Server clinic: Simulate an old-fashioned system on Linux

Article Title: Server clinic: Simulate an old-fashioned system on Linux. Linux is a technology channel of the IT lab in China. Includes basic categories such as desktop applications, Linux system management, kernel research, embedded systems, and open source.
　　 CP/M Freshmen
For example, you need to run some CP/M programs. So how exactly does one "need" to run a very old OS 20 years ago? If you are developing an embedded system, this kind of requirement is likely to occur. Compared with the information technology updated every year at least, it is generally believed that many embedded systems will run silently for decades once started.
　　
This caused at least a few development issues. Rene Tschaggelar, a system consultant engineer, summarized as: "In view of the fact that the embedded system will be running for ten to twenty years or even longer, people must also provide support for them during this period." Some people do need to maintain these systems, and this usually means that some old devices and programs must be added to favorites for emergency purposes.
　　
This is not only costly but also troublesome. It is not easy to get older parts of S-100 MACHINES containing CP/M. It's hard to tell the customer that someone accidentally lost 8? Lie down and hold your arm? Qiang Shi Qin Chen? Nakhon ?? Why? Ant Colony loose R? A virtual CP/M host is created on a Linux machine. Note that this is not just a virtual CPU that is easier to manage and afford. By working on the file system and hardware you have installed, it also unifies maintenance practices with existing infrastructure (including tools for version control, archiving, and remote access.
　　
In this case, the simulation is at risk that the simulator will not faithfully reproduce the behavior of the original hardware you requested. However, many users have reported that they are satisfied with the existing simulators. In addition, as open source software, you or the experts you work for have the opportunity to make any modifications to it as needed.
　　
So what does virtual CP/M need? Not many. There are many different simulators to choose from. I currently prefer Andreas Gerlich's YAZE 2.0. It is easy to install and start, and has a high degree of flexibility to adapt to uncommon hardware or other needs. To use it, download it (see the link in references), decompress it, and run the following command to generate it:
　　
Make-f Makefile_linux
Then execute:
　　
./Yaze. bin
The following information will be displayed soon:
　　
A> dir
A: ccp com: CPM3 COM: CPM3-OK COM
A: 3 erase com: 3 setdef com: CMP COM
A: comp com: crc com: DED COM
A: diff com: e com: I COM
A: ii com: L80 COM: LC COM
A: make com: mera com: MMUPRINT COM
A: mount com: pause com: PIP COM
A: pmarc com: pmext com: S COM
A: senduue com: sub com: SUBMIT COM
A: sys com: TABS6 COM: TOUCH COM
A: unarc com: unload com: Z80ASM COM
A: zexall com: zexdoc com: ZSID COM
A: 0-README 1ST: crcklist crc: DISKS TXT
A: make doc: MOUNT Z80: PROFILE SUB
A: SYS Z80: TABS6 DOC: TEST SUB
A: touch doc: unixmake man: WWW TXT
A: yazerc txt: Z80ASM DOC
The default YAZE configuration is located on A virtual A: Drive, where Gerlich provides the most basic commands: E. COM, HELP. COM, and dir. Note that executing E.com is the standard way to exit the simulator session.
　　
Therefore, if you are always interested in re-Compiling an old device driver or committing to a specific customer, you need to run an "old" embedded system development toolbox, so don't hesitate. You do not need to repair your old hardware. Install YAZE directly on a ready-made Linux host, copy the work to the virtual machine, and then complete your project.
　　
Simulation can also be used in many other computers of the same period, including C64, MP/M, CP/M-86 computer, Sinclair and Apple II series.
　　
　　 Old large iron Blocks
OpenVMS makes an interesting comparison. OpenVMS is completely different in terms of its licensing and technology from other microcomputer OS (such as CP/M) of its generation. OpenVMS is still on sale and is still a complete and useful product. For example, OpenVMS provides distributed file systems, cross-language interoperability, and clusters for a long time, these are all ahead of other commercial operating systems.
　　
However, OpenVMS hardware is expensive and may remain expensive. For an organization, if only a few OpenVMS applications are used for "critical tasks", and the annual maintenance costs are tens of thousands of dollars, it is difficult to justify these expenses.
　　
Therefore, Linux is useful again. A properly configured Linux server can simulate a licensed copy of OpenVMS hardware, which is much less expensive than a lazy old record that only takes a few hours a year. This alternative is so important that a commercial product Charon-VAX is designed specifically for this simulation.
　　
The SIMH project aims to simulate a full range of ten legacy operating systems, including 1130, Eclipse, Altair, and Interdata 16b.
　　
There are also some omissions in the simulation world. Like OpenVMS, MPE/iX is a "medium" OS, with active user communities and great interest in Linux Simulation. Although it is possible to develop a simulator for MPE/iX, it will not be available until the details of a license are resolved in 2004 or 2005.
　　
When using the simulator, the other thing is that they do not have a complete and comprehensive document record. Many related links on the Web have expired. In addition, many simulator authors are "mature" and no longer need them, so they no longer provide support for their works.