Mainframe OS

Brief HistoryMakers

year/month Timeline
1958/03 NEC: Completed its first electronic computer "NEAC-1101" (parametron computer). It contained standard software such as a loader.
1958/11 Hitachi: Announced "HIPAC-101," a successor to parametron computer "HIPAC MK-I." It contained symbol input routine HISIP 101 as software.
1959/03 Oki Electric Industry: Completed parametron computer "OPC-1." It adopted two program control systems: a wiring system and a stored program system.
1959/05 NEC: Completed fully-transistorized computer "NEAC-2203." It contained standard software such as a loader.
1959/05 Hitachi: Announced transistor computer "HITAC 301." It contained assembly SAP-II, input program SIP and interpreter GITS as software.
1961/05 Oki Electric Industry: Completed transistor computer "OKITAC5090," which made full use of a magnetic core for the main storage. With its main application being scientific and engineering computing, it provided assembler language, FORTRAN, ALGOL and a magnetic tape monitor.
1961  Hitachi: Completed "HIPAC 103," which was designed and produced with the primary aim of performing scientific and engineering computing. It contained symbol input routines HISIP 103A and 103B and FORTRAN compiler "HARP103"
1961  Toshiba: Developed assembler for TOSBAC-3100.
1962  Toshiba: Developed assembler and loader for TOSBAC-4200.
1963/08 Mitsubishi Electric: Completed system programs (SIA, SIAS, FORTRAN, COBOL, LOGAND assembler, SORT and MERGE) for MELCOM-1530.
1963  Fujitsu: Completed software (FORTRAN, assembler, IOCS and SORT) for large-scale, general-purpose computer "FACOM 222."
1964/04 NEC: Announced the first OS "MOD I" for the NEAC Series 2200, which adopted the one-machine concept.
1964/09 Hitachi: Completed "HITAC-5020," which contained a monitor system consisting of monitors (system monitor and job monitor), HISAP 5020 (automatic coder with FCP), HARP 5020 (FORTRAN), etc.
1964/10 Toshiba : Developed magnetic drum-based OS "TOPS-1" for TOSBAC-3400.
1964  Toshiba : Developed software (assembler, COBOL, FORTRAN and RPG) for TOSBAC-4300.
1964 
【World】General Electric developed IDS, the world’s first database management software
1965/09 Hitachi: Announced OS "POS/TOS/TDOS/DOS" for the HITAC 8000, which was developed in technical collaboration with RCA.
1965/11 Toshiba : Announced magnetic tape-based OS "COS/MT" for TOSBAC-5100, which was capable of continuously performing batch jobs.
1966/01 Mitsubishi Electric: Completed model 10T, model 10PT and model 30T operating systems for MELCOM-3100.
1966/12 Fujitsu: Completed monitor "MCP II" for medium-scale, general-purpose computer "FACOM 230-20/30," which realized multi-programming processing.
1966  Fujitsu: Completed OS "MONITOR II (M-II)" for large-scale, general-purpose computer "FACOM 230-50," which realized the world’s first dynamic relocation.
1966 
【World】IBM began shipping OS/360, an operating system for S/360 that had a consistent architecture and could be run on large and small machines
1967/11 NTT: Formulated the DIPS development plan. Joint research and development between NTT, NEC, Hitachi and Fujitsu began.
1968/07 NEC: Announced OS "MOD IV" for medium-to-large machines of the NEAC series, which realized 20 multi-programming tasks including stacked job processing, online real-time processing and remote job processing.
1968/08 Fujitsu: Announced OS "BOS" for medium-scale batch processing and OS "ROS" for real-time processing, both for medium-scale general-purpose computer "FACOM 230-25/35."
1968/10 NTT: Completed the DIPS-0 BASIC system, which was realized to add the interactive processing function to HITAC 8400. Began providing system to the laboratory as part of practical application of a shared information processing system.
1968/12 Fujitsu: Completed OS "MONITOR V (M-V)" for FACOM 230-60, a large general-purpose computer that fully realized multi-task control.
