IBM Remote Access Computing
IBM Remote Access Computing (RAX) is a discontinued early time-sharing system for IBM System/360 introduced in 1966.[1] RAX was based on an earlier system, RACS. developed jointly by IBM and Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta, Georgia in 1965. The system influenced a number of other timesharing systems including MCGILL-RAX from McGill University,[2], McGill's MUSIC,[3], VPS/VM, and RTS from ITT Data Services.[2]
Hardware
RAX was available from IBM as program number 360A-CX-17X, and runs on System/360 Model 30 and above.[1]As announced, it runs on systems with as little as 64 KB of main storage, and supports a mix of up to 63 IBM 1050 typewriter terminals and IBM 2260 display terminals. The languages supported as BASIC, FORTRAN IV, and IBM Basic assembly language. In a minimal system with 64 KB memort, user programs can be up to 32 KB, with larger programs allowed on larger systems.[4]
Users
In 1968 RAX was used by the United States Department of Agriculture for their Washington Data Processing Center.[5] It was used in a number of colleges, universities, including, and corporations, including McGill, Boston University, St. Andrew's in Scotland,[6] The University of Rhode Island, and Bell Aerosystems.[2]
References
- ^ a b IBM Corporation. "DPD chronology". IBM Archives. Retrieved Apr 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c Miller, Roy Watt. "MULTIPLE REGIONS FOR THE MCGILL-RAX TlME-SHARING SYSTEM". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved Apr 29, 2021.
- ^ "Boston University's RAX Library". Cryptosmith.com. Retrieved Apr 29, 2021.
- ^ IBM Corporation (August 1967). Catalog of Programs for IBM System/360 August 1967 (PDF). p. 5. Retrieved Apr 29, 2021.
- ^ Department of Agriculture Appropriations for 1971. 1970. p. 17. Retrieved Apr 29, 2021.
- ^ "Thirty years ago . . ". University of St. Andrews. Retrieved Apr 29, 2021.