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{{Short description|Operating system formerly developed by IBM}} |
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{{Multiple issues| |
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{{ |
{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}} |
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{{Tone|date=December 2007}} |
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}} |
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{{Infobox OS |
{{Infobox OS |
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| name |
| name = 4690 Operating System |
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| logo |
| logo = |
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| screenshot |
| screenshot = |
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| caption = |
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| developer = ([[Digital Research]], [[Novell]], [[Intelligent Micro Software|IMS]]) [[IBM]], [[Toshiba]] |
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| caption = |
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| source model = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] |
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| developer = [[IBM]], [[Toshiba]] |
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| kernel type = [[Real-time operating system]] |
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| source_model = |
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| supported platforms = [[Point of sale]] terminals |
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| kernel_type = Proprietary |
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| ui = [[Command-line interface]], some screens spawn a Java-based [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) |
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| supported_platforms = [[POS terminal]] devices |
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| family = |
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| ui = Cursor-based text interface with some screens spawning a Java-based GUI environment |
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| released = {{Start date and age|1993|07}} (1985) |
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| family = |
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| discontinued = Yes |
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| released = 1993 |
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| latest release version = 6.5 |
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| latest_release_version = V6R4 |
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| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2016|01}} |
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| latest_release_date = 2014 |
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| marketing target = [[Point of sale]] |
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| latest_test_version = |
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| programmed in = [[C (programming language)|C]]<br/>Supported languages: IBM 4680 [[CBASIC|BASIC]],<br/>Metaware High-[[C (programming language)|C]],<br/>[[Java (programming language)|Java]] 2 |
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| latest_test_date = |
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| language = [[English language|English]] |
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| marketing_target = [[Point of Sale]] |
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| update model = |
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| programmed_in = |
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| package manager = Proprietary ASM (Apply Software Maintenance) System |
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| prog_language = [[IBM 4680 BASIC]] (a variant of [[CBASIC]]),<br />Metaware High-[[C (programming language)|C]],<br />[[Java (programming language)|Java]] 2 |
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| working state = Current |
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| language = English |
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| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] |
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| updatemodel = |
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| website = [https://commerce.toshiba.com/wps/portal/marketing/?urile=wcm:path:/en-us/home/software/operating-systems Toshiba Commerce: Operating Systems] |
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| package_manager = Proprietary ASM (Apply Software Maintenance) System |
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| preceded by = [[FlexOS]] 386, [[4680 OS]], [[REAL/32]] |
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| working_state = Current |
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| succeeded by = [[TCx Sky]] v1.1 |
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| license = |
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| website = [https://www.toshibacommerce.com/?urile=wcm:path:/en/home/products/software/operating-systems/4690-operating-system 4690 Operating System] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''4690 Operating System''' |
'''4690 Operating System''' (sometimes shortened to '''4690 OS''' or '''4690''') is a specially designed [[pointofsale]] (POS) [[operating system]], originally sold by IBM. In 2012, IBM sold its retail business, including this product, to [[Toshiba]], which assumed support.<ref name="IBM_2010_4690"/> 4690 is widely used by IBM and Toshiba retail customers to run retail systems which run their own applications and others. |
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4690 is the successor product to IBM [[4680 OS]], which was in use by IBM customers since 1986.<ref name="Novell_2005_Linux"/> The original 4680 OS was based on [[Digital Research]]'s [[Concurrent DOS 286]],<ref name="CBR_1987_FlexOS-286"/><!-- version ? --><!-- in February 1986 --> a system thereafter renamed to [[FlexOS 286]]inNovember 1986. |