1968  Mitsubishi Electric: Completed "MARK-III," a disk operating system for MELCOM-3100.
1969/01 Hitachi: Announced OS "EDOS" for the HITAC 8000 series, which was aimed at increasing the batch processing capacity and the online processing capacity based on DOS.
1969/06
【World】IBM announced software unbundling, selling its software separately from its hardware
1969/07 NTT: Formulated DIPS-100 OS. ("DIPS-100OS" was the general name for the basic concept or OS systems. Actual OSs came into effect with 101OS and later versions.)
1970/02 NTT: An interactive scientific and engineering computing program for the DIPS-0 FINAL system was completed. Began providing it for use at the laboratory.
1970/04 Mitsubishi Electric: Announced OSs "RBM," "BPM," "BTM" and "UTM" for the MELCOM-7000 series.
1970/10 NEC: Announced OS "MOD VII" for NEAC series 2200 large machines, which realized effective operation of multi-processor systems.
1970/11 Hitachi: Announced OS "OS7" for HITAC 8700/8800, which achieved increased availability by adopting virtual storage, supporting multi-processor operation and enhancing anti-fault measures.
1971/02 Fujitsu: Announced OS "OSII" for FACOM 230-45S/55, a large general-purpose computer that realized multi-program control using a page address mechanism.
1971/05 NTT: Completed a prototype (DIPS-1L) of the DIPS-1 system for laboratory experiments, and delivered it to the Musashino Electrical Communication Laboratory.
1971/07 Hitachi: Announced OS "EDOS/MSO" for HITAC 8350/8450, an extended EDOS model that adopted memory management using a multi-stage method.
1971/09 NTT: Prototyped DIPS-101OS (prototype OS for developing OS).
1972/03 NTT: A prototype (DIPS-1F) of the DIPS-1 system for comercial site testing was completed and delivered to Shiba exchange office in Tokyo.
1972/07 Hitachi: Announced OS "NDOS" for HITAC 8250, which supported various operation modes and real-time processing functions, and achieved increased operability.
1972/08
【World】IBM announced DOS/VS, OS/VS2, and VM/370, operating systems for the S/370 that supported virtual memory
1972/11 NTT: Completed "DIPS-103-10OS," an OS for speech processing.
1973/12 NTT: "DIPS-103-10OS" started service using DEMOS-E (shared interactive processing), which was the first commercial model at Shiba telephone exchange office in Tokyo.
1974/03 NTT: Released "DIPS-103-20OS," which adopted a hierarchical configuration where real-time processing functions are packaged by introducing new technologies such as a multiple virtual storage system and a multi-task control system.
1974/05 NEC/Toshiba: Announced OS "ACOS-2" for small machines, which realized a simple online database system suitable for small systems.
1974/05 NEC/Toshiba: Announced OS "ACOS-4" for medium machines, which realized an online database system using full-scale virtual storage and meeting the CODASYL specifications.
1974/05 Mitsubishi Electric: Announced OS "UTS/VS" for the MELCOM-COSMO series.
1974/11 NEC/Toshiba: Announced OS "ACOS-6" for higher models of the ACOS Series 77, based on the concept of ISS (Information Sharing System).
1974/11 Hitachi: Announced medium-size OS "VOS2" for the HITAC M series, which were added with a 16-MB virtual storage and a DB/DC function.
1974/11 Fujitsu: Announced ultra-large OS "OSIV/F4" for the M series, which adopted a multiple virtual storage space system.
1974/11 Fujitsu: Announced medium-size OS "OSIV/F2" for the M series, which adopted a single virtual storage space system consisting of up to 8 partitions.
1974 
【World】IBM began shipping MVS/370, an operating system that realized multiple virtual memories and made it possible to simultaneously process a large number of programs
1975/03 NTT: Completed OS for real-time processing "DIPS-103-21OS."
1975/05 Hitachi: Announced OS "VOS3" for the HITAC M series, which supported multiple virtual storage, multi-processor, centralized resource control function, etc.
1975/09 Fujitsu: Announced large-scale OS "OSIV/X8" for the M series, which controlled up to 255 multiple virtual storage spaces.
1975/10 Hitachi: Announced small-scale OS "VOS1" for the HITAC M series, which had functions such as virtual storage function and virtual storage access method VSAM based on the NDOS technology.
