Category: NSK

Career, Insider Technologies Limited, ITL – 1995 to 2013 as HPE NonStop Tandem specialist and Product Manager

Career, Insider Technologies Limited, ITL – 1995 to 2013 as HPE NonStop Tandem specialist and Product Manager

ITL, at the San Jose International TANDEM User Group (ITUG) in 2003…

ITL, at the San Jose International TANDEM User Group (ITUG) in 2003

HPE NonStop previously Tandem Computers

NonStop is a series of server computers introduced to market in 1976 by Tandem Computers Incorporated,[1] beginning with the NonStop product line.[2] It was followed by the Tandem Integrity NonStop line of lock-step fault-tolerant computers, now defunct (not to be confused with the later and much different Hewlett-Packard Integrity product line extension). The original NonStop product line is currently offered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise since Hewlett-Packard Company’s split in 2015. Because NonStop systems are based on an integrated hardware/software stack, Tandem and later HPE also developed the NonStop OS operating system for them.

NonStop systems are, to an extent, self-healing. To circumvent single points of failure, they are equipped with almost all redundant components. When a mainline component fails, the system automatically falls back to the backup.

These systems can be used by banks, stock exchanges, payment applications, retail companies, energy and utility services, healthcare organizations, manufacturers, telecommunication providers, transportation, and other enterprises requiring extremely high uptime.

History

Originally introduced in 1976 by Tandem Computers Inc., the line was later owned by Compaq (from 1997), Hewlett-Packard Company (from 2003)[3] and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (since 2015). In 2005, the HP Integrity “NonStop i” (or TNS/E) servers, based on Intel Itanium microprocessors, was introduced. In 2014, the first “NonStop X” (or TNS/X) systems, based on Intel x86-64 processors, were introduced. Sales of the Itanium-based systems ended in July 2020.[4]

Early NonStop applications had to be specifically coded for fault tolerance. That requirement was removed in 1983 with the introduction of the Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF), along with Pathway transaction management software and SCOBOL applications (or, later, NonStop Tuxedo transaction management software), which handles the various aspects of fault tolerance on the system level.

Software

NonStop OS is a message-based operating system designed for fault tolerance. It works with process pairs and ensures that backup processes on redundant CPUs take over in case of a process or CPU failure. Data integrity is maintained during those takeovers; no transactions or data are lost or corrupted.

The operating system as a whole is branded NonStop OS and includes the Guardian layer, which is a low-level component of the operating system and the Open System Services (OSS) personality which runs atop this layer, which implements a Unix-like interface for other components of the OS to use.

The operating system and application are both designed to support the fault tolerant hardware. The operating system continually monitors the status of all components, switching control as necessary to maintain operations. There are also features designed into the software that allow programs to be written as continuously available programs. That is accomplished using a pair of processes where one process performs all the primary processing and the other serves as a “hot backup”, receiving updates to data whenever the primary reaches a critical point in processing. Should the primary stop, the backup steps in to resume execution using the current transaction.[5]

The systems support relational database management systems like NonStop SQL and hierarchical databases such as Enscribe.

Languages supported include Java,[6] C, C++,[6] COBOL, SCOBOL (Screen COBOL), Transaction Application Language (TAL), etc. It uses the scripting and job control language TACL (Tandem Advanced Command Language), and is written in TAL and C.

Hardware

The HPE Integrity NonStop computers are a line of fault-tolerant, message-based server computers based on the Intel Xeon processor platform,[4] and optimized for transaction processing. Average availability levels of 99.999% have been observed.[7] NonStop systems feature a massively parallel processing (MPP) architecture and provide linear scalability. Each CPU runs its own copy of the OS, and systems can be expanded up to over 4000 CPUs. This is a shared-nothing architecture—a “share nothing” arrangement also known as loosely coupled multiprocessing.

Due to the integrated hardware/software stack and a single system image for even the largest configurations, system management requirements for NonStop systems are rather low. In most deployments there is just a single production server, not a complex server farm.

Most customers also have a backup server in a remote location for IT disaster recovery. There are standard products to keep the data of the production and the backup server in sync, for example, HPE’s Remote Database Facility (RDF),[8] hence there is fast takeover and little to no data loss also in a disaster situation with the production server being disabled or destroyed.

