VM/386

VM/386 is a multitasking Multi-user environment or 'control program'^[1] that took early advantage of the capabilities of Intel's 386 processor. By utilizing Virtual 8086 mode, users were able to run their existing text-based and graphical DOS software in safely separate environments.^[2][3][4] The system offered a high degree of control, with the ability to set memory limits, CPU usage and scheduling parameters, device assignments, and interrupt priorities through a virtual machine manager menu.^[5] Unique CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files could be configured for each application, and even different DOS versions.^[6][3][4] In 1991 the vendor announced intentions to support DPMI 1.0 in VM/386.^[7]

VM/386

Developer	Softguard Systems, Intelligent Graphics Corporation (IGC)
Working state	Historic
Initial release	1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Available in	English
Platforms	Intel 80386
License	Proprietary

Overview

VM/386 had initially been developed by Softguard Systems, a producer of copy-protection software, with plans to include features like non-DOS system support,^[8] but financial constraints forced its sale to Intelligent Graphics Corporation (IGC),^[9] which launched the product in 1987.^[10] It won a PC Magazine award for technical excellence in 1988.^[11][3][4] The company also introduced a multi-user version, which allowed a number of serial terminals and even graphical systems to be connected to a single 386 computer.^[12] Current versions of the software have built on the multi-user support, and can handle tens of users in a networked environment with Windows 3.11 support, access controls, virtual memory and device sharing, among other features.^[13]

A version of the software designed to cooperate with Unix was bundled with Everex Systems workstations.^[14] The system now sees use mainly in vertical applications like point-of-sale systems, where its ability to run reliably on cheap, reliable hardware outweigh any gains from newer operating systems that are more complex and less reliable.^[15]

Early competition included DESQview 386, Sunny Hill Software's Omniview, StarPath Systems' Vmos/3,^[3][4] and Windows/386 2.01.^[6] As the target market shifted away from single-user systems to multiple-user setups with many serial terminals it began to compete more directly with the likes of Multiuser DOS and PC-MOS/386.

See also

• Virtual DOS machine
• Multiuser DOS Federation