reNOVAte

reNOVAte directly runs Data General Nova and Eclipse, Strobe Data Hawk, Bytronix, and Point 4 programs on any popular computer and operating system. Now legacy programs can run unmodified on virtually any modern system, including MS-DOS, PC networks, Windows 95/98, Windows NT, UNIX, DG/UX, HP/UX, AIX, Sun/OS, Solaris, UnixWare, Linux, VAX/VMS and others. This completely software-based solution eliminates the need for additional hardware, coprocessor boards, strings or mirrors to run standard Nova or Eclipse programs on any open system.

In RDOS mode, reNOVAte creates a full-featured Data General Nova or Eclipse RDOS environment on any open system, from laptop to mainframe. The actual program and data files from RDOS-based machines are now directly used on open systems without any translation or conversion; thereby insuring complete compatibility with Data General computer based applications. And native execution of standard RDOS systems calls gives Nova and Eclipse programs the full benefit of open system resources.

In full hardware emulation mode, reNOVAte reproduces virtually all hardware aspects of the Nova, Eclipse, Point 4, Bytronix, etc. architecture so that even proprietary systems - such as BITS, IRIS, MICOS, BLIS/COBOL, DDOS, etc. – can run on virtually any open system unmodified. This faithfulness to detail lets this software run on systems never before possible, which preserves legacy assets while blazing a path to the future.

All versions of reNOVAte dramatically extend legacy software investment, create new dimensions of portability, and open doors to new opportunities and possibilities.

reNOVAte supports the Nova, Nova 4, Fairchild 9445, Bytronix, Point 4 and Eclipse hardware instruction sets. This provides umapped Nova, Mapped Nova 4/X, Bytronix, Point 4, Fairchiled 9445 and Mapped Eclipse RDOS operating system environments.

In addition, full emulation for common Data General peripherals and is available so that even non-RDOS environments or software, such as IRIS, BITS, MICOS, DDOS, BLIS/COBOL can run on open systems without modifications. The low-level hardware emulation capabilities are so complete that even DG processor and peripheral diagnostics run under reNOVAte.

Standard RDOS system calls are all supported, including RDOS overlays, system-independent read/write line handling, etc. Advanced RDOS features such as memory remapping, user clock interrupts and multi-tasking are even support. These features, plus many more, make your past software investment work for your future.

All standard RDOS development software may be run, such as MAC, ASM, BBASIC, XBASIC, ICOBOL, FORTRAN IV, FORTRAN 5, DG/L, ALGOL, etc., which lets you now use any open system as a powerful software development platform.

User RDOS-based applications can run unmodified on any open system platform, preserving previous software investment while supporting future technology.

Data General Nova and Eclipse programs that do not use RDOS can also be supported by reNOVAte. Complete low-level hardware emulation exists, including interrupt and device handling. Data General hardware diagnostics even run at this level, reflecting the depth of compatibility provided.

A full complement of hardware support is provided by different versions of reNOVAte, including CPUs, main CPU options and peripheral devices. All of these options easily integrate into any target open system hardware and software.

Six main CPU types may be supported by reNOVAte:

• Standard Nova with hardware multiply/divide and FPU.
• Nova 840 with memory map, multiply/divide and FPU.
• Nova 4 with hardware signed/unsigned multiply/divide, stack and byte instructions, and FPU.
• Nova 4 with hardware signed/unsigned multiply/divide, stack and byte instructions, and FPU and memory map.
• Fairchild 9445 features with special 64 K word support.
• Point 4-type processors with special 64 K word support and IOCB features.
• Bytronix processors with 64 K word support.
• Eclipse S/120, S/130 and S/140 with Character Instruction Set, FPU and memory maps.

Certain Strobe Data Hawk board features are also optionally supported.

• Unsigned multiply/divide
• Signed multiply/divide
• Floating Point Unit support (Nova)
• Real Time Clock (RTC)
• Programmed Interval Timer (PIT)
• Console input/output (TTI/TTO)

Additional peripheral devices are supported by standard drivers, including:

• Paper tape readers (PTR & PTR1)
• Paper tape punches (PTP & PTP1)
• Line printers (LPT & LPT1)
• Second console (TTI1/TTO1)
• Magnetic tape drive (MTA)
• Streaming tape drive (STA)
• Storage Module Controller (SMD)
• Serial port multiplexor (QTY)

All of these supported DG devices may use the devices and files of the underlying operating system.

Additional device drivers may be created on a custom basis to meet any demanding application requirement.

• Runs, proprietary RDOS programs on new platforms without modification
• Runs Nova, Eclipse, Bytronix, Strobe Data Hawk, and Point 4 programs on open systems without modification
• Liberates Nova and Eclipse software from hardware-limiting solutions
• Preserves, and enhances software investment
• Insures complete program and data file compatibility between DG and any other computer and operating system
• Provides vendor independence
• Provides hardware independence
• Provides operating system independence
• Saves program rewriting and migration time
• No special hardware or software required

• Directly runs RDOS programs on any popular hardware and software
• Uses current program save files and data files totally unmodified
• Supports RDOS rev 5, 6 and 7 programs and data files
• Adds many new powerful extensions, such as calling native programs from the CLI or user programs, and more
• No program conversion or data translation needed whatsoever on any machine
• Supports virtually all technical features of the RDOS environment
• Allows continued RDOS development on any platform of choice.
• Provides seamless access to native operating system capabilities while using RDOS CLI.

• Directly runs RDOS program and data files
• Emulates the Nova, Nova 4 and Eclipse processors with no additional hardware or software
• Supports standard RDOS rev 5, 6 and 7 features and system calls
• RDOS programs can directly call open system programs (i.e. spreadsheets, word processors, editors, etc.)
• powerful DG to native directory and file name translation options
• RDOS device name to native operating system logical name translations
• search list facilities simplify program file, data file and general file access
• all open system file, device and network capabilities are available to RDOS programs
• transparent open system program access to any RDOS file and directory - no "container" files are used
• native programs can be called from RDOS programs
• support for most multi-tasking environments
• user clock support
• extended memory remap support
• extended .RDB/.WRB I/O support
• special support for QTY line access - QTY I/O may be redirected to native serial devices
• RDOS system call statistics maintained
• RDOS system call trace facility quickly resolves problems
• multi-tasking console support
• inter-ground common area support
• Powerful system extensions, including
• expanded virtual console
• makes ANSI terminals behave like native DG CRTs

• Processor versions supported:
  • standard unmapped Nova
  • unmapped Nova 4
  • mapped Nova 4/X
  • Point 4 Mark 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12
  • Eclipse S/120 and S/140
  • Fairchild 9445 with 64 Kwords of memory

  • ROLM 5605, 1603, 1650, 1602B, 1666B

  • military UYK-19 and UYK-64/UYK-64(V)

• 32 Kwords of logical user memory space for most systems; 256KW for mapped Nova 4/X, 1024KW for mapped Eclipse
• Common processor options supported, including RTC, PIT, FPU, MUL/DIV, SMUL/SDIV and CIS
• Main console TTI/TTO
• common DG peripherals supported, including TTI1/TTO1, MTA, SMD, LPT[1], PTR[1], PTP[1]
• peripheral device I/O can directed use open system files and devices
• extended version of Virtual Console for complete system control
• seamlessly integrates into open systems
• emulates down to the register and interrupt level if so desired
• runs processor and peripheral diagnostics, insuring maximum compliance and reliability
• custom device drivers may be written to handle practically any challenging requirement

reNOVAte is a trademark of SimuLogics.
All other trademarks are acknowledged as belonging to their respective owners.
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Last modified: Wednesday May 21, 2008.