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Caldera OpenDOS

Cindy Ingersoll
@ 1:107/71

http://www.caldera.com/dos/dos.htm [faulty URL [jb 4/25/01]] Update: http://www.caldera.com/company/drdos.html

The secret is out! I just happen to catch the above URL on the #linux channel of Undernet IRC, which points to OpenDOS! Let's let it speak for itself, here are some blurbs:

Caldera OpenDOS

Caldera OpenDOS 7.0 is based on the Novell DOS 7.0 DOS operating system, and expands on some of Novell's DOS' strengths.

OpenDOS:

• A genuine DOS (100% compatible)
• A Rommable DOS - designed from the start to execute out of ROM
• Fully featured - A comprehensive DOS utility set
• Complete with extensions - including drivers for CD-ROMs etc.
• Genuine multi-tasking, with API for developers
• Includes 286 DPMS memory manager in addition to DPMI
• Comprehensive Networking Client solution, NetWare 3.X, 4.X and Personal NetWare
• Includes PC-based Personal NetWare Server
• Includes defacto Disk compression - STAC
• Includes new NetWars 2.0 network game

Availability

For private/evaluation and education use Caldera OpenDOS is available for download from Calderas Web site - to [1]Download Click Here BUT read our license agreement before downloading. Downloading constitutes acceptance of Calderas terms and conditions. For commercial and OEM usage of Caldera OpenDOS contact Caldera sales for more information.

Return to [2]OpenDOS Main Menu

References

1. http://www.caldera.com/dos/html/opendoslicense.htm [faulty URL [jb 4/25/01]] Update: http://www.caldera.com/company/drdos.html
2. http://www.caldera.com/dos/index.html [faulty URL [jb 4/25/01]] Update: http://www.caldera.com/company/drdos.html

Caldera OpenDOS Programming Documentation

Caldera OpenDOS 7.0 is a complete DOS operating system.

Consequently you can use all the available DOS development tools for the platform, allowing creation of software that will run on Caldera OpenDOS, MS-DOS, and DR DOS versions. In addition Caldera OpenDOS provides extensions that allow your application greater flexibility.

Example additional features include:

* Multi-tasking

Caldera OpenDOS provides a full multi-tasking environment on Pentium, 486, or 386-based harware. This is built into the memory management extensions provided in the operating system, and is accessible for standard un-aware applications when using the Taskmanager (Taskmgr) utility. Programs however can have direct access to create separate threads etc, via the extended Application Programming Interface.

* DPMS

A memory manager that even works on 286-based Pcs, allowing device drivers to reside outside of the regular DOS application area. Drivers or Terminate and stay resident applications can thereby avoid using valuable application memory,

* Romming tools

Caldera OpenDOS is the ideal embedded DOS system, designed for straightforward out-of-the-box romming. Caldera will also be making these tools available for prototyping embedded systems. If you wish to use Caldera OpenDOS in your embedded application contact Caldera Sales for more information

Caldera Ships OpenDOS 7.01 for Free Internet Download

New DOS Version Provided Free for Non-commercial use. Caldera OpenDOS makes a Solid, Low-Cost Solution for Running Windows 3.X Applications and DOS Applications on Intel and Compatible-based Workstations

Andover, UK and Provo Utah, USA

January 27, 1997

Caldera Inc. today shipped Caldera OpenDOS 7.01. OpenDOS is the first Caldera Release of DOS, based on the Novell DOS 7 technology acquired from Novell in 1996. The release is notable as it is the first commercial DOS Operating System to be downloadable from the Internet. OpenDOS is a true DOS operating system, supporting all DOS applications including Microsoft Windows applications, and networking systems including Novell NetWare, Windows for Workgroups, and LANtastic.

Caldera OpenDOS comes complete with comprehensive networkability. The inclusion of Novell Personal NetWare means that OpenDOS fulfils all DOS workgroup requirements. End-users can easily network their PCs. It even includes a brand-new version of the NetWars Arcade game for single or multiuser use.

