NCOS
{{about|the Network Computer Operating System|Non-Commissioned Officers|NCOs}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = NCOS
| logo =
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| developer = Acorn Computers, Pace
| family =
| working_state = Discontinued
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| language = English
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| supported_platforms = ARM
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| ui = RISC OS
| license = Proprietary
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NCOS is the graphical user interface-based operating system developed for use in Oracle Corporation's Network Computers, which are discontinued.
{{cite web
| url = http://news.cnet.com/Oracle-to-debut-500-network-computer/2100-1001_3-206125.html
| title = Oracle to debut $500 network computer
| access-date = 2011-05-27
| last = Aguilar
| first = Rose
| date = 1996-02-26
| work = CNET
| publisher = CNET.com
| quote = The Oracle Network Computer (NC) [...] will come with a small footprint operating system called the NCOS [...]}}
It was adapted by Acorn Computers from its own {{nowraplinks|RISC OS}},
{{cite web
| url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Acorn+Group+Spurs+NC+Clone+Market+by+Giving+Away+NC+Hardware...-a019703042
| title = Acorn Group spurs NC clone market by giving away nc hardware production and reference designs
| access-date = 2011-06-07
| date = 1997-08-19
| publisher = PR Newswire
| quote = A scaled down version of RISC OS was licensed to Oracle to form its NCOS(TM). }}
{{cite news | first = Elinor | last = Mills | title = Oracle unveils plan for family of Internet devices | date = 1996-01-15 | work = Network World | access-date = 2011-06-10 | quote = [Andrew] Laursen confirmed an agreement with Acorn Computer Group Plc. [...] on the development of reference designs for a range of network computer products. [...] "The Network Computer will use pieces of the RISC operating system [...] calling it NC-OS," [...]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ng0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10|page=10|issn=0887-7661}} which was originally developed for their range of Archimedes desktop computers. It shares with {{nowrap|RISC OS}} the same 4 MB ROM size and suitability for use with TV displays.
In 1999, Pace acquired the set-top box (STB) division of Acorn Computers,{{ cite report |url=http://www.pace.com/media/corporate/PDF/ra_2000.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206105009/http://www.pace.com/media/corporate/PDF/ra_2000.pdf |archive-date=2008-12-06 | title=Pace Micro Technology PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2000 | date=2000 | access-date=15 April 2021 }}{{rp|pages=5|quote=In the last year, two such businesses were purchased; the multi-media terminals division of the Acorn Group and Vegastream Ltd. The Acorn business gave us access to ADSL technology, web browsing technology and wider skills in operating systems.}}{{rp|pages=9|quote=This contract, announced in March 2000, came out of the acquisition in June 1999 of Acorn’s multi-media terminals business and was the achievement of Pace’s successful integration of the 40 strong Cambridge engineering team.}} this being a component in the disposal of assets around the takeover of Acorn by MSDW Investment Holdings.{{cite web|url=http://www.marutan.net/wikiref/msdw/19990427%20-%20Acorn%20audited%20results%20for%201998.pdf|title=Acorn Group PLC - Preliminary Announcement of Audited Results for the Year Ended 31 December 1998|website=marutan.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718122337/http://www.marutan.net/wikiref/msdw/19990427%20-%20Acorn%20audited%20results%20for%201998.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2011|access-date=14 January 2011}} This gave Pace the rights to use and develop NCOS.{{ cite news | url=https://www.theregister.com/1999/04/29/arm_denies_role_in_acorn/ | title=ARM denies role in Acorn dismemberment | work=The Register | date=24 April 1999 | access-date=31 January 2021 | last1=Cullen | first1=Drew }} RISCOS Ltd later announced Embedded RISC OS, which was to have similarities with NCOS.
{{cite web
| url = http://foundation.riscos.com/html/news/newsletter/20.htm
| title = Foundation Newsletter 20
| access-date = 2011-06-08
| last = Middleton
| first = Paul
| date = 2002-02-08
| publisher = RISCOS Ltd
| quote = Embedded RISC OS [...] In principle it will be similar to the NCOS derivative of RISC OS previously used in Network Computers [...]}}
Development
NCOS originated in connection with the Network Computer project. It was used on various STB products.
{{cite web
| url = http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/NC.html
| title = Acorn NCs, STBs & Prototypes
| access-date = 2021-04-15
| last = Whytehead
| first = Chris
| quote = Acorn produced the following Network Computers, Set Top Boxes and Prototypes [...]}}
It branched from RISC OS 3.60 and was called RISC OS 3.61{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} before being named after Network Computer Operating System.
{{cite web
| url = http://cgi.snafu.de/ohei/user-cgi-bin/veraresp-e.cgi?Search+option=acronym;Search+width=exact;Request=NCOS
| title = V.E.R.A. Search Results
| access-date = 2011-06-09
| work = VERA
| publisher = Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms
| quote = NCOS Network Computer Operating System (OS, Oracle, Internet)}}
It was merged back into the HEAD whilst at Pace,{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} where it was known as {{nowrap|RISC OS-NC}}
{{cite web
| url = http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/AfterAcorn/BushInternet.html
| title = Bush Internet Surf Set
| access-date = 2021-04-15
| last = Whytehead
| first = Chris
}}
{{cite web
| url = http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/AfterAcorn/Pace_DSL4000.html
| title = Pace DSL4000
| access-date = 2021-04-15
| last = Whytehead
| first = Chris
}}
= Features =
NCOS was designed in accord with the Network Computer Reference Profile and thus supports internet standards of the time.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} Being closely based on {{nowrap|RISC OS}}, it can also run many of that operating system's applications.{{cite magazine | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Clan/Acorn_ClanNewsletter_A7000+.pdf | title=Acorn Network Computer: All This and RISC OS too! | magazine=Acorn Clan Newsletter A7000+ | publisher=Acorn Computers | date=1997 | access-date=2021-04-15 | pages=13–15 }}{{rp|pages=13|quote=To this end, it is possible to make many RISC OS applications run successfully on NC OS; it is predicted that about 70% - 75% of RISC OS apps can be made to run either "out of the box" or with only minor modifications.}} Reporting on the launch of the Network Computer in 1996, it was noted that NCOS was essentially the same as RISC OS but with some features removed, such as "support for local file systems", whereas other features such as network support had been added to ROM.{{ cite magazine | title=Acorn Shopper | magazine=Computer Shopper | date=August 1996 | last1=Nagel | first1=Jim | pages=633 }} The actual differences involved the absence of "modules significant to the operation and networking" of existing RISC OS versions, including the Filer, TaskManager and Pinboard modules, plus a range of networking modules. The use of files stored on a server and accessed using the Network File System (NFS) also imposed restrictions on the files used by applications, with recommended techniques for the deployment of applications involving the transfer of files over NFS from RISC OS clients or the use of archives in the largely Acorn-specific Spark format, with these being unpacked on the server using an appropriate tool.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Acorn Computers operating systems
Category:ARM operating systems
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