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In July 1993<ref name="Novell_2005_Linux"/> IBM adopted FlexOS version 2.32 as the basis of their |
In July 1993,<ref name="Novell_2005_Linux"/> IBM adopted [[FlexOS]] version 2.32 as the basis of their 4690 OS version 1.<ref name="IBM_2010_4690"/><ref name="IBM_1993_4690"/> FlexOS 2.32 supported ''286'' ([[Intel 80286]]) and ''386'' ([[i386|Intel 80386]]) modes and had no limit on applications running [[Concurrent computing|concurrently]]. |
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{{cite web|url=http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=an&subtype=ca&htmlfid=897/ENUS293-281&language=enus|title=IBM 4690 OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION 1 - Announcement Letter Number 293-281 dated June 1, 1993 - Brief description of announcement, charges, and availability|editor=IBM|accessdate=2011-09-06}}</ref> FlexOS 2.32 supported 286 and [[FlexOS 386|386]] modes and had no limit on applications running concurrently. |
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In 1995, IBM licensed IMS [[REAL/32]] 7.50, a derivative of Digital Research's [[Multiuser DOS]] and thereby a successor to [[Concurrent DOS 386]], to bundle it with their 4695 POS terminals.<ref name="IMS_1995_REAL32"/> |
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In 1995 IBM licensed [[REAL/32 7.50]] to bundle it with their 4695 POS terminals.<ref>{{cite web |title=IMS offers Real32 OS for application servers |author-first=Jason |author-last=Pontin |date=1995-11-27 |journal=[[Infoworld]] |url=https://books.google.de/books?id=VzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28 |access-date=2017-01-17}}</ref> |
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According to "The Year of the Store?", IHL Consulting Group/RIS News, IBM 4690 OS still had a market share of 12% in the POS register |
According to the article "The Year of the Store?", IHL Consulting Group/RIS News, IBM 4690 OS still had a market share of 12% in the POS register [[Client (computing)|client]] market in June 2005, when IBM was starting to phase it out in favor of [[IBM Retail Environment for SUSE]] (IRES).<ref name="Novell_2005_Linux"/> |
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IBM |
IBM continued to maintain 4690 OS until April 2015, with the most recent version released by IBM in May 2012 being IBM 4690 OS Version 6 Release 3, which was supported until 2017 under special contracts with big-name companies. |
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Meanwhile, Toshiba has released ''Toshiba 4690 OS'' Version 6 Release 4 (V6R4) in January 2014, and Version 6 Release 5 (V6R5) in January 2016. In 2018, a Linux-based successor of 4690 OS, named ''TCx Sky'' and codeveloped with [[Wind River Systems]], was launched. Soon after, Toshiba discontinued 4690 OS for new customers; it is, however, still supported under service contracts signed between Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and stores still using 4690 OS on their POS terminals. The latest security update (CSD Level 2010) was released in December 2020, only for 4690 OS Version 6 Release 5.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.toshibacommerce.com/wps/portal/marketing/?urile=wcm:path:/en-us/home/support/support-news |title=Support News |website=Toshiba Commerce}}</ref> |
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Meanwhile, Toshiba has released '''Toshiba 4690 OS''' Version 6 Release 4 in January 2014. |
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Retailers are using the 4690 Operating System for their operations because of its many retail |
Retailers are using the 4690 Operating System for their operations because of its many retail-specific and reliability features. In addition to running on IBM hardware, third-party vendors have exploited the 4690 features on competitive hardware. |
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== |
==Supported hardware== |
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[[ |
[[File:IBM4694Register.jpg|thumb|This [[IBM 4683]] register uses a controller with a 4690 operating system.]] |
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4690 supports |
4690 supports many POS terminal devices, store controller [[Server (computing)|servers]], and combination controller–terminals. The 4690 documentation contains a list of supported POS devices, some in use over 20 years. The family of IBM Universal Serial Bus ([[USB]]) POS devices that 4690 supports includes keyboards, displays, and [[cash drawer]]s. 4690 also supports other [[input/output]] (I/O) devices designed and conforming to IBM's USB POS device interface specifications. IBM makes interface specifications available to third-party vendors to enable them to connect their devices to POS terminals using [[RS-485]], [[RS-232]], and USB connections. |
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IBM provides a |
IBM provides a ''Controller Matrix'' document with a list of compatible IBM servers for use with 4690 OS as store controllers and controller–terminals. These servers represent current and formerly available devices which continue to be supported by 4690. |
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== |
==Notable features== |
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Perhaps the most notable feature of the 4690 OS is its ability to provide a "redundancy infrastructure". |
Perhaps the most notable feature of the 4690 OS is its ability to provide a "redundancy infrastructure". IBM designed the 4690 OS to work either as one server, or with one or more other 4690 servers. These servers are commonly called ''store controllers''. When connected in a [[local area network]] (LAN), these 4690 store controllers provide redundant backup using mirrored data files. Using a system of ''master controller'', ''alternate master'', ''file server'', and ''alternate file server'' designations, the controllers preserve data integrity and allow file backup in case a store controller fails and needs to be replaced. |