"OpenDOS underlines Calderas commitment to making essential technology openly available as widely as possible" commented Jon Williams, Director of Marketing of Caldera UK Ltd. "Non-commercial users can download the latest DOS direct from our Web site. Commercial users and OEMs can download the system for evaluation and easily test-integrate into their solutions"

"Caldera OpenDOS 7.01 represents the first 're-generation' of DOS Operating Systems, with its particular suitability to specialist OEM applications" he continued (The DRDOS product line that OpenDOS is derived from was the first purposely ROMmable DOS with industry leading features like power management)

Brian Sparks, President and CEO Caldera Inc. said "Caldera is working with the Internet community to make productive commercial systems as open and available as possible. Dependable and reliable commercial systems software such as OpenLinux and OpenDOS are enabling users to make affordable and open choices on which to base their business solutions."

Caldera uses its own technological and marketing resources to leverage technologies including the Linux operating system created by independent developers worldwide, and the OpenDOS product range. Visit the Caldera web site at [2]http://www.caldera.com/. For orders and information call (800) 850-7779 in the US or +1 801 269 7012 internationally.

Caldera is a registered trademark; and Caldera OpenLinux, Caldera Network Desktop, Caldera Solutions CD and Caldera OpenDOS are trademarks of Caldera Inc. NetWare and Personal NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell Inc, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Inc., UNIX is a registered trademark, in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/OPEN Company Limited. Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Contacts:

Europe: Jon Williams - Director of Marketing Tel: +44 1488 71945 or +44 385 317 477

Email: jonw@caldera.com

USA and Rest Of World: Lyle Ball - Marcoms Manager Tel +1 801 377 7687

Email: lyle@caldera.com

Contact: [3]info@caldera.com

References

1. http://www.caldera.com/dos/gifs/caldico.gif [faulty URL [jb 4/25/01]]
2. http://www.caldera.com/
3. mailto:info@caldera.com

CiAo
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Fidonews, The "lard ass" of newsletters
by gary gilmore, 1:2410/400

First off, let me say, I take nothing away from Chris on running Fidonews. I know it's not easy to produce, and I know he's trying hard. I didn't see a mass rush of people volunteering to take it over when Sylvia/Don gave it up.

OK, enough of the prefacing... time to get out the axe. <grin>

A few of the locals here were talking about Fidonews, and mentioning how much larger it's gotten... unfortunately, that's mostly due to a bunch of bloated junk that I'm willing to bet a majority doesn't care about.

Just for the hell of it, I took this week's news and did a little slash and burn to it.

FIDO1404.NWS 123592 01-27-97

That's the whole enchilada, all the poop included. Hefty, eh? Wait.. there's more.

Lets remove the huge "how to get Fidonews from every place in the world that we know of & Internet addresses of those that can spell 'Fidonews'" listing, the "Jurassic park" section (those FTSC documents that were originally written on stone tablets by guys with modems that had tubes in them), and the oh-so-popular "All the software in the world that has the word "mail" somewhere in it's source code" segment, oh, I left in some "humor" <ahem> that probably managed to offend most everyone who might be a Fidonet sysop. (Not only was that emailed to almost the entire world, it wasn't funny the first time I saw it.)

FIDO1404.NWS 27118 1-28-97

Whoops! What happened? Fidonews gets anorexic!

Now again, I don't -really- want to bash the Snooze.. honest. I'm one of the few weirdos that actually bother reading it weekly. (Of course, I also like to read the nodelist now and then, so go figure...)

Honestly though.. do we really need reprints of FTSC docs? If someone wants them, there's many, many places that offer them up for reading. Fer chrissakes, there's even a listing of the FTSC Internet site! (Though where's the FIDOnet listing for it?) About the only people that DO want to read them are programmers, or those preparing to "go after someone" over some arcane specification. Do we really need them in Fidonews? I don't think so. I'll betcha that most folks just PgDwn furiously past them.

How about the giant PGP key? Have we -really- had a huge problem in the past with "bogus" copies of Fidonews? Oh please... I have to laugh just imagining some kiddies whipping out a Fidonews proclaiming himself the new International Coordinator or writing that Bruce Bodger and Bob Satti were seen on a plane with Bigfoot and Elvis, and that John Souvestre has moved in with Steve Winter. Bwaahahaha! :-)

(Hmmm... come to think of it, I think I'd -rather- read an issue like that...)

