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Re: z/PDOS-generic

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From John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com>
Newsgroups alt.os.development
Subject Re: z/PDOS-generic
Date Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:51:01 -0700
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On Wed, 21 Aug 2024 04:20:24 +0800
"Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm not familiar with "clusters". Could you tell me what this
> "novelty" port would look like?

"Clusters" being "large numbers of discrete systems across which work
is distributed," an idea that goes back at least to the Transputer but
which really took off in high-performance computing in the early '00s
(IIRC,) when commodity PC hardware reached a performance level such that
it was practical to use "a bunch of PCs in a network" as a replacement
for a single high-performance computer of some other flavor, depending
on the job.

So, for the sake of argument, let's say you got MS-DOS running on such
a platform - certainly possible, since it's fundamentally a PC (leaving
aside issues of e.g. real-mode BIOS vs. UEFI or getting packet drivers
for the NIC, as well as getting the network stack going.) You then have
a large number of DOS PCs on which you can run one (1) job at a time.

Now, assuming that you're doing this because you have a large number of
jobs which you'd like to power through in a maximally efficient manner,
you'd also need some kind of supervisory system to distribute jobs from
the pile to individual nodes in the cluster. There's no reason this
couldn't also run on MS-DOS; in any case, you'd need software on both
ends to *A.* schedule the job for a particular node, *B.* provide that
node with access to the files/resources needed to do it, and *C.* keep
it rolling from one job right into the next.

Now you've got things going; but it's a far cry from maximum efficiency,
because the hardware on each node in the cluster is almost certainly
capable of multi-threaded operation, but DOS has no support for multi-
processing at all. (It's also probably a 64-bit system, but we'll say
for the sake of argument that you've got some kind of amd64 equivalent
to a DPMI going - has anyone written one yet? - so that your application
can at least make full-ish use of a single CPU core.)

There's two ways you could go about handling this. You could attempt to
extend your single-threaded MS-DOS application into a multi-threaded
one, handling all the scheduling and resource-contention issues within
itself. At this point, you've more or less implemented a different OS
on top of DOS (like pre-NT Windows.) Not terribly ideal, since you are
(presumably) still handling I/O through DOS and your DOS-based network
stack, which are single-threaded and will bottleneck all the other
threads. (This was something that Amiga programmers used to deal with:
pre-emptive multitasking bolted awkwardly to a single-threaded DOS.)

Alternatively, you could choose to virtualize; modern implementations
of the amd64 architecture support this natively in hardware, so you can
put even your 64-bit DPMI-enabled mutant MS-DOS program in a container
such that it thinks it's running by itself on a single-threaded CPU,
and then run as many of those in parallel as you have CPU threads. Of
course, you'll need a hypervisor system in place for this; for the sake
of argument, you could probably *also* run this on MS-DOS, but I very
much doubt anyone's written such a beast, so you'd probably have to do
it yourself. You might also need to extend your supervisor-node
software to parcel out multiple jobs to each machine, unless all the
hypervisor-guest systems appear as individual nodes on the network
(which they certainly could.)

So, to summarize: all you need in order to accomplish this is 1. a DOS-
based hypervisor which almost certainly doesn't exist, 2. a 64-bit DPMI
extender which probably doesn't, 3. DOS-based remote job execution
tools which might conceivably already exist, but may not, 4. your own
particular mutant 64-bit MS-DOS application, and 5. a task sufficiently
large/intensive to justify all this effort on in the first place.

Should make for a nice weekend project!

