One for the real techies out there.

We have a Multiuser dos application (system/4 RDBMS - distributed by daconti who now appear to be not trading) which we need to upgrade to run on a windows XP network.

Our Client wishes to continue with the application rather than re-create and learn a new system.

Currently runs under Real32 (Cdos) and connects via serial dumb terminals

Issue we have is that whilst it does run reasonably in XP (we can open and run up to 10 dos sessions) it is hammering the CPU at something around 98% even on only 1 or 2 open dos sessions

We have tried Tamedos utility and this does pull it back to around 50 / 60% but as it is running 12/7 we have concerns about long term stability / reliability. Present system has run ok for 12 years and only had 1 near failure of h/disk.

So the question is :

Has anyone some ideas to reduce the cpu loading?

Anyone heard of / used System4?

Does anyone who has used system4 have a windows upgrade suite

There was one one produced aout 10 years ago

Ideas on running 16 bit apps on 32bit OS?

We might consider a linux solution if it would work

Any thoughts, ideas and or solutions most welcome either to Colind or me Thanks

John

Why not run the old DOS machine in VMWare if the old hardware is a concern? Use VMWare converter.

How about running it in a VM ? use either xp or linux as the host

lol simu posting

lol simu posting

Yep, looks like it.

A few questions:

How do the dumb terminals connect? Are they serial and the DOS machine has a fancy multi-port serial card? That might be a headache. Or do they use a terminal server and connect over a network?

Are you intending to replace the terminals with an emulator? What type of terminal are they?

Thanks for the suggestions we will look at them. Any more thoughts?

As in orig post the dumb terms are serial connect via an intelligent 8 port card (ISA)

Dumb terms are a motley collection of old pc's - all to be scrapped.

Thanks

Gah. The serial card may give you a headache under VMWare, but it's worth a go still. Is there any way the terminals can connect over ethernet?

I've never heard of this system before, and can't find any info either :(

Thanks for the thoughts

System4 was an early 4th generation RDbms system that for the time (late 80's was way ahead of Dbase etc and more importantly is full multiuser - would and does run great in a 486 dos only pc Real32 is a Cdos derivative that allowed multi tasking etc, again in a dos like enviorement.

By todays standards its old 'green screen' tech but it adheres to the KISS principle, was relatively inexpensive and solid - unlike w95 / 98 at that time. Issue was it was not upgraded to windows enviro so stuck in old OS.

Quote for replacement system is near 20k (from another supplier) so they want to stick with what they know. location is not office - retail hardware shop which tends to be not the cleanest of places! Plus of course we are manyl k's lower cost and no real additional learning curves.

Current thinking is a linux system with a dos emulator - any thoughts on which one?

Dosbox / doeemu ?

Hello,

We do run System4 on XP on a peer to peer. Has been running well for many years. Am currently running ver 4.17 with little problems. We have 8 users. Do have slowdown issues and would like to share thoughts and tweeks with you.

Have you found any answers up till now?

Keep in touch.

Pat J

Update...

We found that if you run your process below normal that System4 runs quickly on the network. We would be glad to help others with this database program as we have some resources and much experience with it. A program called Process Lasso works well with it also.

Edited 12 December, 200916 yr by PatJ