UNIX

Unix is an extremely versatile and highly scalable system. It can be configured to create many different and very diverse types of systems:

• In its simplest form it can be a single central UNIX computer with dumb terminals (Wyse 50/60, WANG 2110, DEC VT100/220, etc) connected by asynchronous TTY lines. This is very similar to legacy systems whereby all the application programs execute on the central UNIX computer. Printers are directly attached to the central UNIX computer by either serial or parallel connection.
  
• It can be a single computer operating as a UNIX server with its terminal being PC's operating Microsoft Windows connected by a TCP/IP network. This configuration can again be operated in a very similar manner to the legacy system whereby all the application programs execute on the central UNIX computer with the Windows PC's acting as terminals by running terminal emulation software. Printers can be directly attached to the central UNIX computer by either serial or parallel connection, or they can be attached at remote locations on the network.
• A TCP/IP network can be operated in a client/server relationship whereby some or all of the application programs can be executed on the Windows PC's using the central UNIX computer as a data server.
• A client/server network can become very sophisticated employing several UNIX servers and hundreds or thousands of Windows clients connected in one local network or several remote networks connected together by the internet or an intranet.

The UNIX platforms we have converted to include: