Silicon Graphics' IRIX operating system version 5.3 has been approved as the the new Reference Platform for version 1.1 of the MIPS ABI specification. The availability of this new version of the Reference Platform improves the quality of the development environment for MIPS ABI-conforming applications by addressing all known bugs from the previous version.
The MIPS ABI Group uses a Reference Platform model, where a single system serves as a "Gold Master" for both the Execution (run-time) and Development environments. In the case of differing behavior on two or more ABI platforms, the Reference Platform is judged to define the correct behavior, except in the case of obvious bugs. As a result, the MIPS ABI Reference Platform must be held to an extremely high quality standard.
The new Reference Platform for version 1.1 of the MIPS Processor ABI Conformance Guide is SGI IRIX 5.3, together with the matching IRIS Development Option (IDO carries internal version 3.19) and Network File System, as well as a set of patches that complete the ABI environment The previous version of the Reference Platform was IRIX 5.2, along with the IDO (3.18) and NFS for 5.2.
IRIX 5.3 has gone through extensive testing, and was validated by the new ABI Validation Test Suite according to procedures mandated by the MIPS ABI Group. A conformance statement describing waivers and deviances from this test suite is available by e-mail request to devprogram@sgi.com. is the first version of the Reference Platform to go through this formal testing procedure.
MIPS ABI developers wishing to upgrade to the new Reference Platform should contact the MIPS ABI Developer Program by sending electronic mail to devprogram@sgi.com.
The MIPS ABI Group member companies doing business in Australia have recently started their own MIPS ABI marketing effort "down under". Tandem Computers, Silicon Graphics, Siemens-Nixdorf/Pyramid, Concurrent and NEC Information Systems Australia are working together to promote the MIPS ABI throughout Australia.
Their efforts will be focused on two areas. First, to promote applications that are ported to the MIPS ABI to their respective customers. Second, to promote the MIPS ABI binary compatibility standard to Australian-based ISVs.
Several of these companies are also doing business in New Zealand and will be doing similar promotions in that market.
Australia/New Zealand represents one of the largest markets in Asia-Pacific. In addition, this market is very technologically advanced and very UNIX literate. Plus, the local Australian and New Zealand economies are on the rise again, fueling investment in information technology software solutions and new UNIX computer systems.
If you'd like information on promoting your applications in the Australia/NewZealand market contact Susan Peterson at the MIPS ABI Group.
The purpose of the seminars was to provide software developers with information on the MIPS ABI and a report on its progress and current status. The dinner seminar was introduced by a short video presentation which featured comments by leading software developers SAS Institute and Neuron Data and executives from the MIPS ABI member companies.
The video was followed by a short presentation from SAS Institute that further described their involvement with the ABI effort and the resulting success they've had with their MIPS ABI port of the SAS System. There was then a short presentation on the current status of the MIPS ABI effort, its recent incorporation, technical roadmap, marketing activities and future goals.
The seminars concluded with some local entertainment. Many of the attending ISVs expressed interest in pursuing a MIPS ABI port and several have already begun their porting efforts.
Additional seminars may be held over the coming months. If you're interested in attending one or in receiving a copy of the MIPS ABI Application Stories video, please contact Susan Peterson of the MIPS ABI Group.
The MIPS ABI effort has grown substantially over the past four years. Member companies are showing strong support, the list of ABI-compliant applications is growing, and, recently, the group took legal action to incorporate.
As a result of the incorporation, The MIPS ABI Group, Inc., now has the power to protect intellectual property, including technical specifications and test suites. Awareness and viability perception levels within the member companies and the third-party community have also been heightened due to the incorporation.
With subsidiaries in 8 countries and joint ventures and partners worldwide, DDE is an international supplier of advanced information systems. DDE develops, manufactures, markets and supports total IT-solutions including vertical applications based on DDE's own series of Supermax Enterprise Servers. The target markets for DDE's IT solutions include both industrial and educational organizations.
Supermax Enterprise Servers, based on UNIX SVR4.2MP are modular and scalable parallel/multi-processing computers designed with a unique architecture combining local and shared memory technology. In 1982 when the Supermax was first introduced, DDE was first in the world implementing a multiprocessing minicomputer based on UNIX and microprocessors.
DDE's Supermax Enterprise Server solutions include the Euromax Newspaper System, a prepress management system; the Supermax Elektronik CAD System, an integrated printed circuit board layout solution for the electronic industry; the Supermax Library System, an integrated multiuser information system using the Oracle database; and the Supermac Waste Management System, an all-inclusive solution for waste management stations.
DDE also provides custom IT solutions for other specific business. Examples of DDE's custom IT systems include the Supermax Central & Local Government Systems, the Supermax Education System & Education Management System, and the Supermax SuperVision Monitoring and Control System.
