AIX Version 4.1.1

... profits from our experience

Contents

• Why should you care about an operating system?
• Highlights
• A mature UNIX-based operating system
• To be useful it must be usable
• Designed to serve
• How we manage it
• AIX Version 4.1.1: A link to the future
• Technology as an investment
• Features and Benefits

Why should you care about an operating system?

However, your choice of an operating system does have a major impact on how you'll be able to run your business; it can become a help or a hindrance. You should care about your operating system only insofar as it provides you the ability to get on with real work.

IBM^(r) designed the Advanced Interactive eXecutive (AIX^(r)) Operating System Version 4.1.1 to support real work for real people.

Highlights

• Runs on all RISC System/6000^(r) (RS/6000(tm)) uniprocessors as well as the new symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) and the PowerPC(tm)-based systems, except the Model N40
• Provides enhanced migration tools to smoothly update your AIX Version 3.2.5 operating system and:
  • Is binary compatible for most AIX 3.2.5-based applications
  • Supports common mode compilation of applications for systems based on PowerPC, POWER2(tm) and POWER Architecture
• Uses a simpler pricing model and provides a variety of packaging and price options so you can:
  • Tailor your purchase for client or server functions
  • Separately order software, service and publications as needed
  • Select from different types of software installation media
• Provides a fully-threaded kernel to support multiprocessing
• Incorporates streams-based tty subsystem
• Installs faster and easier due to:
  • Automatic hardware recognition
  • Network Installation Manager (NIM)
  • Installation Assistant
  • A new preview function for software installation
• Provides the capability to deinstall unused software
• Bases its new interface on the Common Desktop Environment and Xwindowing capability with Motif^(r)
• Enhances file systems by providing:
  • Support for file systems greater than 2GB in size
  • Extensions in 512-byte increments
  • Journalled File System (JFS) Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD(tm))-style fragmentation
  • JFS compression/decompression
• Provides Logical Volume Manager (LVM)-based software disk striping capability
• Provides iFOR/LS system usage monitoring
• Contains C2 security enhancements
• Complies with most major industry standards
• Includes, for application developers:
  • SOMobjects(tm) Base Toolkit
  • Sample Unicode developers toolkit
  • AT&T SVR3.2 curses support
  • Linker, loader, and binder improvements
• Includes Xstation Manager (in the server package only)

A mature UNIX-based operating system

However, while standards compliance is essential, it's the added qualities that make the difference between a lab environment and a commercially viable platform.

Building upon innovations it has brought to the market, such as LVM and JFS, IBM continues to bolster the industrial strength qualities of AIX. For example, AIX Version 4.1.1 now supports file systems over 2GB in size and has the capabilities to easily deinstall unused software, optimize the use of expensive disk resources, and take advantage of modern disk striping techniques. However, the enhancements introduced with AIX 4.1.1 go deeper than new function. The very structure of AIX has evolved to meet the needs of today's client/server environment.

The AIX client and server packaging options let you choose, and pay for, only the AIX you need. More flexible and granular licensing options let you individually select software, support, publications, and installation media (including CD-ROM) while better matching costs to your actual system usage. You can also better monitor and regulate use of both your AIX systems and your applications with the iFOR/LS facility.

These new packaging and licensing options offer potential savings on software license costs as well as system resources required.

To be useful it must be usable

Many systems fall down in their efforts to shield the customer from the "plumbing" underneath. This is particularly true during the initial installation of the system itself. Here, again, IBM applies its real world, end-user environment experience to AIX Version 4.1.1.

The Installation Assistant, a graphical user interface facility available through the Visual System Management (VSM) tools, guides even novice users through the initial installation process making it faster and easier to install AIX and other applications.

Pre-selection of necessary operating system components reduces the decision-making and, therefore, the expertise required of the user.

What's more, to further speed up and simplify installation, the system automatically detects the hardware devices attached to the system and installs only the required device drivers. It even detects whether the software is being installed on a uniprocessor or an SMP and loads the appropriate kernel. If it detects an appropriate graphics adapter, the system loads Xwindows.

To go even further, the new Network Installation Manager (NIM) facility can virtually eliminate the need for end users to deal with software installation. With NIM, you can install software from a central site to multiple clients.

Once installed, the integrated Xwindowing capability with Motif and a new, intuitive desktop based on the emerging Common Desktop Environment standard enhances the system's basic usability.

For graphics users, separately orderable OpenGL/GL and PEX/PHIGS API products support entry 3D graphics on 2D workstation hardware and on IBM's POWER 3D accelerators.

For system documentation, the InfoExplorer(tm) product provides a usability bonus in the form of on-line system documentation. In addition, you can use the InfoCrafter^(r) product to create and add user-specific documentation to this on-line library, thereby eliminate the age-old problem of missing or out-of-date manuals.