HP also developed a data warehouse and business intelligence server line, HP Neoview, based on the NonStop line. It acted as a database server, providing NonStop OS and NonStop SQL, but lacked the transaction processing functionality of the original NonStop systems. The line was retired, and no longer marketed, as of 24 January 2011.[9]

See also

HPE NonStop Tandem Enscribe Database

Enscribe is the native hierarchical database in the commercial HP NonStop (Tandem) servers. It is designed for fault tolerance and scalability and is currently offered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The product was originally developed by Tandem Computers. Tandem was acquired by Compaq in 1997. Compaq was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2002. When Hewlett-Packard split in 2015 into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Enscribe and the rest of the NonStop product line went to Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The product primarily is used for online transaction processing and is tailored for organizations that need high availability and scalability for their database system. Typical users of the product are stock exchanges, telecommunications, POS, and bank ATM networks.

Somewhat similar to Record Management Services on OpenVMS platforms, some Enscribe features are:[1]

  • Five disk file structures: unstructured, key-sequenced, queue, entry-sequenced, and relative
  • Partitioned (multiple-volume) files
  • Multiple-key access to records
  • Relational access among files (where a field value from one file is used as a key to access a data record in another file)
  • Optional automatic maintenance of all keys
  • Optional key compression in key-sequenced data or index blocks
  • Support of transaction auditing through the Transaction Management Facility (TMF/MP). TMF is the main functional component of the NonStop Transaction Manager/MP product.
  • Optional compression of audit-checkpoint records
  • Record level locking and file level locking
  • Cache buffering
  • Optional sequential block buffering
  • Waited and Nowaited I/Os (multi-threading of I/O calls by the programmer)[2]

The NonStop OS Guardian APIs or the utility FUP (File Utility Program) can be used to work with Enscribe files.

A “convert” utility was provided by Tandem to aid in converting Enscribe files to NonStop SQL files, when desired.[3]

Many of the applications developed in HP NonStop servers (often critical ones) run on Enscribe databases.

History

Enscribe is designed to run effectively on parallel computers, adding functionality for distributed data, distributed execution, and distributed transactions.

First released in the early 1980s, and initially carrying an added charge until it was included with the operating system, the product became one of the few hierarchical data base systems that scales almost linearly with the number of processors in the machine: adding a second CPU to an existing server almost exactly doubled its performance.

See also

HPE NonStop Tandem SQL/MP

NonStop SQL is a commercial relational database management system that is designed for fault tolerance and scalability, currently offered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The latest version is SQL/MX 3.4.

NonStop SQL

Original author, Tandem Computers

Developer, HPE

Initial release, 1987

Stable release, 3.4

Operating system, NonStop OS

Platform, NonStop

Standard, ANSI standard (NonStop SQL/MX)

Available in :-

NonStop COBOL, NonStop SCOBOL, NonStop Java, NonStop C, NonStop C++, Transaction Application Language (TAL), pTAL, epTAL

Type, DBMS

License, Proprietary

The product was originally developed by Tandem Computers. Tandem was acquired by Compaq in 1997. Compaq was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2002. When Hewlett-Packard split in 2015 into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, NonStop SQL and the rest of the NonStop product line went to Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The product primarily is used for online transaction processing and is tailored for organizations that need high availability and scalability for their database system. Typical users of the product are stock exchanges, telecommunications, POS, and bank ATM networks.[1]

History

NonStop SQL is designed to run effectively on parallel computers, adding functionality for distributed data, distributed execution, and distributed transactions.

First released in 1987, a second version in 1989[2] added the ability to run queries in parallel, and the product became fairly famous for being one of the few systems that scales almost linearly with the number of processors in the machine: adding a second CPU to an existing NonStop SQL server almost exactly doubled its performance.

The second version added /MP to its name, for Massively Parallel. A third version, NonStop SQL/MX, created a product that was more ANSI SQL compliant than its predecessor. NonStop SQL/MX has shipped on the NonStop platform since 2002, and can access tables created by NonStop SQL/MP, although only “Native SQL/MX tables” offer ANSI compliance and many “Oracle-like” enhancements. The HP Neoview business intelligence platform was built using NonStop SQL as its origins. NonStop SQL/MX is HP’s only OLTP database product.

