[cctalk] Re: VM/370 notes

On Feb 6, 2026, at 20:00, Wayne S <wayne.sudol(a)hotmail.com> wrote: You could run different jobs at the same time in different partitions. Just had to make sure the jobs didn’t need the same resources or you would get a lock. So if a jobs needed a certain tape, make sure another job running in another partition didn’t need it. Sent from my iPhone > 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 >>