Unisys Corp has announced MCP/AS Mark 4.0, a new release of its A Series mainframe operating system software. Also announced at the Spring Unisys Users Association Conference was the M9760 Integrated Cached Disk Array for 1100/2200 mainframe. Unisys says that the primary objective of the Mark 4.0 software is to strengthen the capabilities of the entire A Series product line as an information hub operating in industry-standard information networking environments. Among the new capabilities introduced with the Mark 4.0 is Data Transfer System 5.1, which enables the A Series to act as a file and print server to local and wide area networks of of MS-DOS workstations. When paired with Unisys LAN Connected Workstation software, it enables users to establish an integrated personal computer-local area network-A Series environment. This includes integration with MS Windows 3.0 print and file systems, the sharing of A-Series-connected virtual disks, print routing, Windows 3.0 compatibility, and diskless workstation support. The new M9760 is a block multiplexer channel host-transparent cache disk subsystem system manufactured for Unisys by EMC Corp. It is being marketed worldwide by Unisys according to the terms of a two-year contract signed by the two companies in January. The subsystem architecture uses a large pool of high-speed dynamic memory that works in conjunction with fixed-disk storage. It automatically recognises frequently used data and retains it in cache memory, said to eliminate the mechanical seek and latency times that are associated with disk-only systems.