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A copy of the 4690 OS is maintained in each store controller. |
A copy of the 4690 OS is maintained in each store controller. The 4690 POS terminals (registers) load a copy of 4690 from the store controller into memory when they [[Initial Program Load]] (IPL). The 4690 controllers provide terminal support in the form of terminal loading, price lookup, and transaction logging. [[Non-volatile memory]] is used to ensure that data is not lost in transit from the terminals to the store controller. Terminals are assigned to a primary store controller, and that controller is typically backed up by another controller. If the primary controller fails, the terminals automatically access the backup controller, providing uninterrupted sales at the POS terminal. If both the primary and backup controllers are unavailable, the terminal can go into a standalone state, or, some of the applications are able to supporta''Terminal Offline'' (TOF) state wherein terminals run offline using a terminal-based item file and logging stored in their own memory. |
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To maintain software at the store level, 4690 OS provides a ''software maintenance facility'' to manage updates. This facility provides checking to ensure that all updates have been transferred to the store, and the ability to apply the maintenance from store level commands or under central control. The updated software can be applied in ''test'', which preserves the prior software in case the maintenance needs to be backed off for some reason. |
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4690 supports communications to the store controller in several forms. including [[TCP/IP]], [[X.25]], [[Systems Network Architecture |
4690 supports communications to the store controller in several forms. including [[TCP/IP]], [[X.25]], [[Systems Network Architecture]] (SNA), and asynchronous communications. |
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===Commands=== |
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== Technology and software == |
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The following list of [[command (computing)|commands]] are supported by the 4690 Operating System.<ref>https://archive.org/details/4690OSV6r2UsersGuide/page/n169 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> |
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4690 OS has been updated annually to address the needs of its user community and in anticipation of upcoming requirements. Most recently, 4690 Version 5 incorporated new security enhancements, such as [[Secure Shell|SSH]], [[IPSec]], and enhanced operator security (allowing alphanumeric operator IDs, password complexity requirements, password expiration, etc.). This has helped its users address new security requirements from the credit card companies. |
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{{div col|colwidth=9em}} |
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Another recent addition to 4690 was the capability to forward-store hardware- and software-level events to a Remote Management system to facilitate central control and monitoring. File integrity monitoring and lockdown of 4690s are becoming increasingly important due to recent breaches caused by [[Point-of-sale_malware|point-of-sale-malware]] based threats. |
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* [[ASSIGN (DOS command)|ASSIGN]] |
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* [[BACKUP (DOS command)|BACKUP]] |
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* [[Batch file|BATCH]] |
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* [[BREAK (DOS command)|BREAK]] |
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* [[Optical disc authoring|BURNISO]] |
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* [[cd (command)|CHDIR]] |
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* [[CHKDSK]] |
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* [[cls (command)|CLS]] |
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* [[COMMAND.COM|COMMAND]] |
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* [[comp (command)|COMP]] |
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* [[copy (command)|COPY]] |
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* DEFINE |
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* [[dir (command)|DIR]] |
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* [[diskcomp|DISKCOMP]] |
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* [[diskcopy|DISKCOPY]] |
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* [[echo (command)|ECHO]] |
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* [[ELSE (DOS command)|ELSE]] |
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* [[del (command)|ERASE]] |
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* [[exit (command)|EXIT]] |
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* FCOPY |
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* [[find (Windows)|FIND]] |
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* [[FOR (DOS command)|FOR]] |
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* [[format (command)|FORMAT]] |
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* FSET |
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* [[GOTO (DOS command)|GOTO]] |
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* [[IF (DOS command)|IF]] |
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* LIST |
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* [[mkdir|MKDIR]] |
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* [[more (command)|MORE]] |
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* ORDER |
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* [[PATH (DOS command)|PATH]] |
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* [[PAUSE (DOS command)|PAUSE]] |