1976/02 NTT: Completed the first version of the real-time processing operating system "DIPS-104-01OS." It introduced new technologies such as multi-processor (TCMP) control system, multiple virtual storage system and logic terminal control.
1977/04 NTT: Started joint research on data communication architecture (DCNA).
1977/06 NTT: Completed the operating system for interactive processing "DIPS-105-01 OS," which realized some inter-computer communication functions.
1978/04 NTT: First version of VM was completed and started its operation at the Yokosuka Electrical Communication Laboratory.
1978  NEC/Toshiba: Developed OS "ACOS-6 V" System for higher machines of the ACOS series, which realized virtual storage, domain protection function, etc.
1979/07 NEC: Started shipment of OS "ACOS-4/MVP" for mid-to-large machines, which adopted a full-scale multi-dimensional processing system.
1979/10 Hitachi: Completed virtual computer system "VMS," in which multiple virtual computers were controlled under an M-series computer.
1979  Hitachi: Completed OSs "VOS0" and "VOS1-S" for small-scale computers HITAC L-330 and L-340, respectively, which realized distributed processing.
1980/04 NTT: Put into practical application the first version of "DIPS-104-02 OS" designed to integrate speech processing and real-time processing. It realized kanji printer support and a communication function in the computation period through channel coupling.
1981/12 NTT: Released the second version of VM software. It supported integration of large-scale software production environment, remote operation maintenance and centralized operation control.
1981  NTT: Completed the first version of "DIPS-104-03 OS," which was intended to enhance distributed processing. It realized a multi-processor (LCMP) control system, in which multiple computers shared the external storage device, a center-distributed DB (BEP) system, and enhanced support of new machine systems and peripherals.
1982/04 Hitachi: Completed OS "OS VOS3/SP", which supported large-capacity disk, channel expansion, etc., and provided VOS3 for value.
1982/05 Hitachi: Announced OS "VOS1/ES" for "HITAC M-220/240" processor group, which succeeded "VOS1"
1982/06 Fujitsu: Announced large-scale OS "OSIV/F4 MSP" for the M series, which expanded the virtual storage space to 2 GB.
1982/06 Fujitsu: Announced virtual computer control OS "AVM/EF," which reduced the overhead to 5-15% using a high-speed VM mechanism.
1983/04 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-2/EF" for small machines, which had office operation support software "Office Partner" and realized an integrated office system function.
1983/11 Hitachi: Announced large-scale OS "VOS3/ES1" for the HITAC M series, which supported 2 GB virtual storage with 31-bit extended addressing mechanism.
1983  Hitachi: Announced OS "VOS0/ES" for HITAC L-450/470, which had extended basic system functions and improved machine interface on interactive capability in comparison to "VOS0".
1984/02 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-4/AVP" for medium machines, which were designed for ease of use with RIQS, screen-type TSS, etc.
1984/03 NTT: Completed the first version of "DIPS-106-10OS," additionally supporting DIPS-V series small machines.
1984/06 Fujitsu: Announced medium-scale OS "OSIV/ESPIII" for the M series, which incorporated an OA function.
1984/09 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-6/MVX" for large machines, which were designed to integrate the base data processing with the automated office operation processing.
1984  NTT: "TRON" (The Realtime Operating system Nucleus) project, an academic-industry joint project with Tokyo University, was started.
1985/01 Mitsubishi Electric: Announced OS "GOS/VS" for the MELCOM EX series.
1985/02 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-4/MVP XE" for mid-to-large machines, which was designed for large scale, high reliability and high performance.
1985/03 NTT: Started the survey for the development of "DIPS-106-20OS, " additionally supporing some complex configuration system functions, achievement of non-interruptible terminal service through hot standby changeover of HOST-FEP, centralized control, automatic operation management, XO-DCS support, etc.
1985/04 Fujitsu: Commercialized "UNIX UTS" for mainframes, and initiated sales activity.
1985/10 Hitachi: Completed virtual computer system "VMS/ES," which supported M series extended addressing function and enabled execution of VOS3/ES1.