Parts of the Neoview code base were open sourced in 2014 under the name Trafodion, which is now a top-level Apache project.

See also

My HPE Tandem NonStop SQL/MP experience.

COBOL85 programming language on HPE NonStop systems (formerly Tandem NonStop)

“COBOL85 nonstop” refers to the use of the COBOL85 programming language on HPE NonStop systems (formerly Tandem NonStop). The HPE NonStop platform is known for its fault-tolerant, continuous availability architecture, often used for critical, large-scale transaction processing. 

Key aspects of COBOL85 on NonStop include:

  • Platform-Specific Implementation: HPE provided a specific implementation of the 1985 COBOL standard tailored to its unique Guardian operating system and hardware architecture.
  • Mission-Critical Applications: COBOL programs on NonStop are commonly used in industries such as finance, retail, and government for applications requiring high reliability and constant uptime (the “nonstop” nature of the system).
  • Fault Tolerance: NonStop systems achieve fault tolerance through mechanisms like process pairs, and the COBOL runtime library can interact with these features. For example, a PARAM NONSTOP OFF setting in a PATHMON configuration can prevent a COBOL85 server from running as a process pair if that behavior is not desired.
  • System Integration: Programmers can call Guardian procedures and use embedded SQL/MP statements within their COBOL85 programs to interact with the system’s robust file system and database.
  • Development and Maintenance: The combination of COBOL85 and HPE NonStop utilities is a specific skill set for developers maintaining these critical legacy systems.
  • Tools and Manuals: Documentation and tools, such as the INSPECT symbolic debugger and the FUP (File Utility Program), are specific to the NonStop environment and assist with development and maintenance. 

For detailed information, users can consult the official documentation, such as the HP COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs or other manuals available on the NonStopTools website and HPE Support portals. 

My NonStop COBOL85 programming experience.

HP NonStop (HPE) fault tolerant servers originally developed by Tandem Computers – Summary

My IT career between the years 1990 and 2014, involved significant programming and large projects for Tandem HP NonStop servers.

HP NonStop Tandem Computers

HP NonStop refers to the line of fault-tolerant servers and software originally developed by Tandem Computers and now owned by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). These systems are designed for continuous operation and uninterrupted transaction processing by using redundant hardware components and independent processors to automatically failover in the event of a failure, ensuring high availability for critical applications in banking, telecommunications, and healthcare. 

Origins and Evolution

  • Tandem Computers: Founded in 1974, Tandem introduced the NonStop system, a pioneering fault-tolerant computer with no single point of failure, revolutionizing continuous availability for online transaction processing. 
  • Acquisitions: Tandem Computers was acquired by Compaq in 1997, and Compaq was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2001. 
  • Current Ownership: After the split of HP into Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and HP Inc. in 2015, the NonStop product line became part of HPE. 

Key Features and Uses

  • Fault Tolerance: The systems are built with redundant components, including identical processors and storage devices, allowing them to automatically detect and recover from hardware or software failures without interruption. 
  • High Availability: This fault-tolerant architecture is ideal for mission-critical applications that require constant uptime, such as financial transactions, emergency services, and large-scale banking systems. 
  • Scalability: NonStop systems are designed for scalability, able to handle large commercial workloads by adding independent processors. 
  • Dedicated Operating System: Historically, NonStop systems ran on proprietary software like the Guardian operating system and used the TAL programming language. 
  • Specialized Database: The line includes NonStop SQL (currently SQL/MX), a relational database designed for the high availability and scalability needs of these systems. 

Tandem Computers, NonStop Kernel (NSK), a Timeline of HP NonStop

Tandem Computers, NonStop Kernel (NSK), a timeline of the history and evolution of HP NonStop.

Note: some texts below AI generated for completeness.

Tandem’s NonStop computers, founded by Jimmy Treybig in 1974, were a revolutionary fault-tolerant system that sold its first server in 1976 to Citibank, achieving rapid growth through the 1980s before later becoming part of Compaq (1997), Hewlett-Packard (2003), and finally Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). Key milestones include the 1983 introduction of the Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF), which simplified development by handling fault tolerance at the system level, the introduction of the first NonStop X x86-based systems in 2014, and the phasing out of Itanium-based models by 2020. 

