The software known as sp/ARCHITECT (specifically the sp/ARCHITECT-BANK module) has a timeline tied to its development in Runcorn, Cheshire, by a firm originally called The Software Partnership.
Company & Product Timeline
Mid-1980s:The Software Partnership is co-founded by Nigel Walsh.
1989: The company begins significant operations in Runcorn, initially at Wingate Drive (Timperley) and later moving to Norton House in Crowngate.
1990–1994: Development period for sp/ARCHITECT in Runcorn. The software was a banking system used by major institutions including TSB, Bank of Scotland, and Rabobank.
1992: The firm relocates its Runcorn base to Wingate House on Northway.
1994: The Software Partnership is acquired by the American company Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems (a division of Deluxe Corporation).
Post-1994: Following the acquisition, the entity operated as Deluxe Data International Operations.
Later Transitions: The lineage of the Runcorn operations eventually merged into larger fintech entities, including eFunds, EFD, and ultimately FIS.
Deluxe Data, Wingate HouseThe Software Partnership, Norton House
sp/ARCHITECT-BANK module – development in Runcorn, Cheshire by The Software Partnership
HPE NonStop (originally Tandem) has a nearly 50-year history as the gold standard for fault-tolerant, “always-on” computing. Originally developed by Tandem Computers to eliminate single points of failure, the platform has survived through several major corporate acquisitions while evolving its underlying processor architecture.
Founding and The Tandem Era (1974–1997)
The “NonStop” architecture was born from the idea that a single hardware failure should never crash a system.
1974:Tandem Computers is founded by Jimmy Treybig and three former HP engineers.
1976: The first Tandem/16 (later NonStop I) is shipped to Citibank. It featured a “shared-nothing” architecture where each CPU had its own memory and copy of the Guardian OS.
1981:NonStop II is released, introducing 32-bit addressing to support larger applications.
1983: The NonStop TXP and Pathway software are introduced. Pathway revolutionized the platform by allowing programmers to write fault-tolerant apps without manually coding “checkpoints”.
1986:NonStop SQL is launched, the first fault-tolerant relational database.
1989:NonStop Cyclone arrives, a high-end mainframe-class system.
1991–1993: Transition to MIPS RISC processors begins with the Cyclone/R and the Himalaya K-series.
Corporate Acquisitions and Transition (1997–2014)
The platform changed hands twice in five years, but the mission-critical nature of the technology kept it alive.
The technical timeline for BASE24 and its core networking component, XPNET, reflects the evolution of high-availability payment switching on HP NonStop (Tandem) systems.
Technical Evolution Timeline
1980s: The Foundation
BASE24 Release: Originally developed by Applied Communications Inc. (now ACI Worldwide), BASE24 was built for the Tandem Guardian operating system.
XPNET Introduction: Developed as the Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM) to handle all transaction routing and communications. It introduced a multi-node architecture allowing different “satellite” processes (ATM, POS, Host) to communicate.
1990s: Scale and Maturity
Classic Era: BASE24 “Classic” became the industry standard for ATM and POS switching.
XPNET 3.x: Enhanced to support larger networks and more complex auditing through NCPCOM.
Language & DB: The system relied on TAL (Tandem Application Language), COBOL, and the Enscribe database.
2000s: The Shift to BASE24-eps
2003–2005: ACI introduced BASE24-eps (Electronic Payment Systems). This was a re-architecture using C++ and Java to provide platform independence.
XPNET 4.1: Released to support the transition, adding features like Common Transport Subsystem (CTS) for better Pathway integration and support for external processes.
z/OS Support: By 2009, BASE24-eps was fully ported to IBM z/OS using CICS and VSAM.
2010s – Present: Modernisation & Cloud
2014–2017: Continued updates to BASE24 Classic R6.0, maintaining its relevance for legacy users.
Cloud Enablement: Recent versions of BASE24-eps focus on REST API integration via tools like LightWave, allowing legacy XPNET paths to be exposed as web services.
