced C Compiler DESCRIPTION The RT PC is a versatile supermicrocomputer that can be configured as a cost-effective multi-user system, a powerful personal computer for business professionals, or a CAD/CAM or technical professional workstation. Multiple RT PCs of varying prices and capacities can be configured in a LAN environment to allow sharing of printers and other output devices, and DASD storage, for improved cost per user. The RT PC is appropriate for applications requiring high-end processing power and/or capacity, or when multi-user capability, virtual storage, or extensive communications facilities are required. The RT PC is particularly useful for communications using industry standard protocols supported by both IBM and non-IBM computers, or where UNIX capability is a requirement. The RT PC supports a variety of technical professional, engineering/scientific, administrative and business applications, such as spreadsheets, project display graphics, desk-top publishing, CAD/CAM, accounting and data base management. It also supports an application development environment that includes several major programming languages, mathematical and statistical packages, and graphics development utilities. The RT PC Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) Operating System is based on UNIX System V.1 with enhancements from IBM, and selected features from System V.2 and BSD 4.2. The IBM Personal Computer AT (R) coprocessor allows operation of many DOS applications available for the IBM Personal Computer AT, concurrent with AIX applications. Personal Computer AT is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. PRODUCT HISTORY The following chart is designed to show the evolution of the RT PC from its initial announcement in January 1986, through February 1987. These are relative numbers that represent RT PC general capabilities as announced and supported by IBM. Refer to the Performance section that follows for details on the product configurations used to generate the performance numbers shown in this chart. --------------------------------------------------------- | RT PC | | | | Capability | Jan. 1986| Feb. 1987 | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Performance | | | | Dhrystones | 1780 | 6500 | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Floating-Point | | | | Performance | | | | Whetstones | | | | (Single-precision) | | | | Standard | 20K | 810K | | Optional | 200K | 1600K | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | LINPACK KFLOPS | | | | (Double-precision) | | | | Standard | --- | 80 | | Optional | 37 | 300 | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | DASD | | | | Maximum Capacity | 210MB | 5810MB | | Data Rate |.260MB/Sec.| 1.08 MB/Sec. | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Memory Maximum (RAM) | 4 MB | 16 MB | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Number of Users (Max.) | 8 | 16 | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Display Size/PELS (Max.)|15"/.75Mil.| 19"/1 Million | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | LAN Offerings | PC NET | ETHERNET | | | | TOKEN RING | | | | PC NET | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Data | Entry 3270|Expanded 3270 | | Communications | ASYNC |SNA LU 1,2,3,6.2 | | | |TCP/IP | | | |BSC (3270 & RJE) | | | |ASYNC | | | |SDLC | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Network Applications |ASCII Apps.|Distributed Serv. | | |UNIX Apps. |TCP/IP Apps. | | | |ASCII/UNIX Apps. | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Application Programs | Limited |Extensive Catalog | |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Compiler Optimization | ---- |AIX C Compiler | | | |RT PC VS FORTRAN | | | |VS PASCAL | | | |Advanced C Compiler| |-------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | Windowing | ---- | X-Windows | '---------------------------------------------------------' PERFORMANCE A primary focus of this group of announcements is on greater performance. The improvements include a faster processor, faster memory, faster floating-point performance, faster disk data transfer, faster graphics processing, and enhanced communications. Collectively, the products, features, and software being announced bring the IBM RT PC to a new and measurably higher performance level. Specifically, a configuration consisting of an IBM RT PC Model 115, 125, or B25 (which include the Advanced Processor Card standard floating-point unit) and AIX Operating System Version 2.1 produced the results in the table below on the industry standard Whetstone and Linpack FORTRAN benchmarks. This table also shows the performance results achieved when using the optional Advanced Floating-Point Accelerator (feature #6815) with an IBM RT PC Model 115, 125, or B25. No other jobs were being processed while the performance benchmarks were running. ------------------------------------------------------ | Industry |Advanced *| Advanced * | | |Processor Card| Floating-Point | | Benchmark |Standard | Accelerator | | |Floating-Point| | |---------------------|--------------|-----------------| | Whetstones | | | | Single-Precision | 810K | 1600K | | Double-Precision | 700K | 1400K | |---------------------|--------------|-----------------| | LINPACK KFLOPS | | | | Double-Precision | 80 | 300 | '------------------------------------------------------' * FORTRAN benchmarks run on an IBM RT PC Model 115, 125, or B25 with AIX Operating System Version 2.1. Similarly, performance in fixed point operations has been significantly improved. An IBM RT PC configuration consisting of an IBM RT PC Model 115, 125, or B25, AIX Operating System Version 2.1, and AIX C Compiler or Advanced C Compiler produced the results shown in the table below on the industry standard Dhrystone Version 1.0 fixed-point benchmark. No other jobs were being processed while the performance benchmarks were running. ---------------------------------------------- | Industry | AIX | Advanced | | Benchmark | C Compiler | C Compiler | |-----------|-----------------|----------------| | | | | | Dhrystone | 5000 | 6500 | | | | | '----------------------------------------------' Note that these benchmarks are sensitive to the types of compiler optimizations performed. For the results shown, these optimizations include: o In-line subroutine expansion o Code motioning o Constant folding o Common sub-expression elimination o Straightening o Commutation o Short circuiting. Note that overall system and programming performance are subject to a number of other variables, and accordingly, the foregoing parameters are not necessarily representative of either overall system or programming performance. HARDWARE OVERVIEW NEW RT PC MODELS The new series in the IBM RT PC product line consists of Models 115, 125, and B25. All models are equipped with the new Advanced Processor Card, an Extended ESDI Disk/Diskette adapter, a single Extended ESDI 70 MB fixed-disk, and a 1.2 MB diskette drive. The Advanced Processor Card houses a Motorola 20 MHz 68881 Floating-Point unit and 4 MB of fast memory. The Extended ESDI Disk/Diskette adapter provides support for up to 3 fixed-disk drives and 2 diskette drives, in addition to disk access performance improvement. The new RT PC models parallel existing models and are program-compatible when similarly configured. Existing models can be upgraded to their new-model counterparts (from Model 10 or 15 to 115, 20 or 25 to 125, and A25 to B25) via an upgrade kit. IBM MEGAPEL DISPLAY ADAPTER The IBM Megapel Display Adapter expands the graphics capabilities (both function and speed) of the RT PC by allowing direct attachment of the IBM 5081 Models 11, 12, 16 and 19 color and monochrome displays, and the 5082 Projection System. This adapter is a high-resolution display adapter that allows the attached monitor to function both as the application display and the RT PC operator console. This adapter provides substantial improvements to the RT PC's graphics display support for CAD/CAM, graphics design, and documentation environments. FLOATING-POINT ENHANCEMENTS The RT PC models now offer several different levels of floating-point performance depending upon which of the following floating-point units is installed: o The original optional Floating-Point Accelerator (feature #4758) o The Motorola 68881 floating-point unit standard on the Advanced Processor Card in the new models o The new optional Advanced Floating-Point Accelerator (feature #6815). The chart in the Performance section of this announcement shows some of the performance measurements that can be expected when using these floating-point hardware units. FAST MEMORY EXPANSION The new RT PC models come with 4 MB of fast memory on the Advanced Processor Card. Additional 4 MB and 8 MB Fast Memory Expansion cards are available for installation on the new models, to increase the memory up to a maximum of 16 MB. PERIPHERALS AND CABLES The following new and existing peripherals have been added to the devices that attach to the IBM RT PC: o IBM 5081 Displays -- Models 11, 12, 16 and 19 o IBM 5083 Tablets -- Models 11A and 12A o IBM 4202 Proprinter XL o IBM 3852 Color Jetprinter o IBM 6184 Color Plotter o IBM 5842 Modem o IBM 5082 Projection System The IBM RT PC ASCII Terminal Cable -- RS 232C (10/25 M-Pin) -- is used for attaching the IBM 316X family of ASCII terminals. SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERFACE ADAPTER The IBM RT PC Small Computer System Interface Adapter for IBM 9332 DASD Attachment, announced September 18, 1986, has been broadened in scope of support to include other disks and tapes having an appropriate interface. This provides industry disk and tape suppliers with an additional hardware interface, and is consistent with the IBM RT PC approach to an open architecture. The name has been appropriately shortened to IBM RT PC Small Computer System Interface Adapter. SOFTWARE OVERVIEW IBM RT PC AIX OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION 2.1 AIX Version 2.1, announced in September 1986, has been enhanced to include support for the new RT PC models and their accompanying new features and