Usability also requires access to applications. With binary compatibility for nearly all of the 10,000+ existing AIX applications, AIX 4.1.1 offers a rich portfolio of business solutions. What's more, you can use optional IBM and third-party products to run many favorite DOS and Windows-based applications as well.

In addition to working with the interfaces and applications you are accustomed to, AIX 4.1.1 offers wider internationalization support than ever, supporting over 61 language territories. This addresses the requirement in today's multinational companies to interact with systems using the native languages and character sets -- further evidence of IBM's continued attention to the end user in today's global enterprises.

Designed to serve

While usability is of paramount importance to clients, AIX 4.1.1 maintains many key attributes required of server systems:

• Availability
  • A preventative maintenance strategy for AIX itself reduces system down-time for software maintenance
• Flexibility
  • LVM permits extension of file systems on the fly
  • The extendable AIX kernel lets you open more files and increase the number of processes, users, terminals, and connections on demand without a system shutdown
  • The preemptible AIX kernel lets processes be interrupted at any time to execute higher priority tasks
• Security
  • Access Control Lists (ACLs) help protect your files
  • Password protection and C2 security enhancements help control access to system accounts and resources
• Integrity
  • Journalled File System (JFS) is now enhanced with BSD-style disk fragmentation
• Interoperability/portability
  • Extensive LAN/WAN networking and protocol support provides easier communications across the enterprise
  • Many major industry standards and APIs are supported
  • Your operating system coexists with legacy systems; for example, through support for DB2^(r)/6000
  • A logical print queue provides print sharing and remote printer access
  • Integrated NFS(tm) supports file sharing and file system mounting
  • Scalability offers extensive growth options
• Performance enhancers
  • A 32-bit operating system
  • Pageable, preemptible, and extendable kernel
  • A variety of optimized compilers
  • Process priority scheduling
  • Memory load-control algorithm to delay new processes when thrashing occurs
  • Ability to off-load intensive I/O activities to adapters
  • LVM-based software disk striping
  • Improved system and networking performance by reduced LAN device driver path lengths
• Additional capabilities
  • Multimedia hardware and software options
  • Wide array of I/O support and dynamic I/O additions
  • iFOR/LS utility to manage software usage
  • Multiuser, multi-tasking system
  • Extensive system and network management
  • Network software installation capability

These features provide all the qualities you should expect in a premier server platform.

How we manage it

An essential link between client and server systems involves tools and facilities to manage this complex environment. The AIX platform offers a comprehensive set of products to manage all aspects of the system and network, including:

• Operations
• Configuration
• Storage
• Performance
• Capacity
• Network
• Installation
• Change
• Data
• Problem
• License

These facilities extend AIX's management capabilities across multiple IBM and non-IBM LAN-based and mainframe systems. The AIX platform provides an unmatched level of coexistence and interoperability.

AIX Version 4.1.1: A link to the future

No group of users is more important to IBM than our existing AIX customers. As such, a prerequisite for the introduction of AIX Version 4.1.1 was a clear migration path for systems, applications, and users.

For nearly all existing AIX 3.2.5-based applications, upward binary compatibility is provided. Documentation, education, and services are available to help migrate remaining applications where compatibility issues exist.

If you are updating from the AIX 3.2.5 operating system itself to AIX 4.1.1, enhanced migration tools help smooth the transition.

Like AIX 3.2.5, AIX 4.1.1 supports common mode compilation, a means for application developers to ensure their applications can be run unchanged across all RS/6000 systems, whether POWER, POWER2, or PowerPC based.

AIX 4.1.1 supports the new RS/6000 PowerPC-based and symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) models. These additions extend AIX's support over an unprecedented range of processor power, all on a single, binary-compatible version of AIX.

Through the immediate support of most existing AIX 3.2.5 applications, common mode operation to support all RS/6000 processors, assistance for migrating remaining applications, and migration tools for the operating system itself, AIX 4.1.1 offers substantial returns for minimal investment.

For developers, the AIX 4.1.1 platform offers a comprehensive set of traditional compilers, development tools, and an integrated SOMobjects Base Toolkit to begin exploiting the reusability and portability advantages of object technology. With the planned additions of OpenDoc and Taligent framework technologies to its platform, AIX 4.1.1 will become the premier object oriented programming development environment.

OpenDoc and Taligent frameworks are also integral Workplace technologies. AIX 4.1.1 will become the focus for continued AIX integration of Workplace technologies.

Technology as an investment

As with any other business investment, operating system technology must be viewed based on its potential returns. For an operating system, the returns can be operational enhancements or reduced costs. These, in turn, can result in a significant competitive advantage for your business.