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Thread

z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-07-18 23:07 +0800
  Re: z/PDOS-generic Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2024-07-18 22:40 -0500
    Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-07-19 18:43 +0800
      Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-07-19 16:18 +0000
        Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB-Alt <bohannonindustriesllc@gmail.com> - 2024-07-19 17:12 -0500
          Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-07-19 23:21 +0000
            Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2024-07-19 23:31 +0000
            Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2024-07-20 01:30 -0500
            Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2024-07-22 07:51 -0700
              Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2024-07-22 15:22 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2024-07-22 09:07 -0700
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2024-07-22 17:37 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-07-22 18:07 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2024-07-22 19:38 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2024-07-22 11:18 -0700
              Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2024-07-22 14:16 -0500
                Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-07-22 20:14 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2024-07-22 18:03 -0500
                Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-07-22 23:58 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2024-07-22 23:06 -0500
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-21 04:31 +0800
                Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2024-08-28 02:28 -0500
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-28 16:54 +0800
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-28 16:58 +0800
                Re: z/PDOS-generic BGB <cr88192@gmail.com> - 2024-08-28 18:03 -0500
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-29 11:14 +0800
                Re: z/PDOS-generic George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2024-08-30 06:49 -0400
                Re: z/PDOS-generic George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2024-08-30 10:27 -0400
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-31 10:21 +0800
                Re: z/PDOS-generic George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2024-08-31 15:30 -0400
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2024-09-03 14:27 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic wolfgang kern <nowhere@never.at> - 2024-08-30 13:29 +0200
          Re: z/PDOS-generic Waldek Hebisch <antispam@fricas.org> - 2024-09-03 23:38 +0000
            Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-09-06 07:46 +0800
              Re: z/PDOS-generic J. Curtis <unknown@protocol.invalid> - 2024-09-06 20:08 +0100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-09-07 08:12 +0800
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-01-22 17:34 +1100
        Re: z/PDOS-generic J. Curtis <unknown@protocol.invalid> - 2024-07-20 00:02 +0100
        Re: z/PDOS-generic Salvador Mirzo <smirzo@example.com> - 2025-03-08 14:42 -0300
          Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-09 02:09 +0000
            Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-03-09 15:40 +0000
              Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 12:38 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-03-10 14:49 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 15:00 +0000
            Re: z/PDOS-generic Salvador Mirzo <smirzo@example.com> - 2025-03-10 09:21 -0300
              Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 13:50 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic Salvador Mirzo <smirzo@example.com> - 2025-03-10 14:10 -0300
                Studying the system (was Re: z/PDOS-generic) cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 18:29 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 05:38 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-03-10 19:07 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 19:09 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-03-10 13:00 -0700
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 20:20 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 07:59 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-03-10 15:11 -0700
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 23:11 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 10:51 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 08:37 -0700
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-11 17:28 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-12 05:40 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 12:41 -0700
                What is an operating system? (was Re: z/PDOS-generic) cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-11 21:00 +0000
                Re: What is an operating system? (was Re: z/PDOS-generic) "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-12 17:30 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 09:04 -0700
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 08:29 +1100
            Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 05:06 +1100
              Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-03-10 19:01 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 08:04 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-11 08:47 +1100
            Re: z/PDOS-generic antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-03-11 18:15 +0000
              Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-11 18:29 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-12 05:52 +1100
                Re: z/PDOS-generic antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-03-11 23:05 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-11 23:48 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2025-03-12 02:23 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-12 02:34 +0000
                Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2025-03-12 18:41 +1100
      Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2024-07-19 09:35 -0700
        Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-21 04:20 +0800
          Re: z/PDOS-generic John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2024-08-21 09:51 -0700
            Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-22 13:24 +0800
      Re: z/PDOS-generic Grant Taylor <gtaylor@tnetconsulting.net> - 2024-07-19 19:46 -0500
        Re: z/PDOS-generic "Paul Edwards" <mutazilah@gmail.com> - 2024-08-21 04:18 +0800
    Re: z/PDOS-generic Salvador Mirzo <smirzo@example.com> - 2025-03-08 14:41 -0300
      Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-09 01:58 +0000
        Re: z/PDOS-generic Salvador Mirzo <smirzo@example.com> - 2025-03-10 09:31 -0300
          Re: z/PDOS-generic cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2025-03-10 14:28 +0000
          Re: z/PDOS-generic scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2025-03-10 14:46 +0000

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