2 Nov
2002
2 Nov
'02
11:44 a.m.
On Sat, 2 Nov 2002, Don Maslin wrote:
TurboDos does not have an inbuilt multiuser capability
- ala MP/M.
It's approach to multiuser is via a slave processor for each external
user. The slave processor could be either an external computer linked to
the master machine by serial, or whatever, and the number of slaves
could run as high as 32. Slave processors were also commonly additional
processor cards in a S100 box each of which was linked to an external
terminal via a serial link. In either case, the 'master' processor
played the role of manager of shared assets - disk, printer, etc.
Because of the processor per user approach, the response of the system
was little affected by user load. Nice concept and nicely executed.
I have a full size 8-bit PC card somewhere that may be similar to what you
describe. I have the breakout box for it too, and it appears that it can
connect up to 8 terminals. I never have been able to identify it, but if
this sounds like something someone has seen before, I'll be happy to pull
it out and snap some photos.
-Toth