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* [[print (command)|PRINT]] |
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* [[PROMPT (DOS command)|PROMPT]] |
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* QUERY |
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* [[REM (DOS command)|REM]] |
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* [[ren (command)|RENAME]] |
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* [[RESTORE (DOS command)|RESTORE]] |
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* [[rmdir|RMDIR]] |
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* SECURITY |
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* [[SHIFT (DOS command)|SHIFT]] |
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* [[SORT (DOS command)|SORT]] |
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* [[SYS (command)|SYS]] |
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* [[tree (command)|TREE]] |
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* [[TYPE (DOS command)|TYPE]] |
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* UNLOCKP |
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* [[ver (command)|VER]] |
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* [[VERIFY (DOS command)|VERIFY]] |
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* [[vol (command)|VOL]] |
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{{div col end}} |
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==Technology and software== |
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4690 supports applications written in [[IBM 4680 BASIC]] (a variant of [[CBASIC]]), Metaware High-[[C (programming language)|C]], and [[Java (programming language)|Java]] 2. The Java language-based capability at both the server and the client, along with the extension of TCP/IP capability to the client, enables Java applications at both the server and client to run concurrently with existing CBASIC or C applications. Users can make functional enhancements to existing applications by developing a new Java application that communicates with an existing application. |
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4690 OS has been updated annually to address the needs of its user community and in anticipation of upcoming requirements. |
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4690 Version 5 incorporated new security enhancements, such as [[Secure Shell]] (SSH), [[IPsec]], and enhanced operator security (allowing alphanumeric operator IDs, password complexity requirements, password expiration, etc.). This has helped its users address new security requirements from the credit card companies. |
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{{anchor|4690OSV2R1|4690OSV2R2|4690OSV2R3|4690OSV2R4|4690OSV3R1|4690OSV3R2|4690OSV3R3|4690OSV4R1|4690OSV4R2|4690OSV5R1|4690OSV5R2|4690OSV6R1|4690OSV6R2|4690OSV6R3|4690OSV6R4}} |
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Another recent addition to 4690 was the ability to forward store hardware- and software-level events to a Remote Management system to facilitate central control and monitoring. File integrity monitoring and lockdown of 4690s are becoming increasingly important due to recent breaches caused by [[point-of-sale malware]] based threats. |
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4690 supports applications written in a [[CBASIC]] variant named IBM 4680 BASIC, Metaware High-[[C (programming language)|C]], and [[Java (programming language)|Java]] 2. The Java language-based ability at both the server and the client, along with the extension of [[Internet protocol suite]] TCP/IP ability to the client, enables Java applications at both the server and client to run concurrently with extant CBASIC or C applications. Users can make functional enhancements to extant applications by developing a new Java application that communicates with an extant application. |
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{{anchor|4690OSV2R1|4690OSV2R2|4690OSV2R3|4690OSV2R4|4690OSV3R1|4690OSV3R2|4690OSV3R3|4690OSV4R1|4690OSV4R2|4690OSV5R1|4690OSV5R2|4690OSV6R1|4690OSV6R2|4690OSV6R3|4690OSV6R4||4690OSV6R5}} |
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<!-- anchors for next section --> |
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{{anchor|4690OSV2R1|4690OSV2R2|4690OSV2R3|4690OSV2R4|4690OSV3R1|4690OSV3R2|4690OSV3R3|4690OSV4R1|4690OSV4R2|4690OSV5R1|4690OSV5R2|4690OSV6R1|4690OSV6R2|4690OSV6R3|4690OSV6R4|4690OSV6R5}} |
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== {{anchor|4690OSV1|4690OSV2|4690OSV3|4690OSV4|4690OSV5|4690OSV6}}Versions == |
== {{anchor|4690OSV1|4690OSV2|4690OSV3|4690OSV4|4690OSV5|4690OSV6}}Versions == |
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IBM 4690 Operating System versions: |
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* 1 (July 1993) |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2 Release 1 |
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* 2 release 1 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2 Release 2 |
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* 2 release 2 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2 Release 3 |
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* 2 release 3 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2 Release 4 |
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* 2 release 4 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 3 Release 1 |
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* 3 release 1 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 3 Release 2 |
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* 3 release 2 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 3 Release 3 |
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* 3 release 3 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 4 Release 1 |
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* 4 release 1 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 4 Release 2 |
