Page 58 - Remembering ISTEL

Remembering ISTEL

CICS - Customer Information Control System is a database system capable of
managing complex databases and terminal networks giving the end user access
to various application databases in an on- line environment.

CICS differs from IMS in that the applications are usually based on packaged
soft- ware such as COPICS.

TSO - Time Sharing Option - is an interactive time-sharing system enabling the

user to access, create, store and modify data as well as develop and execute

programs in an on-line or batch environment.

TSO is offered as a screen-based system which is accessed via the VTAM

network and via the Infotrac network.

Batch processing - provides customers with the resources to process batch jobs

within MVS. Most batch work is submitted and scheduled by DCMS (Data
Centre Management System). This matches avail- able hardware resources with
batch workload to produce a production schedule to optimise throughput.

The service is offered via TSO as a screen-based system providing access
through the VTAM network.

ORBIT (Engineering & Manufacturing Division.)

ORBIT is an IBM-based service. It is not an MVS service, but runs under the DOS

VSE Operating System on the IBM 4341. Designed to take care of IBM
application needs, ORBIT can be used for batch or on-line processing.

The service is presently used for such applications as stock movement between

depots, port scheduling and finance.

Some 55,000 transactions per day are performed on the ORBIT service and it

operates for 24 hours a day.

PC Retailing (Business Development Division.)

The Personal Computing Marketing Centre (PCMC) is an authorised outlet for
IBM personal computers. ISTEL is equipped to offer the whole range of
products from stand-alone desk-top PC's up to integrated micro and mainframe

systems such as PC-3270 and AT370.

ISTEL can demonstrate personal computers connected to a wide range of

facilities, using host software and many other packages. An extensive portfolio

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