1985  NTT: Started the development project of the CTRON, which was a real-time OS for communication processing.
1986/12 NTT: Released the 3rd version of VM software. New features included support for higher speed, virtualization and expanded scope of application.
1986  NTT: Released the first version of the basic OS interface specifications of the CTRON, a real-time OS for communication processing.
1987/07 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-2/EVP" for small machines, which provided the development support system "IDL II."
1987/08 Hitachi: Announced "UNIX HI-UX/M" for mainframes.
1987/09 Hitachi: Announced general-purpose, medium-scale OS"VOS1/ES2" for HITAC M-630/640/660, which maintained continuity from VOS1/ES and was suitable for departmental distributed processing.
1988/07 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-4/AVP XR" for medium-scale machines, which compactly contained performance/functions equivalent to those of large-scale machines.
1988/07 Hitachi: Announced OS "VOS K" for HITAC M-620/630/640, which adopted virtual data space control for realization of higher speed, with relational database being the basic function.
1988/11 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-6/MVX II" for large machines, which provided large-scale, high-performance backbone databases such as RIQS II.
1989/06 Fujitsu: Announced ultra-large OS "OSIV/MSP (MSP-EX)" for the M series, which supported 16TB virtual storage space and system storage device.
1989/06 Fujitsu: Announced virtual computer control OS "AVM/EX," which reduced the overhead to 1/3 at maximum using an extended VM mechanism (EVM).
1990/03 Hitachi: Announced large-scale OS "VOS3/AS" for the M series, which supported large-capacity extended storage (ES) and 16TB address space.
1990/04 NTT: Started the survey for the development of "106-21OS." It involved expansion of actual/logical address space to 31 bits (XO mode support) and optical MSS.
1990/05 Hitachi: Announced virtual computer system "VMS/AS," which enabled execution of VOS3/AS.
1990/07 NEC: Announced OS "ACOS-4/XVP" for large machines, which expansively integrated ACOS-4/MVP XE with ACOS-4/AVP XR.
1990/07 Mitsubishi Electric: Announced OS "GOS/EA," which expanded the virtual space size for MELCOM EX860II, EX870II and EX880II.
1990/11 Fujitsu: Announced OS "OSIV/XSP," which succeeded medium-scale OS "OSIV/ESPIII" and large-scale OS "OSIV/X8 FSP" of the M series.
1990/12 NTT: Released the 4th version of VM software. It supported XO mode and a complex system support function.
1990/12 NTT: Began introducing DIPS-CTRON into services (Japanese Bankers Association's Relay Computer System).
1991/03 NEC announced the ACOS-6/NVX large mainframe operating system that provided open-system connectivity and technology for greater scaling, higher performance, and better reliability through an extended system architecture (XSA)
1994/05 NEC announced the ACOS-2/XP small mainframe operating system that provided open-system connectivity and parallel processing functionality, such as parallel batch functions
1994/07 NEC announced the ACOS-4/XVP PX mid-range to large mainframe operating system that provided open-system connectivity and parallel processing functionality, such as cluster systems
1995/04 Hitachi announced the VOS3/FS operating system for the MP5800 and MP5500 mainframes
1995/09 Fujitsu began shipping an enhanced version of its OSIV/MSP operating system that made use of system storage units (SSUs) to dramatically increase system scalability
1995/09 Hitachi announced the VOS1/FS and VOSK/FS operating systems for the MP5400 series of mainframes
1996/03 NEC announced the ACOS-6/NVX PX large mainframe operating system that provided enhanced open-system connectivity and parallel processing functionality, such as parallel batch and parallel OLTP functions
1997/04 Fujitsu began shipping an enhanced version of its OSIV/MSP operating system that enhances the disaster-preparedness of corporations using remote file control units and other devices
1998/04 NEC announced the ACOS-4/NPX mid-range to large mainframe operating system that supported Web computing modalities
2000/05 NEC announced the ACOS-2/MP small mainframe operating system that enabled construction of core systems that worked within Internet environments
2000/11 NEC announced the ACOS-4/i-PX mid-range to large mainframe operating system that enabled construction of core systems that worked within Internet environments