When DDE joined the MIPS ABI Group, Inc., in June 1994, its expertise as the top IT solutions provider in Scandinavia and as a leading system vendor in Europe enabled ISVs in the MIPS ABI community to expand into the European marketplace.
For more information on Dansk Data Elektronik A/S (DDE) and their Supermax Server IT Solutions, contact:
Lars Myrup
The MIPS ABI Group, Inc. has announced a strategy to support the C++ programming language on MIPS ABI-compliant systems. The ability to support C++ applications via the ABI is a significant breakthrough for the MIPS ABI Group, Inc. because it allows software vendors to generate ABI-compliant C++ code for the MIPS ABI generation platform, IRIX 5.3.
Requirements for applications using the C++ language to run on MIPS ABI-compliant systems can be found in the MIPS ABI C++ Support Policy; available on the MIPS ABI web site; http://www.mipsabi.sgi.com/. Specifically, there are two main MIPS ABI C++ requirements; first, the application is built using a C++ compilation system with generates ABI-compliant code, and, secondly, only ABI-compliant C++ libraries generated by the C++ compilation system are used. Additionally, the application either does not need to be linked on site, or the C++ compilation system which was used to build the application is also available on all the current MIPS ABI platforms.
A C++ compilation system will normally include a C++ compiler, C++ libraries, a linker, and may include a debugger. If an application is built such that it does not need to be linked onsite, then any files required from C++ archives must be statically linked.
The MIPS ABI Group, is working with several C++ compiler vendors to provide C++ support for ABI-compliant systems. Edinburgh Portable Computer Ltd. (EPC) has begun shipping a C++ compilation system which fully satisfies the current ABI requirements.
The MIPS ABI Group, Inc. will move to standardize all aspects of the C++ environment, including all aspects of hidden data, subsequent to approval of the ANSI X3J16/ISO WG21 C++ standard. At that time, it will be possible to combine object files and libraries created by different compilation systems, provided that the complication systems conform to that new standard. In the mean time, companies such as EPC can provide C++ compliance which adheres to the ABI short-term strategy.
MIPS ABI WWW SITE ON-LINE NEW PRODUCTS PORTED TO MIPS ABI: NEW MIPS ABI CONFORMANCE GUIDE APPROVED EPC C++ AVAILABLE DDE SALES FORCE BRIEFED ON MIPS ABI
Company Operating System Product Family
Concurrent Computer MAX/OS 1.1 MAXION
Control Data Systems EP/IX V2.2.1 CD4000 Series
DDE Unix SVR4 MP Supermax Enterprise Server
NEC UX/4800 R11.1 UP Series
EWS Series
SGI IRIX 5.2 Indy
Indigo, Indigo2
Crimson
Challenge
SNI and Pyramid SINIX-N v5.42 RM200 Series
RM400 Series
SINIX-Y v5.42 RM600 Series
DC/OSx 1.1 C079 MIServer ES
DC/OSx 2.0 M079 Reliant Model 1000
Sony NEWS OS v6.0.3 NEWS
Tandem NonStop-UX vB32 Integrity FT
Integrity NR
IRIX 5.2 Indy, Indigo2
For questions about MIPS ABI Group Inc ISV marketing programs, please contact
or the marketing contact at the following MIPS ABI member companies.
Company Contact Phone / Fax
Control Data Systems Erwin Huntley 408-541-4332
erh@svale.cdc.com 408-541-4206 fax
Concurrent Computer Corp. Margo Davis 908 870-5782
davism@westford.ccur.com 908 870-5856 fax
Dansk Data Elektronik A/S Lars Myrup +45 42 84 50 11
lmy@dde.dk +45 42 84 52 20 fax
NEC Kevin Payne 408-434-7103
kpayne@syl.nj.nec.com
Denise Brown 408-434-7106
dbrown@syl.nj.nec.com
ISV Hotline 408-434-7179
408-434-7119 fax
Pyramid Technology Mark Otto 408-428-8018
motto@pyramid.com 408-428-8120 fax
Siemans Nixdorf Werner Kuballa +49 89 636 44 916
werner.kuballa@mch.sni.de +49 89 636 44 102 fax
Silicon Graphics Jim Pyle (SGI Dev.Prog.) 415-390-2035
jpyle@engr.sgi.com 415-969-4540 fax
Dave Lee 415-390-2082
dlee@engr.sgi.com 415-390-6320 fax
Sony Corporation Hisashi Higashide +81 04 66 30 4038(Japan)
hihi@sm.sony.co.jp +81 04 66 30 4204 fax
Tandem Computers Marty Cohen 404-451-4750
cohen_martin@tandem.com 800-372-4599 fax
Back to the beginning of Access
Back to the MIPS ABI Home Page