Uhhh, I don't think there's much doubt on the "authenticity" of the Fidonews I get, so I don't think we need to bloat with a huge key in every issue. Hell, just use AV mode when you Zip it up... that'll do nicely. (Oh, gahead... tell me how you can crack a zip password... yep, I'll bet there's LOTS of people dying to do that with Fidonews too! <laugh>)

Today in history... umm, do I -really- need to know what's happening in 2000? Do I care? Should I jot it down in my Dayrunner? OK, ok... whatever, but how about limiting it to 6mo in advance? That's fair. Oh, and while we're at it, how about something like "Zone 1 Mail hour changes for areas observing Daylight Savings Time"... or something that REALLY would be helpful/matters to the Fidonet sysop. Ain't this "FIDOnews"?

Peter E. Popovich.. bless him. Nice guy. But do we -really- need him to go to all the trouble of submitting this encyclopedia-sized listing each and every week? C'mon, some of this software hasn't been updated in four -years-, so why not just let Peter send in one listing every four -weeks-. I think that's fair, and gives Peter some rest.

Jim Henry.. Hey! Here's a guy in FIDOnews talking about FIDOnet! Imagine! Hurrah for Jim! I don't own a palmtop, but I might just turn his echo for being one of the FEW things in this issue that is FIDOnet related, not INTERnet.

Oh, Internet? Geez, hey, you forgot to list that our net's home page also has a link to Fidonews. Oh, and Infoseek? I'll also find the phrase "Fidonews" too, so let's not leave them out..

(Get the idea?) Auugh! Do I -have- to be told each and every place in the galaxy that I can find Fidonews, or each place that has another dreary all-black "Fidonet" web page? (Hmm, is that an oxymoron? "Fidonet web page"?) Doesn't POLICY4 (you know, it relates to FIDOnet) say that my NC has to give me Fidonews if I want it? (Well, I -am- the NC here, but you know what I'm saying..) I notice that of all the junk about where I can get Fidonews, I don't see one mention of the -main- way to get it... the FIDONEWS file echo. <knock knock> Hello? Anyone there?

Sheesh, do we have an Internet boner or what?

I think there's also something inherently wrong with FIDOnews in HTML format. I dunno, but all this Internet all over FIDOnet makes me itch. Umm, it happens to be that beloved Internet that's shrinking our ranks, for the most part.

Is it too much to ask that FIDOnews do more coverage of FIDOnet, and -not- the Internet? If it doesn't, lets just change the name of it to INTERnews, and be done with it. After all, it does say "The newsletter of the FidoNet community", doesn't it? <sigh>

Sure, many want to put Internet features in their BBS systems. That's great. Keeping up on the bleeding edge of technology and all, but where's the "how to gate newsgroups into your Fidonet BBS" articles, or "How to gate email into your Fidonet BBS"... (note that I say "into your Fidonet BBS" a lot there... that's because it's what Fidonews should be concerned about.

What's the point of this behemoth article? Simple. A little less INTERnet in my FIDOnews, please. A little less rehashing of old crap, and ancient postings. (I'll also kill you if you post more damned childlike ASCII "artwork"... Christ, that's so lame. My cat's litterbox has better artwork in it.) A little less bloat and needless information, and more FIDO-related meat in the S'nooze, please.

If this means some issues will be slim, then so be it. No problem. Donald Tees had some issues that were nothing more than an editorial, but know what? They were -good- editorials, and worth reading. At least he didn't include reprints of "My favorite nodediffs from 1988-1990" just to keep the size up. Let it be what it will be, and let it be FIDOnet related first and foremost.

Again, I like Fidonews, and I hope no one will be offended by all this rambling. If you are, well, go read "The history of nodelist flags in Guam and Easter Island" for a while until you get over it. (Or wait until it's reprinted in Fidonews. <laugh>)

As they say, "Flames>nul". :-)