[cctalk] Re: VM/370 notes

On Feb 6, 2026, at 19:51, Steve Lewis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: Dave, Page 439 of that document you linked has a nice chart of "integrated emulators that run execute under VM/370" - now I do recall one of the "famous" things about the prior S/360 was it could emulate 1401 and other IBM systems. Then later on, more systems to emulate would be the 709-series. Ok, so VM/370 is more like what we might today call a Hypervisor? So the "it looks like whatever you want" comment makes sense. I suppose what I'm after is more a visual on the usage of CMS, DOS/VS or OS/VS1 ( OS's that one would only use on an S/370 ? ) I put a couple reference images here on what I have about CTSS and TOPS-10 (CTSS is from a modern-day emulators, TOPS-10 is from one of their manuals so its from in 1970). I see how you mean VM/370 isn't quite the same nature (not "just an OS" but an enterprise thing like for airlines, banks, financial brokers -- and the virtualization helped in testing/deploying new systems -- that maybe had newer OS's -- without disrupting operational systems?) https://github.com/voidstar78/OS_NOTES - Steve > On Fri, Feb 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM David Wade <dave.g4ugm(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> On 06/02/2026 14:55, Steve Lewis wrote: >> Thanks Dave, the 3270 terminal screen makes sense. Or to make use of >> the system and resources, you'd remote to it using a 3270. >> So it may have been at a time no one thought to snap a photograph of >> any of those 3270s in use (not just a "room full of 3270's" kind of >> photo - but of the actual screen, showing whatever it was they were >> doing; managing tape/disk resources, files, users, or running APL or >> something. That's more what I was looking for, when you "used VM/370 >> {or remoted into it}, this is what it looked like." > Generally thats not what you did with VM/370. You edited, compiled, and > ran programs.... > >> >> There had to be some kind of installer? Or maybe I'm viewing it wrong >> - they (a business) didn't just buy a S/370 then decide what OS to >> install. But rather it was a packaged prepared by IBM, so maybe it >> was pre-installed with VM/370 and configured to whatever the >> arrangement/contract was? > > For VM you usually got a "starter system" on a tape. There was a > different tape for each disk type. The first file on the tape is the > standalone disk dump and restore program, DDR. So you IPL (boot) from > this tape, and use DDR to restore the starter system to DASD (disk). > You usually needed three packs. The first time you IPL the restored > starter system it asks you some basic config questions, and you then > have a working system that you can use to restore the rest of the > VM/370, load and apply service (fixes) , and configure to your exact > hardware set-up. > > I expect at 522 pages this manual which covers install and congigureis a > tad bigger than the one for other systems... > > > https://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/370/VM/370/Release_6/GC20-1801-10_VM370_Sysge… > > >> Or a way to say "when someone used a S/370 {or CMS}, this is what the >> console content looked like" (printed, or by that time yea probably >> more likely a CRT). >> > > It looked like whatever you wanted. The samples in the previous e-mail > are typical... > > >> “The Origin of the VM/370 Time-Sharing System” – R.J. Creasy gives a >> little bit of a description on those components CP, CMS, and RSCS. >> But no photo/image yet of a terminal with content to identify "yeah, >> see they are using a S/370 there" (maybe its listing disk packs, >> tapes, memory resources, etc?) I got something like this for the >> earlier CTSS and TOPS-10. >> > pass me what you have for that so I can see what a VM Equivalent might > be. The definitive thing on a users 3270 is the status bottom right > which on a pukka system which usually reads "VM READ VM/370" but can > also start "RUNNING", "HOLDING" "CP READ". > >> -Steve >> >> > Dave >