{"id":52487,"date":"2019-11-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/blog_prohoster\/30-letie-uchebnogo-posobiya-os-minix"},"modified":"2020-02-18T14:00:15","modified_gmt":"2020-02-18T11:00:15","slug":"30-letie-uchebnogo-posobiya-os-minix-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/30-letie-uchebnogo-posobiya-os-minix-2","title":{"rendered":"The 30th anniversary of the OS Minix tutorial","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

On January 14, the first day of the old New Year 2017, an article titled \"Persona. Commander Norton<\/a><\/noindex>\u00bb. <\/p>\n

1987 Year<\/h4>\n

\nAfter reading it, which evoked a range of emotions, I recalled 1987, a significant year in my life. It was the year I transitioned from a junior research associate to the head of one of the leading departments at a research institute, tasked with ensuring maximum automation of the scientific research process.
\n<\/a><\/noindex>
\n\"TheAnd so, 30 years ago, back in the distant 1987, Andrew Tanenbaum wrote a Unix-compatible operating system called Minix as a teaching aid for his book \"Operating Systems: Design and Implementation\" (1987, ISBN 0-13-637406-9). The condensed 12,000 lines of source code, primarily written in the C programming language, for the Minix kernel, memory management subsystem, and file system were published in the book. Andrew Tanenbaum developed the Minix OS for IBM PC and IBM PC\/AT computers available at that time. By this point, compatible personal computers began appearing in our country as well. ES-1840\/41\/42<\/a><\/noindex> and even ES-1845, on which, as it later turned out, the Minix OS successfully operated.<\/p>\n

In the same 1987, I started writing a column titled \"ENGINEER AND COMPUTER\" in the magazine \"Technology and Science\". The first publication in this column was an article in issue #7 titled \"Operating Systems: Why Do They Matter to Engineers<\/a><\/noindex>\". This article discusses how operating systems allow us to engage more intuitively with computers.<\/p>\n

However, in the next issue of the magazine, an article titled \"Introduction to the UNIX Operating System\" was published:<\/p>\n

\"The
\nDuring this period, the U.S. proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), while the USSR was developing the Anti-SDI program. <\/p>\n

Simulation Modeling Stand<\/h4>\n

\nUnder this program, it was planned to create a Simulation Modeling Stand (SMS) and an Automated Research Design System (ARDS) that would not only model the consequences of implementing the SDI but also generate requirements for systems neutralizing those consequences. The technical basis for the SMS\/ARDS was to be a powerful computing network integrating the local computing networks of scientific subdivisions:<\/p>\n

\"The
\nThe network was supposed to include both large EC computers, like the EC-1066, as well as about 200 personal computers. However, the main point was that UNIX-compatible operating systems based on MOS EC were to be installed on these computers. While there were no issues with the large machines where the MOS EC OS was installed, there were problems installing it on computers like the EC-1840, as it required a hard drive, and the OS release was delayed. Moreover, the delivery of personal computers was a very complicated matter. They were in catastrophic short supply. They could only be obtained through a resolution from the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, after coordinating everything with interested departments, such as the State Planning Committee of the USSR (now the building houses the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation), the State Committee for Computing Technology and Informatics (formed in April 1986), and several other agencies. <\/p>\n

An amusing incident occurred during the approval of the computing technology supply plan at the State Committee for Computing Technology and Informatics. <\/p>\n

They've come for you.<\/h4>\n

\n\"TheWe arrived there in a group of three \u2013 I was a major, wearing chrome boots, with a pistol in a holster on my harness, and holding a sealed suitcase. No, it wasn't a nuclear suitcase; it contained the draft of the future USSR Council of Ministers Resolution No. 931-226 dated August 8, 1987. Accompanying me for the sake of appearances (as per the directive of the institute's head, Lieutenant General Volkov L.I.) were Major General Bordyukov M.M. and Colonel Boyarsky A.G. When we ascended to the Chairman's reception room, we were struck by two things \u2013 a very beautiful blonde secretary and boxes of Olivetti PCs scattered chaotically throughout the reception area. This was a blue dream \u2014 to have at least a few such computers in the institute.<\/p>\n

When we asked if we could see the Chairman, the secretary replied that he wasn't available at the moment but would arrive any minute and suggested we wait. After some time, the Chairman appeared with an assistant. To the Chairman's silent question, the secretary sincerely replied: \u201cIt's for you!\u201d<\/i>. He silently walked into the office, and we followed him.<\/p>\n

When he learned what we had all come for, we received his approving signature without any further questions. At that time, these were huge deliveries \u2014 a dozen large computers, including the ES-1066, and about 200 ES-1841\/45 microcomputers, practically the entire annual output of computers in the USSR. It's worth mentioning that, albeit with delays, we did receive these computers.<\/p>\n

