-----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lindy Mayfield Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 2:05 PM To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU Subject: Re: What part of z/OS is the OS?
Thanks Alan. I realized that coming up with a definition of what is an operating system was a slippery slope. So I thought to ask if maybe it was more well defined for z/OS by IBM. I tried to think of an example where things were clear. I could think of maybe PC-DOS 1.2. If I remember correctly the OS was quite definable there. Then again, would command.com have been a part of the OS or not. (-: Perhaps it all really is just an academic discussion, but I can't help but think there should be a clear definition somewhere. Maybe I'll try to Google a bit harder. Lindy <snip> If you are a contract programmer in the state of Ohio, you must charge sales tax any time the work you do involves the installation or modification of the operating system! Ok, so I asked the state to define the O/S in the area of mainframes (specifically). They agreed that it was very complicated and so told me that it was any component that exercised control over hardware. And finally they said that I was the expert so I should make the decision as to when something was sales taxable! [Hmmmm. Fox, hen house, what a mental image!] So I made sure to not write channel commands or work on anything in JES2 (exits) where it would be argued that I was controlling or modifying the control of hardware, etc. Good thing I managed to avoid the install of z/OS during Server Pack customization (I actually had one of the customer's people answer and submit certain things ;-) ). Looking at a graphic representation of an O/S, most I've seen are a graphic representation similar to the peeling of an onion. Later, Steve Thompson ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
