System 6

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
System 6
developer Apple Computer, Inc.
License (s) proprietary
Current  version 6.0.8L (Feb 1992)
Kernel monolithic
ancestry Macintosh system software
Architecture (s) 68k
timeline System 6.0
System 6.0.1
System 6.0.2
System 6.0.3
System 6.0.4
System 6.0.5
System 6.0.6
System 6.0.7
System 6.0.8
System 6.0.8L
Languages) English, German and others

System 6 or Macintosh System Software 6 (sometimes just "System Software 6") is an operating system by Apple that was released in June 1988 for the Macintosh series of computers. It follows System Software 5 and goes back to the Macintosh System Software (later renamed Mac OS ) released with the original Macintosh computer from 1984 ; the successor operating system, System 7 , appeared in 1991.

description

System 6 was shipped on either five 800 kB or two 1.44 MB floppy disks . It runs on all Macintosh computers that also ran System Software 5 , i.e. with the exception of the original Macintosh (128k and 512k) from 1984 on all systems with the Motorola 68000 , 68020 and 68030 processors . The first model of the Macintosh Quadra from 1991 already uses a Motorola 68040 processor and is therefore not compatible with System 6.

As already System 1.0 from 1984 is in large part in 6 system 68k - Assembler and Pascal written. As a result, it feels significantly more powerful than its successor System 7, especially on older hardware, and at the same time requires relatively few resources: a minimal installation takes up only 460 kB of storage space on the hard disk (or floppy disk) and only 320 kB of main memory after the operating system is started . A default ( English EasyInstall ) is 1.4 MB memory and 650 kB memory. System 6 runs great on Macintosh PCs that do not have a hard drive, just one or two floppy drives.

As with System Software 5 , System 6 offers cooperative multitasking through the MultiFinder : If a program is started from the MultiFinder, it is retained in the memory and transfers control to the started program. If this is ended or if control is passed back to the MultiFinder, it can continue in the state in which it gave up control. However, the Finder and MultiFinder cannot be run at the same time. Switching between the two Finder variants requires a restart. On Macintosh PCs with little memory, however, using the classic Finder has the advantage that more memory is available for the program being executed, since the Finder always closes and is deleted from the memory when the program is started.

Publications

System 6.0.1 was released with the Macintosh IIx in September 1988. Version 6.0.2 followed at the end of 1988. The Macintosh SE / 30 and the Macintosh IIcx included System 6.0.3 in January 1989. The Macintosh IIci and the Macintosh Portable shipped with System 6.0.4 in September 1989. System 6.0.5 was released with the Macintosh IIfx in March 1990. The Macintosh Classic , the Macintosh IIsi and the Macintosh LC were shipped with System 6.0.6, which however had stability problems and errors . It was therefore replaced by System 6.0.7 shortly afterwards in October 1990. System 6.0.8 was deployed in April 1991 after System 7 was released in March 1991.

The last version of System 6 is version 6.0.8L, dated February 1992.

A System 6.0.3 is contained in the ROM of the Macintosh Classic , which can be started with the key combination ⌥ (Opt) + Alt+ X+ O. The Macintosh Classic is therefore the only Mac that has ever without floppy or hard disk starts could be.

Technical specifications

System 6 provides 24-bit memory access , but no virtual memory , and can access a total of 8 MB of memory , 10 MB for the Macintosh LC and LC II . It supports hard drives as well as CD-ROM and Zip drives . The hierarchical file system (HFS) can manage partitions up to 2 GB in size. With a suitable NuBus graphics card, System 6 supports screen resolutions of up to 1600 × 1200 in 24-bit color depth . In addition to modems, Ethernet is also supported with suitable hardware.

With additional software, the 24-bit memory access can be increased to up to 14 MB main memory and virtual memory can be activated. It is also possible to activate the 32-bit mode with some restrictions, but this mode is not compatible with some existing Macintosh programs (including the MultiFinder). Since the 8MB memory limitation on some Macintosh models still exists under System 7 , Apple licensed MODE32 from Connectix for the Macintosh II , IIx , IIcx and SE / 30 models . For System 6, only paid programs were available ( OPTIMA , MAXIMA and Virtual from Connectix).

history

System 6 followed the "Macintosh System Software 5" and was therefore also referred to as "Macintosh System Software 6". For the first time, the versions of the operating system ( kernel ), finder and overall system were standardized, although the finder has a sub- version number increased by one (6.1 instead of 6.0), as this was already included in System Software 5 in version 6.0.

date version Macintosh models Comments
system finder MultiFinder LaserWriter
Apr. 1988 6.0 6.1 6.0 5.2 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II
Aug 1988 6.0.1 6.0.1 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx
Sept 1988 6.0.2 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx
Dec 1988 6.0.3 6.0.3 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx , Classic , SE / 30 , IIcx Last version running on Macintosh XL with MacWorks Plus. MacWorks Plus II is required for newer versions.
Sept 1989 6.0.4 6.1.4 6.0.4 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx , SE / 30 , IIcx , IIci , Portable
March 1990 6.0.5 6.1.5 6.0.5 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx , SE / 30 , IIcx , IIci , Portable , IIfx
1990 6.0.6 6.1.6 6.0.6 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx , SE / 30 , IIcx , IIci , Portable , IIfx , Classic , IIsi , LC This version was replaced shortly after the release with the Macintosh Classic , IIsi and LC by version 6.0.7, because it had bugs that made the system unstable.
Oct 1990 6.0.7 6.1.7 6.0.7 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx , SE / 30 , IIcx , IIci , Portable , IIfx , Classic , IIsi , LC
Apr. 1991 6.0.8 6.1.8 6.0.8 7.0 XL , 512Ke, Plus , SE , II , IIx , SE / 30 , IIcx , IIci , Portable , IIfx , Classic , IIsi , LC
Feb 1992 6.0.8L LC , Classic , LC II , Classic II , PowerBook 100 The "L" stands for English Limited , ie restricted, as this version was specifically intended for the Macintosh LC II and the Macintosh Classic II and can only run on the models listed. System 6.0.8L is a maintenance release ( English maintenance release in order) in a network compatibility with other Macintosh computers running System 7 to ensure running.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. MACINTOSH 68K SYSTEM MEMORY REQUIREMENTS (text file, English), May 3, 2002, Gamba; accessed on March 7, 2016.
  2. Low End Mac: The Joy of Six: Apple's Fast, Svelte, Reliable, and Still Useful System 6 (English), Tyler Sable, June 21, 2014; accessed on March 7, 2016.
  3. a b System 6 Heaven: Tips, tricks and interesting stuff to download - Getting more out of your system (English); accessed on March 7, 2016.
  4. System 6.0.8L: ReadMe File (8/95). (No longer available online.) Apple Computer, Inc. , August 1995, archived from the original on April 26, 2012 ; accessed on March 6, 2016 .