Difference between revisions of "USG UNIX"

From Computer History Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(used assembler unix early on)
(move content to new usg article)
 
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''USG UNIX''' was one of three parallel variants of early [[UNIX]] inside the Bell System, along with [[CB-UNIX]] and [[PWB/UNIX]].
+
'''USG UNIX''' was one of three parallel variants of early [[UNIX]] inside the Bell System, along with [[CB-UNIX]] and [[PWB/UNIX]]; it was intended for general use, on the then-popular [[PDP-11]]. It was created and supported by the [[UNIX Support Group]], which was formed for that purpose.
  
It came from the Switching Control Center Systems group (a well-funded department, influential within Bell) in Holmdel, New Jersey, which early on utilized an [[assembly language]] version of UNIX, probably [[UNIX Second Edition]] or so, to collect maintenance data from early computerized telephone switches (ESS).
+
The first UNIX release from USG, Release 1.0, was a relatively unmodified copy of [[UNIX Sixth Edition]]; it came out on 15th December, 1973. Like the later PWB/UNIX, it was aimed primarily at computer center usage. The second release from USG, Release 2.0, came out in April, 1974. Soon thereafter, the release naming terminology changed, and 'Generic 1' was the new name for USG Release 2.24; Generic 2 was USG 3.33, in January 1976. Generic 3.0 was released in the spring of 1977.
  
They eventually determined that UNIX was the best [[operating system]] for the increasingly popular [[PDP-11]], and decided to fund a small team to support UNIX (something that the system's creators in the Research group at Bell Labs were not really in a position to do); in September, 1973, the UNIX Support Group (USG) was formed.
+
The three different systems (which had by then diverged slightly), along with (now-[[portable]]) [[Unix Seventh Edition]] from the Research group, were eventually unified as [[UNIX System III]], in June, 1980.
 
 
The first UNIX release from USG, Release 1.0, came out on 15th December, 1973. Like the later PWB/UNIX, it was aimed primarily at computer center usage. The second release from USG, Release 2.0, came out in April, 1974. Soon thereafter, the release naming terminology changed, and 'Generic 1' was the new name for USG Release 2.24; Generic 2 was USG 3.33, in January 1976. Generic 3.0 was released in the spring of 1977.
 
 
 
The three different systems (which had by then diverged slightly), along with (now-[[portable]]) [[Unix Seventh Edition]] from the Research group, were eventually unified as [[Unix SYSIII]], in June, 1980.
 
  
 
{{semi-stub}}
 
{{semi-stub}}
Line 13: Line 9:
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
* [https://www.tuhs.org/Archive/Distributions/USDL/unix_program_description_jan_1976.pdf UNIX Program Description] - January 1976
+
* [https://www.tuhs.org/Archive/Distributions/USDL/unix_program_description_jan_1976.pdf UNIX Program Description] - apparently a V6 version, despite the late date
  
 
{{Nav Unix}}
 
{{Nav Unix}}
  
 
[[Category: Unix OS's]]
 
[[Category: Unix OS's]]

Latest revision as of 03:52, 29 December 2022

USG UNIX was one of three parallel variants of early UNIX inside the Bell System, along with CB-UNIX and PWB/UNIX; it was intended for general use, on the then-popular PDP-11. It was created and supported by the UNIX Support Group, which was formed for that purpose.

The first UNIX release from USG, Release 1.0, was a relatively unmodified copy of UNIX Sixth Edition; it came out on 15th December, 1973. Like the later PWB/UNIX, it was aimed primarily at computer center usage. The second release from USG, Release 2.0, came out in April, 1974. Soon thereafter, the release naming terminology changed, and 'Generic 1' was the new name for USG Release 2.24; Generic 2 was USG 3.33, in January 1976. Generic 3.0 was released in the spring of 1977.

The three different systems (which had by then diverged slightly), along with (now-portable) Unix Seventh Edition from the Research group, were eventually unified as UNIX System III, in June, 1980.

External links