Jump to content

4690 Operating System

From Alfawiki
4690 Operating System
Company typeOperating system
IndustryRetail point of sale software
PredecessorIBM 4680 OS
FoundedJuly 1993; 33 years ago (1993-07)
FounderIBM
FateTransferred to Toshiba in 2012
Area served
Retail clients worldwide
Products4690 Operating System
OwnerToshiba (since 2012)
ParentIBM (until 2012)

4690 Operating System (4690 OS) is a dedicated point of sale (POS) operating system initially created and marketed by IBM. In 2012, IBM transferred its retail division, along with the 4690 OS, to Toshiba, which took over responsibility for product support. This operating system continues to be extensively utilized by retail clients of both IBM and Toshiba to operate proprietary as well as third-party retail software. Its specialized retail functionalities and dependable performance have established it as a favored solution across diverse hardware environments.

History

The 4690 OS was introduced as the successor to IBM's 4680 OS, which had been deployed since 1986. The predecessor, 4680 OS, was originally built upon Digital Research's Concurrent DOS 286, later rebranded as FlexOS 286. In July 1993, IBM adopted version 2.32 of FlexOS as the basis for the first release of 4690 OS. FlexOS 2.32 supported both 286 and 386 processor modes, allowing unlimited simultaneous applications. By 1995, IBM had licensed IMS REAL/32 version 7.50—a variant derived from Digital Research's Multiuser DOS—to bundle with its 4695 POS terminal models.

As of June 2005, IBM's 4690 OS accounted for approximately 12% of the POS register client market share while IBM began shifting focus toward IBM Retail Environment for SUSE (IRES). IBM continued to support 4690 OS until April 2015; the final IBM-issued version was Version 6 Release 3, launched in May 2012 and maintained under special agreements through 2017.

Toshiba introduced Version 6 Release 4 in January 2014 and followed with Version 6 Release 5 in January 2016. In 2018, Toshiba unveiled TCx Sky, a Linux-based successor developed collaboratively with Wind River Systems. Subsequent to this release, Toshiba discontinued new sales of the 4690 OS but maintains ongoing support via service contracts for existing customers. The most recent security patch for Version 6 Release 5 was distributed in December 2020.

Supported hardware

The operating system supports a wide array of POS terminals, store controller servers, and hybrid controller–terminal devices. Official documentation enumerates compatible POS hardware, some of which have remained operational for over two decades. The IBM Universal Serial Bus (USB) POS device lineup compatible with 4690 includes peripherals such as keyboards, displays, and cash drawers. Additionally, it accommodates other input/output devices conforming to IBM's USB POS interface standards. These interface specifications are provided by IBM to third-party manufacturers to facilitate connections through RS-485, RS-232, and USB protocols.

IBM’s Controller Matrix catalogues servers that are approved for use with the 4690 OS as store controllers or controller–terminals, encompassing both current generation and legacy systems still supported.

Notable features

A significant aspect of the 4690 OS is its "redundancy infrastructure," engineered to function either as a standalone server or as multiple interconnected store controllers across a local area network (LAN). This setup offers fault tolerance by maintaining mirrored data files across roles such as master controller, alternate master, file server, and alternate file server, thereby safeguarding data integrity and facilitating backup in case of controller failure.

Each store controller hosts a copy of the operating system. POS terminals retrieve the OS from their assigned controller during the Initial Program Load (IPL) process. Controllers manage terminal booting, price retrievals, and transaction recording. Utilizing Non-volatile memory, the system prevents data loss during communication between terminals and controllers. Terminals designate a primary store controller with a secondary backup; if the primary becomes unavailable, terminals automatically switch to the backup controller to maintain continuous operation. Should both controllers fail, terminals enter standalone or Terminal Offline (TOF) modes, operating independently with local item databases while continuing to log transactions.

For software administration, the system incorporates a software maintenance facility that ensures update transfers are validated before applying maintenance tasks via commands issued at the store level or through centralized control. Updates can be trialed prior to full implementation, retaining previous software versions for rollback if necessary.

The 4690 OS supports various communication protocols between store controllers including TCP/IP, X.25, Systems Network Architecture (SNA), and asynchronous links.

Commands

The 4690 Operating System includes a variety of commands that are fundamental for retail and point-of-sale (POS) functionalities:

Technology and software

The 4690 OS receives yearly updates designed to align with changing user requirements and industry trends.

Security improvements were notably introduced in Version 5, which incorporated support for protocols such as Secure Shell (SSH) and IPsec, along with enhanced operator security features including alphanumeric user IDs, complex password mandates, and expiration rules. These advancements assist retailers in adhering to rigorous credit card security regulations.

Later releases incorporated remote management functions that transmit hardware and software event data for centralized oversight. As POS malware threats escalate, implementing file integrity verification and system lockdown mechanisms has become essential to safeguarding retail systems.

The operating system supports software written in IBM 4680 BASIC, Metaware High-C, and Java 2. Java's integration at both client and server tiers, combined with expanded TCP/IP capabilities, allows Java applications to run alongside legacy CBASIC or C programs simultaneously. This adaptability enables organizations to extend their current software solutions by developing new Java components that seamlessly interact with existing applications.

Versions

IBM 4690 Operating System releases include:

  • Version 1 (July 1993)
  • Version 2 release 1
  • Version 2 release 2
  • Version 2 release 3
  • Version 2 release 4
  • Version 3 release 1
  • Version 3 release 2
  • Version 3 release 3
  • Version 4 release 1
  • Version 4 release 2
  • Version 5 release 1
  • Version 5 release 2
  • Version 6 release 1
  • Version 6 release 2
  • Version 6 release 3 (May 2012)

Toshiba versions of the 4690 Operating System:

  • Version 6 release 4 (January 2014)
  • Version 6 release 5 Classic – Enhanced (January 2016)

See also

Further reading

Comprehensive documentation from IBM covering the IBM 4690 OS—including guides on programming, configuration, user operations, communications programming, and message handling for versions V4.1 through V6.2—was once accessible via IBM's Retail Publications Download Center.

Since 2016, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, now the proprietor of the 4690 OS, has limited public availability of all related manuals and documentation.

In May 2018, the IBM 4690 OS underwent rebranding to TCx Sky, with its foundational operating system shifting to Wind River Linux.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=4690_Operating_System&oldid=27892"