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Multics

Also Known As Multiplexed Information and Computing Service
Operating System

Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service) was an early, influential time sharing operating system built around single level memory, mapping files directly into a program's address space. Developed jointly by MIT, General Electric and Bell Labs beginning in 1964, it achieved limited commercial success but pioneered concepts, including hierarchical file systems, dynamic linking and ring based security, adopted broadly in later operating systems, including Unix. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Year
1964 1
Significance
Its complexity prompted Bell Labs researchers, including Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, to withdraw and build a simpler alternative that became Unix, which in turn shaped nearly every operating system that followed. 1
Connections

Associated With

Fernando Corbato, Pioneers

Led the Multics development project at MIT Project MAC from its beginning in 1963 into the mid-1970s; Multics was a joint MIT, Bell Labs and General Electric project rather than a single inventor's work.

Source Multicians.org: Corby
GE-600 series, Systems

GE-600 series hardware (the GE 645 variant) was the primary platform Multics ran on from 1965, developed jointly by GE, MIT and Bell Labs.

Parallel Computing, Fields
Source Wikipedia: Parallel computing

In Field

Operating Systems, Fields
Source Wikipedia: Multics

Influenced

ICL 2900 Series, Systems

The ICL 2900 Series design (the Synthetic Option) drew influence from Multics among other systems.

Invented By

Fernando Corbato, Pioneers

Fernando Corbato led the Multics project at MIT (Project MAC), the pioneering time-sharing operating system that directly influenced the design of Unix.

Source Wikipedia: Fernando J. Corbato

Predecessor Of

Unix, Systems
Source Wikipedia: Multics
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Multics
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening paragraph, before Novel ideas section
    has influenced all modern operating systems since, from microcomputers to mainframes
  • Opening paragraph, on influence
  • History section, project start
  • Introduction
  • In Field: Operating Systems
  • Predecessor Of: Unix, Opening paragraph, on Unix reaction
View the Source
Multicians.org: Corby
Multicians.orgAssociated With: Fernando Corbato, Leadership and Vision sectionView the Source
Wikipedia: Fernando J. Corbato
Wikimedia FoundationInvented By: Fernando CorbatoView the Source
Wikipedia: Parallel computing
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Parallel Computing, History section
Quote, Associated With: Parallel Computing, History section
Honeywell's Multics system ran up to eight processors in parallel
View the Source
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