Convergent Technologies Operating System

operating system (CTOS, BTOS, STARSYS) /see-toss/ A modular,

message-passing, multi-process based operating system.

Convergent Technologies' first product was the IWS

(Integrated Workstation) based on the Intel 8086, which had

CTOS as its operating system. It is a modular operating

system with built in local area networking. CTOS supports

multiple processes or threads, and message-based

inter-process communication.

Companies which have licensed CTOS include Burroughs (BTOS)

and Bull (STARSYS). The largest customer was Unisys, with

whom Convergent Technologies merged to become one company in

1988. CTOS now has over 800,000 users worldwide.

CTOS runs on Intel Pentium computers, and can run

concurrently with Microsoft Windows NT.

For some reason, CTOS is no longer marketted to new customers,

although there is a support comittment for existing customers

until 2001. Major customers include Police Forces, Banks, and

Airlines.

Latest version: CTOS III 1.3.2.

["Exploring CTOS", Miller E., Crook J., Loy J. - Prentice

Hall, ISBN 0-13-297342-1, 1991].

(1996-09-24)