Information about OS/2 and running SSIIM on a PC

Why OS/2 ?

SSIIM is a multi-threaded program. This means that several of the program modules can run simultaneously. A typical example is that the graphics modules can be run simultaneously with the numerical computation modules. This means that the user can see the values of the variables while the calculations are running.

CFD programs use large computer resources and take long computational time. Often, one wishes to use the computer for other purposes while the CFD program is running. To do this, the operating system has to be able to multi-task. When for example using a word processor, only a fraction of the computational power of the PC is used. The rest can then be used for the CFD program. OS/2 is very good at both multi-tasking and running multi-threaded programs.

Note that for example DOS and Windows 3.1 is not able to multi-task or do mult-threading. OS/2 was the first Intel-specific operating system with this abilitiy with reasonable cost and installation work. The latest version of Windows NT is able to multi-task, but not better than OS/2. The different UNIX versions are also able to multi-task, but require much more resources on installation and maintainence.

Computational power of the PC

The PC has increased its computational power significantly over the last years. Especially the emergence of the Pentium Pro 200 processor has dramatically increased the available computational power. Running SSIIM on our latest Pentium Pro 200's, it is about 10 (ten) times faster than the Pentium 90 PC's we used before. The Pentium Pro 200 is about three times faster than our IBM 370 workstation, or our Sun Sparc 10 workstation. This gives an advantage for the PC with regards to the price/preformance ratio.

A 3D steady state calculation with about 50 000 cells will typically converge overnight on a Pentium Pro 200.

Combining OS/2 with Windows and/or Linux on the same PC

This is possible using the Boot Manager that comes with OS/2. The hard disk can be partitioned in various parts corresponding to each operating system. It is possible to have multiple versions of Windows.

Note that this requires that the Boot Manager is installed before the other operating systems. If you have a PC with an operating system already installed, and you don't want to reinstall this, you can use a software called Partition Magic to change the size of the partitions and install the Boot Manager. Partition Magic is further described below.

Tips on installing OS/2 for use with SSIIM

Since SSIIM version 1.4 with the OpenGL graphics, it is neccessary to take care when installing OS/2, to include the proper files.

First, the OpenGL library has to be installed. The library is made up of several files including raster.dll and opengl.dll. The files are not installed in the default OS/2 installation. The typical error message is that one of these files are not found. It is possible to install these files after the OS/2 installation is finished. In the "Selective Install" folder, mark the option "Tools and Games", click on "More", and mark the "OpenGL (R) 1.0 3D Graphics Library"

Secondly, the "Multi-Media Software Support" has to be installed. This is installed in the same module as the OpenGL libraries. If the mult-media support is not installed, SSIIM will crash when the OpenGL grahphics is running, with an error message of "Segmentation Violation in RASTER.DLL".

Also, OpenGL requires 256 colours to run. The colours are chosen in the "System Setup", in the "System" folder. If it is not possible to have more than 16 colours on your system, you need to install a new graphics driver.

Where to purchase OS/2 software?

The most convenient way to purchase OS/2 software is on mail-order, for example from:

In the USA: Indelible Blue.

In the UK: One-Stop Software, Tel.: 01934 838 392

Useful OS/2 software

Note that in addition to the OS/2-specific programs mentioned below, most programs for DOS and Windows 3.1 will also run under OS/2, for example WP 6.0, Word 6.0 for Windows, and 123 and Excel spreadsheets.

OS/2 Warp 4.0

The package includes the operating system, a news-reader, telnet, ftp and tcp-ip for OS/2, amongst other things.

Netscape

Netscape for OS/2 is the most used of the OS/2 web-browsers. It is free, and can conveniently be downloaded from the web. After installing OS/2 with Internet connection, there are instructions for how to do this.

Netscape for OS/2 also contains an e-mail program.

Partition Magic

As described earlier, Partition Magic is convenient to use when you want multiple operating systems on your PC, and you have an operating system on your PC you don't want to reinstall.

Further description

Partition Magic is made by PowerQuest Corporation

Lotus Word Pro 96

This is a word processing package with similar qualities and options as the most commonly used word processing packages for Windows, including a good equation editor. The User's Manual for SSIIM is written in Lotus Word Pro. Filters are provided so that files with other word processing formats, for example WP, Word 6.0 for Windows 3.1 and Word 7.0 for Win95/NT can be read or written. The CFD class notes was originally written in Word 7.0, and was converted to Lotus Word Pro with only small modifications. A beta of Lotus Word Pro was included in the first OS/2 4.0 packages.

Further description

Lotus Freelance Graphics 96

This is a very powerful graphics package. It can read the OS/2 metafiles produced by SSIIM and modify these, by adding text, removing lines, scaling, etc. It can also make very good presentations from the OpenGL graphics, by combining multiple bitmaps, adding text etc. The package also has filters so that OS/2 metafiles and bitmaps can be converted to many other file formats, for example .gif and .cgm. This is convenient when using the graphics files in web documents or in non-OS/2 word processors.

Further description

Hobbes CD-ROM

Ths Hobbes CD-ROM contains a very large number of freeware/shareware programs for OS/2, for example SSIIM. Note that most of these programs can also be downloaded from the Internet.

PM Camera /2

PMCamera is a screen capturing program. It is used when making hard-copies of the SSIM OpenGL graphics, or files to the Internet. The graphic picture is saved to a bitmap or to the clipboard, and can then be manipulated by a graphics package, for example Lotus Freelance. PM Camera is freeware and can be downloaded from the Internet. Use a search tool and look for pmcam2.zip.

OS/2 links

OS/2 info from IBM.

OS/2 info for new users

Back to CFD page.

This page was made by Nils R. Olsen and it was last updated: 28 September 1997

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