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* 4 release 2 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 5 Release 1 |
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* 5 release 1 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 5 Release 2 |
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* 5 release 2 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 6 Release 1 |
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* 6 release 1 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 6 Release 2 |
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* 6 release 2 |
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* IBM 4690 Operating System Version 6 Release 3 |
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* 6 release 3 (May 2012) |
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* Toshiba 4690 Operating System Version 6 Release 4 |
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Toshiba 4690 Operating System versions: |
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* 6 release 4 (January 2014) |
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* 6 release 5 Classic – Enhanced (January 2016)<ref name="Toshiba_2016_V6R5"/> |
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== |
==See also== |
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*[[Digital Research]] |
* [[Digital Research]] |
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*[[ |
* [[Toshiba TCx Sky]] |
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*[[ |
* [[FlexOS]] |
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*[[IBM |
* [[IBM 4680 OS]] |
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*[[IBM |
* [[IBM 4683]] |
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*[[IBM |
* [[IBM 4693]] |
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*[[IBM |
* [[IBM 4694]] |
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*[[ |
* [[IBM 4695]] |
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*[[IBM Retail Environment for SUSE]] (IRES) |
* [[IMS REAL/32]] |
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* [[IBM Retail Environment for SUSE]] (IRES) |
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*[[Distributed Data Management Architecture]] (DDM) |
* [[Distributed Data Management Architecture]] (DDM) |
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==Further reading== |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Programming Guide |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hak0_4690_v6r2_pg_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Configuration Guide (English) |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hah0_4690_v6r2_picg_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V6.2 User's Guide (English) |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hai0_4690_v6r2_ug_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Communications Programming Guide |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hal0_4690_v6r2_cpr_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Messages Guide |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/haj0_4690_v6r2_mg_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Programming Guide |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsi1_PG_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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| archive-date = 2022-01-25 |
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220125063705/ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsi1_PG_mst.pdf |
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| url-status = dead |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Configuration Guide (English) |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bse1_PIC_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V5.2 User's Guide (English) |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsf1_UG_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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| archive-date = 2022-01-25 |
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220125063641/ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsf1_UG_mst.pdf |
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| url-status = dead |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Communications Programming Guide |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsh1_CPR_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Messages Guide |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsg1_MG_mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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* {{cite book |
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| title = IBM 4690 OS V4.1 IBM 4680 BASIC Language Reference |
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| publisher = IBM |
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| url = ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver4r1/sco9mst.pdf |
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| access-date = 2015-03-01 |
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| url-access = registration |
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}} |
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These and many other documents could be obtained from IBM at the Retail Publications Download Center.<ref>https://archive.today/20130103085241/http://www2.clearlake.ibm.com/store/support/html/pubs.html<!-- http://www2.clearlake.ibm.com/store/support/html/pubs.html --></ref> |
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In 2016, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, the current owner of 4690 OS, removed public access to all 4690 related manuals and publications from their servers. |
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In May 2018, 4690 OS was renamed to TCx Sky. The base operating system that runs under 4690 OS itself was changed to Wind River Linux with this revision. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist |
{{Reflist|refs= |