performance improvements. In addition, support has been added for the following products/functions: o IBM Megapel Display Adapter o 5081 Megapel Displays -- Models 11, 12, 16 and 19 o IBM RT PC Distributed Services licensed program o Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communications enhancements including Token-Ring support and gateway support for two separate IBM Token-Ring and two Token-Ring or Ethernet (TM) local area networks o Enhanced Small Computer Systems Interface support. Ethernet is a trademark of Xerox, Inc. DISTRIBUTED SERVICES The IBM RT PC Distributed Services licensed program permits the user of a network-connected RT PC and/or its supported resident application programs to share files and resources of other RT PCs as though they reside locally. Users can request files, directories, and programs without regard to where they physically reside. The Distributed Services licensed program manages the access of multiple files concurrently, while employing memory management techniques to help improve overall system response. The file and record-locking capability of the AIX Operating System is used to help preserve data integrity among the various RT PCs within a network. RT PC X-WINDOWS The IBM RT PC X-Windows licensed program is a windowing system that provides simultaneous views of several executing programs or processes on high resolution RT PC displays. It includes support for multiple RT PC displays on a local area network (LAN). This windowing system is a tool designed for end users and application developers. It is designed to help enhance the overall system usability and the user interface for existing RT PC applications and applications being developed. ADVANCED C COMPILER CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFERINGS The Advanced C Compiler customer support offerings consist of Performance Support and IBM RT PC Advanced C Compiler Support. The Performance Support provides education on compiler performance and an introduction to the capabilities and use of the RT PC Advanced C Compiler. The IBM RT PC Advanced C Compiler Support offering is provided for customers who have a need for continued access to the IBM RT PC Advanced C Compiler. (Refer to Programming Announcement 287-040, dated February 17, 1987, for details.) RT PC VS FORTRAN RT PC VS FORTRAN is a high-performance optimizing compiler that supports portability from host VS FORTRAN and migration from VAX (TM), FORTRAN and ANSI-77 FORTRAN. Support is also included for Pascal and C Language interfacing, as well as for symbolic debugging. Programs written in RT PC FORTRAN 77 can be recompiled without modification in most cases, allowing the user to take advantage of the faster compile and execution performance of RT PC VS FORTRAN. RM/COBOL (TM) RM/COBOL for the RT Personal Computer is a GSA certified implementation of the ANSI X3.23 74 COBOL standard. Applications written in RM/COBOL can be executed on RM/COBOL compatible systems. The RM/COBOL Compiler and Runtime System is a full-function development and execution system for the RT Personal Computer. GRAPHICS SUPPORT Personal graPHIGS now provides support for high function graphics application development using the RT PC 6154 Advanced Color Graphics Display or the 5081 Model 16 or 19. RT PERSONAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE CATALOG The RT Personal Computer Software Catalog (GH23-0150) provides a list of IBM and non-IBM licensed programs available for the RT PC. The catalog includes a description of the products, minimum configuration, known support, price, availability date, and the name, address and phone number of the vendor of the program. VAX is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation. RM/COBOL is a trademark of Ryan-McFarland Corporation. IBM RT PC RELATED ANNOUNCEMENT LETTERS, DATED FEBRUARY 17, 1987 HARDWARE 187-021 IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) New Models and Additional Features 187-022 Limited Offer: IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) -- Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX (TM)) Operating System Promotional Offering SOFTWARE 287-034 RT PC (TM) VS FORTRAN Compiler Version 1 287-035 IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) 3278/79 Emulation and Data Management Services Licensed Programs Updates Availability 287-036 IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX (TM)) Operating System, Version 2.1 Enhanced with Planned Availability 287-037 IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) Distributed Services 287-038 IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) X-Windows 287-039 RM/COBOL (TM) for the IBM RT Personal Computer (TM) 287-040 IBM RT Personal Computer (RT PC) (TM) Advanced C Compiler Customer Support Offerings MARKETING 387-022 IBM RT Personal Computer (TM) Available Under Customer Fulfillment Option The following correction is to be made on page 2, external version, second Industry Benchmark chart. Under the column headed "AIX C Compiler," change the number from "500" to "5000" Dhrystones.