In limited form these date back to the original CBASIC version of roadrunner. Running on CPM-80 in 1986.
This was followed by the first multi user version written using RMcobol-74 on concurrent CPM in 1988
In there current form these date from 1991, and the migration of Roadrunner from RMcobol-74 on Concurrent CPM. To RMcobol-85 on the then new IBM AIX operating system on the new IBM RS6000 model 320.
While a few of the previous utilities written in C were also relevant to early AIX systems, most of the administration was different. The administrative programs for UNIX systems are written mainly in Korn shell script, to aid in administering and using UNIX based systems with Roadtech software.
In there current form, the administration suite will run on the following platforms. There are some platform specific differences in the functionality.
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A data set allows for 36 companies or cost centres identified by the letters A to Z and possibly the numbers 0 to 9. Where customers merge it is advantageous to run two independent sets on one computer. At leased up to the year end and file account audit of the merging company.
Separating the Company data from the utility installation also helps with replication between servers.
| Administrative user to own the programs and data files | rr85 |
| Group for programs and files | rm85 |
| Directory for Roadrunner Base Data set | /usr/share/rr85 |
| Directory for COBOL applications programs | /usr/share/rr85/cobs |
| Directory for temporary applications data files | /usr/share/rr85/tmp |
| Directory for installation programs and configuration | /usr/share/rr85/instbits |
| Directory for Program data | /usr/share/rr85/instbits |
| Directory for Customer data templates | /usr/share/rr85/instbits/base |
| Directory for temporary administration files | /var/tmp |
| Directory for additional Roadrunner Data set | /usr/share/*/" |
| Directory for temporary applications data files | /usr/share/*/tmp |
| Directory for COBOL applications programs | /usr/share/*/cobs |
| Directory for Program data | /usr/share/*/instbits |
Note setup allows for an unlimited number of data sets, on a server. This would simplify a hosted solution. Each data set can share the same copy of the COBOL programs and program data, or it can have its own copy.
Update routines modified to cater for both cases.
Only try and update or clone data sets that are present on this machine. In a High Availability setup only one server has the data set, but both servers are aware of it.
1998 saw our move to Shenley, and the start of a move to more of a client, server model. With increasing use of network connections, and servers.
Clients connect to the roadrunner server via an INET service.
First draft of a graphical client, using Visual Basic, and the RMcobol vangui connector. Client makes a TCPIP network connection using the tcp transport to port 9001.
Roadrunner Professional GUI. A revamped and extended Visual Basic client connecting to PRGO.COB running as an inetd service on port 9001