MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - support for IBM/360/370/S-390 code on the Kindles (KUAL)

knc1 · 08-20-2013, 06:43 PM

I did a bit more playing around, and it looks like we might have to sysgen a K5 specific build of the MVS/390 OS.

Not impossible, we now have an S-390 system to do it on (and the directions - duh).

Since my desktop workstation has more spare cycles than any of my K5- touch or paperwhites . . . .

The mvs iso ./setup thing expects Hecules and n3270 to already be installed.

On Debian/Ubuntu based distros - the command:

Code:

sudo apt-get install hercules* libdjconsole* x3270

Takes care of that dependency.

EDIT - For Windows:
For our Windows audience, that will need to run the x3270 terminal emulation under windows, you can get the binaries here:
http://x3270.bgp.nu/download.html

That will also install an example config file for Herc in:

Code:

/usr/share/doc/hercules/examples/hercules.cnf.gz

Just copy it and gunzip it into a convenient place:
I picked:

Code:

cp -a /usr/share/doc/hercules/examples/hercules.cnf.gz /var2/kwork/mvs38j/conf/
gunzip hercules.cnf.gz

for its home, your path will be to suit yourself.

Now, in a terminal window, start the mainframe and specify the location of the config file:

Code:

hercules -f /var2/kwork/mvs38j/conf/hercules.cnf

The Debian/Ubuntu build of Herc is listening on localhost, so ....

Now, in another terminal window, start a copy of x3270:

Code:

x3270 localhost:3270

Now you have the **Master** operator's console running (and you didn't even have to pull any twin-ax cables).

Since Herc uses TCP/IP networking instead of tons of special cabling, and supports up to 32 'user' terminals . . . .

Perhaps we should try to port the x3270 application (sources on the mvs iso image) to the K5 - -
Let the kindle's screen be the 'standard' **Master** operator's console - for broken screen Kindles - a tcp/ip connected **Master** console could be substituted.

Note: Hercules will run in 'daemon' mode, as a 'service' on broken screen Kindles.
It also supports multiple access DASD devices - more than one Kindle can share the 'disk drives' (which are files under Linux).

OK - so that answers one of the FAQs on this forum - what to do with a broken screen Kindle (touch or paperwhite).
You 'wire' them up as a cluster of S-390 machines.

This approach (using a 'standard' Hercules install on the desktop as a learning experience) seems like the most likely way to make progress on getting MVS onto the K5.

Note: the 'standard' Hercules install only requests 64Mbyte of ram - right under the "low memory" warning limit on the K5.

- - - -
To get out of the emulator, enter: exit at the command prompt in the herc window.

exit
Enough for today - more, perhaps, if someone takes an interest in this little project.

08-20-2013, 06:43 PM	#32
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	K5-390 I did a bit more playing around, and it looks like we might have to sysgen a K5 specific build of the MVS/390 OS. Not impossible, we now have an S-390 system to do it on (and the directions - duh). Since my desktop workstation has more spare cycles than any of my K5- touch or paperwhites . . . . The mvs iso ./setup thing expects Hecules and n3270 to already be installed. On Debian/Ubuntu based distros - the command: Code: sudo apt-get install hercules* libdjconsole* x3270 Takes care of that dependency. EDIT - For Windows: For our Windows audience, that will need to run the x3270 terminal emulation under windows, you can get the binaries here: http://x3270.bgp.nu/download.html That will also install an example config file for Herc in: Code: /usr/share/doc/hercules/examples/hercules.cnf.gz Just copy it and gunzip it into a convenient place: I picked: Code: cp -a /usr/share/doc/hercules/examples/hercules.cnf.gz /var2/kwork/mvs38j/conf/ gunzip hercules.cnf.gz for its home, your path will be to suit yourself. Now, in a terminal window, start the mainframe and specify the location of the config file: Code: hercules -f /var2/kwork/mvs38j/conf/hercules.cnf The Debian/Ubuntu build of Herc is listening on localhost, so .... Now, in another terminal window, start a copy of x3270: Code: x3270 localhost:3270 Now you have the Master operator's console running (and you didn't even have to pull any twin-ax cables). Since Herc uses TCP/IP networking instead of tons of special cabling, and supports up to 32 'user' terminals . . . . Perhaps we should try to port the x3270 application (sources on the mvs iso image) to the K5 - - Let the kindle's screen be the 'standard' Master operator's console - for broken screen Kindles - a tcp/ip connected Master console could be substituted. Note: Hercules will run in 'daemon' mode, as a 'service' on broken screen Kindles. It also supports multiple access DASD devices - more than one Kindle can share the 'disk drives' (which are files under Linux). OK - so that answers one of the FAQs on this forum - what to do with a broken screen Kindle (touch or paperwhite). You 'wire' them up as a cluster of S-390 machines. This approach (using a 'standard' Hercules install on the desktop as a learning experience) seems like the most likely way to make progress on getting MVS onto the K5. Note: the 'standard' Hercules install only requests 64Mbyte of ram - right under the "low memory" warning limit on the K5. - - - - To get out of the emulator, enter: exit at the command prompt in the herc window. exit Enough for today - more, perhaps, if someone takes an interest in this little project. Last edited by knc1; 08-21-2013 at 09:33 PM.