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<ref name="IBM_2010_4690">{{cite web |title=IBM 4690 Operating System |publisher=[[IBM]] |url=http://www-03.ibm.com/products/retail/products/software/4690/index.html |access-date=2011-09-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930011638/http://www-03.ibm.com/products/retail/products/software/4690/index.html |archive-date=2011-09-30}}</ref> |
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Recently, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, the current owner of 4690 OS, has removed access to all 4690 related manuals and publications from their servers. |
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<ref name="Novell_2005_Linux">{{cite web |publisher=[[Novell]] |date=2005 |title=How to choose the best OS for your point-of-sale |work=360Commerce |url=http://www.novell.com/industries/retail/bestos.pdf}} (NB. This PDF has a short history of [[Point of sale|POS]] operating systems, also mentioning IBM 4680 and IBM 4690.)</ref> |
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<ref name="CBR_1987_FlexOS-286">{{cite journal |title=Digital Research launches FlexOS 286 Real-Time Manufacturing Operating System |editor=CBR |journal=Computer Business Review |date=1987-01-15 |url=http://www.cbronline.com/news/digital_research_launches_flexos_286_real_time_manufacturing_operating_system |access-date=2018-09-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118190950/http://www.cbronline.com/news/digital_research_launches_flexos_286_real_time_manufacturing_operating_system |archive-date=2013-01-18}}</ref> |
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<ref name="IBM_1993_4690">{{cite web |title=IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 - Announcement Letter Number 293-281 - Brief description of announcement, charges, and availability |date=1993-06-01 |publisher=[[IBM]] |url=http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=an&subtype=ca&htmlfid=897/ENUS293-281&language=enus |access-date=2011-09-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216095159/http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=an&subtype=ca&htmlfid=897/ENUS293-281&language=enus |archive-date=2012-12-16}}</ref> |
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<ref name="IMS_1995_REAL32">{{cite journal |title=IMS offers Real32 OS for application servers |author-first=Jason |author-last=Pontin |date=1995-11-27 |journal=[[InfoWorld]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 |access-date=2017-01-17}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Toshiba_2016_V6R5">{{cite web |title=Toshiba 4690 Operating System, Version 6 Release 5 |date=January 2018 |publisher=[[Toshiba Corporation]] |id=RTD12521-USEN-03 |url=http://tgcs04.toshibacommerce.com/cs/groups/internet/documents/document/dg9z/njyw/~edisp/prod.tos660737.pdf |access-date=2018-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180916084406/http://tgcs04.toshibacommerce.com/cs/groups/internet/documents/document/dg9z/njyw/~edisp/prod.tos660737.pdf |archive-date=2018-09-16}}</ref> |
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}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{Official website|1=commerce.toshiba.com/wps/portal/marketing/?urile=wcm:path:/en-us/home/software/operating-systems}} |
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* [https://dfdlschemas.github.io/IBM4690-TLOG/ Data Format Description Language (DFDL) schemas for IBM 4690 ACE] to parse and write IBM 4690 ACE transaction logs |
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Find sources: "4690 Operating System" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Developer | (Digital Research, Novell, IMS) IBM, Toshiba |
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Written in | C Supported languages: IBM 4680 BASIC, Metaware High-C, Java2 |
Working state | Current |
Source model | Proprietary |
Initial release | July 1993; 31 years ago (1993-07) (1985) |
Final release | 6.5 / January 2016; 8 years ago (2016-01) |
Marketing target | Point of sale |
Available in | English |
Package manager | Proprietary ASM (Apply Software Maintenance) System |
Platforms | Point of sale terminals |
Kernel type | Real-time operating system |
Default user interface | Command-line interface, some screens spawn a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) |
License | Proprietary |
Preceded by | FlexOS 386, 4680 OS, REAL/32 |
Succeeded by | TCx Sky v1.1 |
Official website | Toshiba Commerce: Operating Systems |
4690 Operating System (sometimes shortened to 4690 OSor4690) is a specially designed point of sale (POS) operating system, originally sold by IBM. In 2012, IBM sold its retail business, including this product, to Toshiba, which assumed support.[1] 4690 is widely used by IBM and Toshiba retail customers to run retail systems which run their own applications and others.
4690 is the successor product to IBM 4680 OS, which was in use by IBM customers since 1986.[2] The original 4680 OS was based on Digital Research's Concurrent DOS 286,[3] a system thereafter renamed to FlexOS 286 in November 1986.
In July 1993,[2] IBM adopted FlexOS version 2.32 as the basis of their 4690 OS version 1.[1][4] FlexOS 2.32 supported 286 (Intel 80286) and 386 (Intel 80386) modes and had no limit on applications running concurrently.
In 1995, IBM licensed IMS REAL/32 7.50, a derivative of Digital Research's Multiuser DOS and thereby a successor to Concurrent DOS 386, to bundle it with their 4695 POS terminals.[5]
According to the article "The Year of the Store?", IHL Consulting Group/RIS News, IBM 4690 OS still had a market share of 12% in the POS register client market in June 2005, when IBM was starting to phase it out in favor of IBM Retail Environment for SUSE (IRES).[2]
IBM continued to maintain 4690 OS until April 2015, with the most recent version released by IBM in May 2012 being IBM 4690 OS Version 6 Release 3, which was supported until 2017 under special contracts with big-name companies.
