🚀 go-pugleaf

Just a bit more gossip for the V5.0 rouor mill:

1) Symetric multiprocessing. I've heard that it is a major goal for V5.0. I,
too, have heard rumors that DEC is running multiprocessors in-house.

2) New executive. In light of 1), it's pretty obvious that the system kernal
will need a major re-write, but if you attended the sessions on the new
executive system at SF DECUS, you would have heard that the current monolithic
code will be broken into a large number (>20) of pieces. This should improve
maintainability and make it less likely that a change to one part of the
executive will cause disaster because something related was missed.

3) TCP/IP. I've heard nothing about it, but I sure let the developers know about
my wishes at every opertunity.

4) Security. V5 will integrate most of the functions in SEVMS. At DECUS I was
told that DEC wants to get B1 approval for V5.2.

5) Common journaling and checkpointing. I classify this with Sasquatch and the
Loch Ness monster. It's been comming soon for about the last eon. But it's
clearly geting closer. Just note the hooks in V4.4. Maybe it will finally
arrive. After all, we did get volume shadowing.

6) Time frame. I can't say just when V5 will appear, but I have heard that
about 2 months AFTER V5 is born, V4.7(8?) will be released! The idea is to
provide most V5 utilities in a V4 system for those who need to significantly
delay the conversion to a new kernal. Remember the fun of V3.0? And nobody who
was foolish enough to try running V4.0 will forget the fun. If this is really
what DEC is planning, it means DEC is providing dual upgrade paths- a fast one
for the brave (or desparate) and a slow one for the cautious, paranoid, or
irrational. After all! Who would think that there might be problems with a
brand new kernal?


						R. Kevin Oberman
					 	Lawrence Livermore Nat'l Lab
						arpa: oberman@lll-icdc.arpa
						(415) 422-6955

Disclaimer: The above is largely based on rumor. Those items based on
conversations with the developers at DECUS were noted. If not so noted, the
sources were passing credible. But I wouldn't bet the house on any of it. Even
if they were true, plans change. And DEC has been known to toss out a red
herring now and then. Happy speculation!
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