So the question becomes, what specific benefits can be realized through IS technology, in this case, AIX Version 4.1.1? Some potential examples include:

• Lower system software costs through AIX 4.1.1's new packaging and licensing structure
• Lower hardware costs through the improved price/performance offered by SMP and PowerPC-based systems
• Lower information storage costs through AIX features such as new client packaging, JFS fragmentation and compression/decompression
• More rapid, flexible application development through object- oriented programming technology
• Extended application availability using advanced emulation technology to enable users to access many applications from a single system
• Flexibility and productivity improve- ments inherent in a distributed client/server environment that puts information in the hands of those that need it
• Productivity improvement by minimizing the expertise required to use and administer information systems through human-centered technology
• Investment protection through the ability to add AIX systems in concert with existing systems and networking facilities
• Rapid, flexible growth, with the same AIX operating environment supported across a wide range of systems
• Higher service levels for users through higher system availability provided by JFS, LVM, and extendable kernel technology

The introduction of technology into information systems should be performed with an eye toward the real, tangible benefits it will provide. Applying our experience in information systems, the AIX platform uses technology to business advantage.

Features and Benefits

Fully-threaded kernel

• Provides the basis for multithreaded application support for multiprocessing systems

Binary compatibility for most AIX 3.2.5-based applications

• Provides smooth migration and investment protection
• Lowers the cost for developers to maintain applications -- one binary can be produced to support both AIX 3.2.5 and 4.1.1 environments

Supports common mode compilation across POWER, POWER2, and PowerPC

• Provides scalability
• Allows you to use applications on any RS/6000 system, whether it's based on POWER, POWER2 or PowerPC Architecture

The base for new systems

• Places you in position to take advantage of the price, performance, and technology of new SMP and PowerPC-based RS/6000 systems

New client and server packaging/price options

• Lower your resource and cost requirements by allowing you to buy and install only what you need

File systems larger than 2GB

• Eliminates the requirement for partitioned files that could adversely affect applications and their users

Designed to provide future base XPG4 and Spec 1170 compliance

• Improves portability of applications across heterogeneous UNIX platforms

Integrated SOMobjects Base Toolkit

• Lets you build SOMobjects and applications that you can reuse, which saves time and expense

Linker, loader, and binder improvements

• Increase performance and efficiency during application development

JFS dynamic compression/decompression file system fragmentation

• Save disk space and system resources
• Migrate your Version 3 file systems (with standard 4096 byte block sizes) by interchanging with AIX 4.1.1 file systems

Installation Assistant and Automatic Hardware Recognition

• Reduce time, expertise, and resources required for installing AIX
• Ensure only those software components you need are installed

Integrated Common Desktop, Motif and Xwindows

• Provides consistency with industry-standard interfaces
• Increases user productivity through ease-of-use features

Software deinstallation flag option for the installp command

• Lets you remove products you no longer need and reclaim those system resources

iFOR/LS software license compliance tool

• Provides the ability to track system usage

C2 security enhancements

• Provide a higher degree of access security for your systems

Performance, diagnostic, and data collection tool

• Lets you isolate and anticipate aspects of your systems that are likely to affect performance so that you can take steps to prevent adverse impact to your operations

Network Installation Manager (NIM)

• Simplifies software distribution and installation to remote clients

System backup command enhancements

• Provide more capability and flexibility for your backup and recovery plans
• Make it easier to install a "cloned" system

Wider International Language support

• Accommodates your multinational needs

Sample Unicode Developer's Toolkit

• Allows you to develop UCS-based applications

LVM disk striping capability

• Supports higher access rates for data using software disk striping technology

Integrated Xstation Manager support (Server package only)

• Eliminates the need to separately order and install Xstation support

You can also call 1 800 IBM-4FAX (1 800 426-4329), and more information will be faxed immediately to your location.

If you have access to the Internet, you can find additional information on IBM's Worldwide Web server at http://www.ibm.com

Special AIX 4.1 Information for Developers

^(r)

AIX, DB2, IBM, InfoCrafter, and RISC System/6000 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

(tm)

InfoExplorer, POWER2, PowerPC, RS/6000 and SOMobjects are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

^(r)

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Limited.

All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Produced in the United States of America
10-94
All Rights Reserved

References in this publication to IBM products or services do not imply that IBM intends to make them available in all countries in which IBM operates.

Photographs show engineering and design models. Changes may be incorporated in production models.

This equipment is subject to FCC rules. It will comply with the appropriate FCC rules before final delivery to the buyer.

G221-4234-01 / G2214234

Copyright 1994 International Business Machines