\"The
\n<\/p>\n

Get out of here!<\/h4>\n

\nBut there were other instances. It was necessary to obtain a visa from the Deputy Chief of Communications of the Armed Forces of the USSR.
\n\"TheThis position was held by Lieutenant General Kirill Nikolaevich Trofimov, a participant in the Great Patriotic War and a Hero of Socialist Labor. I arrived for an appointment with Trofimov K.N., as always, accompanied by the 'duty' general. Trofimov K.N. invited me to the desk, and we discussed automation issues, equipping the Ministry of Defense's institutions with computing technology for a considerable time. The main question was why should you have preferences. But in the end, he said: - 'Let\u2019s have your documents, I\u2019ll sign them.' However, as I was taking them out, the voice of the 'duty' general (I won\u2019t mention the surname) rang out: - 'Don't you understand the significance \u2026' And this was directed at Trofimov K.N\u2026 I froze. And I had reason to. General Trofimov K.N. silently stood up, took the folder with our documents, and threw it towards the exit: 'Get out of here!'. But all's well that ends well. I came to him again, apologized, and the visa was granted. Unfortunately, this highly esteemed general died in the line of duty on October 19, 1987, in a helicopter crash of a Mi-8 in Hungary.<\/p>\n

First Chairman of the State Technical Commission of Russia\/FSTEC of Russia<\/h4>\n

\nSimultaneously with the coordination of the supply plans for computing equipment, the development and approval of the Technical Assignment for the design and creation of SIM\/SIPR took place. The leading executor chosen was the Institute of Technical Cybernetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Belarusian SSR, with Director Semenkov O.I. Interestingly, at one time, the Institute of Cybernetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR was also considered. However, preference was ultimately given to the ITC of the Academy of Sciences of the Belarusian SSR. By the end of 1986, the Technical Assignment was ready, but it was necessary to obtain approval from the First Deputy Commander, General Colonel Yashin Yu.A., and to confirm it with the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Belarusian SSR, Academician Borisovich N.A., and the Commander-in-Chief. After that, with sleeves rolled up, it was time to tackle the task at hand. Then, in mid-December, I learned that General Yashin Yu.A. had arrived at the institute. I grabbed the suitcase with the project of the Technical Assignment and rushed down the side staircase towards the office of the head of the institute. On the staircase, I unexpectedly collided head-on with the head of the institute and General Yashin Yu.A. Without much hesitation, I asked Yashin Yu.A. for permission to approach the head of the institute. He was taken aback but allowed it. I reported to the head of the institute that we were facing tight deadlines and needed to obtain approval from Yashin Yu.A. And miraculously, this approval was obtained right there on the staircase.
\n\"TheIn January 1992, Yashin Yu.A. became the acting chairman, and on January 18, 1993, he was appointed chairman of the reorganized State Technical Commission under the President of the Russian Federation, whose role and status had significantly increased (the chairman of the Commission was equated with a Minister). From a narrowly specialized military body, the State Technical Commission became a federal agency responsible for information security. Currently, the State Technical Commission of Russia has been transformed into the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC of Russia). And your humble servant was awarded commemorative wristwatches from the Chairman of the State Technical Commission of Russia under the President of the Russian Federation on February 4, 2002.<\/p>\n

Without windows and doors<\/h4>\n

\nThere was just one last detail \u2014 to get the approval from the President of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, Academician N.A. Borisevich, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Four days before the New Year of 1987, in agreement with the director of the ITC of the BSSR Academy of Sciences, O.I. Semyonkov, I arrived in the Hero City of Minsk. I met with O.I. Semyonkov and asked to clarify when we would go to the President of the BSSR Academy of Sciences. And then strange things began happening; I was told he was busy, then offered candies from the director's stash, etc. In the afternoon, they suddenly claimed they wanted to remove or change a certain point in the technical specifications. In particular, it was suddenly mentioned that they would not like to use a Unix-compatible OS. I realized it was better to just return to Moscow. And I did. The next day, when I returned to work, I received calls from Minsk, they apologized and asked me to come and sign the technical specifications. By evening, I was already on the train. The director himself met me at the platform and we immediately went to see the President.
\n\"The
\nWe entered the President's office, sat down at the table, and when I glanced at the door we had entered through, it was gone: all around were shelves filled with books.
\nI understood that I could only leave here with the approved technical specifications. We talked for about an hour and a half, discussing the prospects of domestic computing technology (or as it's now fashionable to say, import substitution), and then with the signed technical specifications, I went to the station. I celebrated the New Year at home.<\/p>\n

Personnel is everything.<\/h4>\n

\nAnd so, to prepare the personnel, to teach them to work on Unix systems (everyone had previously worked on EC OS), to teach the C language (everyone had used PL\/I, Fortran, Pascal before), a Unix-like operating system was urgently required. And Andrew Tanenbaum provided us with it. This all happened like a fairy tale in 1987, and it worked on the EC-1840!<\/p>\n

\"TheBut we had to add and change something in it. The ability to boot from a hard drive was added, Cyrillic support was included, but the most important development for the average user was the creation of a user interface similar in capabilities to the system NORTON COMMANDER <\/a><\/noindex>in MS-DOS, using escape sequences.<\/p>\n

By this time, drivers had already been included for data exchange through COM ports between PCs with Minix\/MINOS. <\/p>\n

In 1991, at the All-Union Scientific Practical Conference in Gomel, a report titled \u201cMobile Instrumental Operating System MINOS\u201d was presented:<\/p>\n

Orlov V.N., Moscow
\nMobile Instrumental Operating System MINOS
\nThe MINOS system is a UNIX-class operating system developed based on version 7. The system is primarily intended for use in higher education institutions to train system programmers in designing complex software systems.
\n Distinctive features of the system:<\/p>\n