1970s

  • 1974: Tandem Computers Inc. is founded by Jimmy Treybig, with the goal of creating “NonStop” computers that don’t fail. 
  • 1975: The design of the first NonStop hardware, the Tandem/16, is completed. 
  • 1976: The first NonStop server ships to Citibank. The company experiences exponential growth. 

1980s

  • 1981: The NonStop II server is introduced, and Tandem joins the Fortune 500. 
  • 1983: The requirement for developers to code specifically for fault tolerance is removed with the introduction of the Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF) and NonStop Tuxedo software. 
  • 1985: The first online-serviceable disk storage facilities, the V8 and XL8, are introduced. 
  • 1986: NonStop technology is used by the world’s 30 largest telecommunication companies and many top banks. 
  • 1988: Tandem acquires Ungermann-Bass, Inc. to enhance its networking capabilities. 
  • Late 1980s: A new line of NonStop systems, including the CLX, CYCLONE, and Cyclone-R, is introduced, representing a significant redesign while maintaining fault-tolerant principles. 

1990s

  • 1990: Tandem reaches its peak revenue but begins a slow decline as the market shifts to faster, cheaper systems. 
  • 1991: Tandem announces the Tandem Image Processing System for digitized document management. 
  • 1997: Tandem is acquired by Compaq, becoming a server division within the company. 

2000s 

  • 2003: Hewlett-Packard (HP) acquires Compaq, and the NonStop line becomes part of HP.
  • 2005: The HP Integrity NonStop i (TNS/E) servers, based on Intel Itanium microprocessors, are introduced.

2010s

  • 2014: The first NonStop X (TNS/X) systems, built on Intel x86-64 processors, are launched. 
  • 2015: Following the split of Hewlett-Packard, the NonStop division becomes part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). 

2020s 

  • 2020: Sales of Itanium-based NonStop systems end, marking a major shift to x86 architecture for the product line.

The Tandem NonStop history began in 1976 with Tandem Computers’ introduction of its fault-tolerant systems for critical transaction processing. After Tandem was acquired by Compaq in 1997, the NonStop line continued under Compaq, then Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2003, and is now part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) following the company’s 2015 split. Key developments include the 1983 introduction of the Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF) and NonStop Tuxedo, the 2005 arrival of NonStop i servers based on Intel Itanium processors, and the 2014 launch of the NonStop X systems using Intel x86-64 processors. 

Also;

1970s

  • 1974: Tandem Computers is founded in Cupertino, California, by Jim Treybig. 
  • 1976: Tandem introduces its first NonStop fault-tolerant system. 
  • 1970s: Tandem’s architecture is designed for continuous availability and zero data loss, becoming the dominant manufacturer of fault-tolerant computer systems for ATM networks, banks, and stock exchanges. 

1980s

  • 1983: Tandem introduces the Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF) and the Pathway transaction management software, removing the need for applications to be specifically coded for fault tolerance. 
  • 1986: Tandem launches NonStop SQL, the first fault-tolerant SQL database, which offers unique features for data integrity across nodes and can scale performance with additional nodes. 
  • 1989: A new version of NonStop SQL adds transactions that can be spread across multiple nodes, a groundbreaking feature for the time. 

1990s 

  • 1997: Compaq acquires Tandem Computers, with NonStop becoming a server division within Compaq.

2000s 

  • 2003: Hewlett-Packard (HP) acquires Compaq, integrating the NonStop line into its operations.
  • 2005: HP introduces the HP Integrity NonStop i servers (also known as TNS/E), which are based on Intel Itanium microprocessors.

2010s

  • 2014: HP launches the first NonStop X systems (TNS/X), which are built on Intel x86-64 processors. 
  • 2015: Following the split of Hewlett-Packard, the NonStop division becomes part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). 

2020s

  • 2020: Sales of the Itanium-based NonStop systems end. 
  • 2025 (Present): HPE continues to operate the NonStop platform, a technology that still serves critical infrastructure requiring high availability and continuous operation. 

See also : https://www.company-histories.com/TANDEM-COMPUTERS-INC-Company-History.html