Meanwhile, Toshiba has released Toshiba 4690 OS Version 6 Release 4 (V6R4) in January 2014, and Version 6 Release 5 (V6R5) in January 2016. In 2018, a Linux-based successor of 4690 OS, named TCx Sky and codeveloped with Wind River Systems, was launched. Soon after, Toshiba discontinued 4690 OS for new customers; it is, however, still supported under service contracts signed between Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and stores still using 4690 OS on their POS terminals. The latest security update (CSD Level 2010) was released in December 2020, only for 4690 OS Version 6 Release 5.[6]
Retailers are using the 4690 Operating System for their operations because of its many retail-specific and reliability features. In addition to running on IBM hardware, third-party vendors have exploited the 4690 features on competitive hardware.
4690 supports many POS terminal devices, store controller servers, and combination controller–terminals. The 4690 documentation contains a list of supported POS devices, some in use over 20 years. The family of IBM Universal Serial Bus (USB) POS devices that 4690 supports includes keyboards, displays, and cash drawers. 4690 also supports other input/output (I/O) devices designed and conforming to IBM's USB POS device interface specifications. IBM makes interface specifications available to third-party vendors to enable them to connect their devices to POS terminals using RS-485, RS-232, and USB connections.
IBM provides a Controller Matrix document with a list of compatible IBM servers for use with 4690 OS as store controllers and controller–terminals. These servers represent current and formerly available devices which continue to be supported by 4690.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the 4690 OS is its ability to provide a "redundancy infrastructure". IBM designed the 4690 OS to work either as one server, or with one or more other 4690 servers. These servers are commonly called store controllers. When connected in a local area network (LAN), these 4690 store controllers provide redundant backup using mirrored data files. Using a system of master controller, alternate master, file server, and alternate file server designations, the controllers preserve data integrity and allow file backup in case a store controller fails and needs to be replaced.
A copy of the 4690 OS is maintained in each store controller. The 4690 POS terminals (registers) load a copy of 4690 from the store controller into memory when they Initial Program Load (IPL). The 4690 controllers provide terminal support in the form of terminal loading, price lookup, and transaction logging. Non-volatile memory is used to ensure that data is not lost in transit from the terminals to the store controller. Terminals are assigned to a primary store controller, and that controller is typically backed up by another controller. If the primary controller fails, the terminals automatically access the backup controller, providing uninterrupted sales at the POS terminal. If both the primary and backup controllers are unavailable, the terminal can go into a standalone state, or, some of the applications are able to support a Terminal Offline (TOF) state wherein terminals run offline using a terminal-based item file and logging stored in their own memory.
To maintain software at the store level, 4690 OS provides a software maintenance facility to manage updates. This facility provides checking to ensure that all updates have been transferred to the store, and the ability to apply the maintenance from store level commands or under central control. The updated software can be applied in test, which preserves the prior software in case the maintenance needs to be backed off for some reason.
4690 supports communications to the store controller in several forms. including TCP/IP, X.25, Systems Network Architecture (SNA), and asynchronous communications.
The following list of commands are supported by the 4690 Operating System.[7]
4690 OS has been updated annually to address the needs of its user community and in anticipation of upcoming requirements.
4690 Version 5 incorporated new security enhancements, such as Secure Shell (SSH), IPsec, and enhanced operator security (allowing alphanumeric operator IDs, password complexity requirements, password expiration, etc.). This has helped its users address new security requirements from the credit card companies.
Another recent addition to 4690 was the ability to forward store hardware- and software-level events to a Remote Management system to facilitate central control and monitoring. File integrity monitoring and lockdown of 4690s are becoming increasingly important due to recent breaches caused by point-of-sale malware based threats.
4690 supports applications written in a CBASIC variant named IBM 4680 BASIC, Metaware High-C, and Java 2. The Java language-based ability at both the server and the client, along with the extension of Internet protocol suite TCP/IP ability to the client, enables Java applications at both the server and client to run concurrently with extant CBASIC or C applications. Users can make functional enhancements to extant applications by developing a new Java application that communicates with an extant application.
IBM 4690 Operating System versions:
Toshiba 4690 Operating System versions:
These and many other documents could be obtained from IBM at the Retail Publications Download Center.[9]
In 2016, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, the current owner of 4690 OS, removed public access to all 4690 related manuals and publications from their servers.
In May 2018, 4690 OS was renamed to TCx Sky. The base operating system that runs under 4690 OS itself was changed to Wind River Linux with this revision.
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