Active/Active Environments: Modern implementations focus on “continuous availability” using GoldenGate for data replication between sites.
Key Technical Components
NMM (Network Management Module): The core process of XPNET that manages the configuration of lines, stations, and links.
LCONF: The Logical Network Configuration File used by XPNET to define how messages route between processes.
Auditing: XPNET provides the primary transaction auditing mechanism, which is still utilized by both Classic and eps versions.
The timeline of HPE NonStop ViewPoint (and its modern successor, Web ViewPoint) reflects the evolution of NonStop systems from Tandem’s fault-tolerant beginnings to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s modern cloud-integrated management.
Detailed History Timeline
Pre-2000: Legacy ViewPoint
Originally developed for the Tandem NonStop platform to provide a graphical operations interface for monitoring system status and events.
Featured early support for DSM/PM (Distributed Systems Management/Performance Monitor) and event management through primary and alternate event logs.
2003–2005: Transition to Web ViewPoint
September 2003: Version 4 AAD released as an early iteration of the web-based management tool.
May–October 2004: Progressive upgrades (Versions 5.0 and 5 AAF) introduced refined management capabilities for S-Series servers.
March 2005: Version 5 AAG released, consolidating features for the S-Series.
November 2005:Web ViewPoint for Itanium (Version H01AAI) launched, marking the shift to the Intel Itanium-based Integrity NonStop architecture.
2013–2015: The x86 Revolution & Virtualization
2014: Support for Intel x86 architecture was officially announced, leading to the launch of NonStop X.
Evolution to Web ViewPoint Enterprise (WVP E): The platform evolved into an automated management product, eventually adding integration with cloud-based analytics like HPE Remote Analyst.
2018–Present: Modern Hybrid Cloud Era
L-Series Support: Continued updates provided support for L-Series operating environments and enhanced security monitoring.
2023–2024: Recent developments focus on Web ViewPoint Enterprise, featuring a global configuration platform and enhanced historical data capture through integrations like Sentinel for HPE NonStop.
For more specific documentation, you can browse the HPE NonStop Manuals on the HPE Support Center.
MultiBatch is a high-performance, mainframe-class workload automation and batch scheduling solution specifically designed for the HPE NonStop parallel architecture (formerly Tandem). It is developed by ETI-NET (formerly by Insider Technologies) to manage complex batch schedules across both NonStop Guardian and OSS environments.
Key Milestones and Timeline
1976 – Tandem NonStop Origins: The foundation for these systems was established with the introduction of the first NonStop servers by Tandem Computers.
2017 – MultiBatch Release: Insider Technologies announced an updated release of MultiBatch to enhance off-line processing flows for the HPE NonStop arena.
2019 – GUI and Monitoring Enhancements: Real-time status monitoring through a GUI interface was highlighted as a major differentiator, allowing users to visually track complex batch schedules like RTGS and securities settlements.
2020 – Business Benefits Proven: Case studies demonstrated that MultiBatch could reduce online-dealing batch times by up to 6 hours per day.
2022 – MultiBatch 10 for TBC:MultiBatch 10 was presented at the NonStop Technical Boot Camp (TBC), positioning it as the only workload manager for NonStop built on continuous innovation principles.
2024 – Modernization and Security: Recent updates focused on securing and modernizing the platform for high-performance multitasking.
Core Functionality
Parallel Execution: Supports batch schedules that run concurrently across multiple nodes, leveraging the NonStop architecture for high availability.
Hybrid Support: Seamlessly integrates both Guardian and OSS jobs within a single schedule.
Batch Prediction: Uses historical metrics in a status database to predict schedule completion times based on average and maximum elapsed run times.
Simplified Migration: Unlike NetBatch, it allows for extracting and inserting schedules between environments (e.g., test to production) without TACL changes.
MultiBatch is a high-performance, mainframe-class workload automation and batch scheduling solution
Mark Whitfield, an SC cleared, Senior IT Project Manager and Engagement Manager, spans over 30 years and transitions from specialized banking software development to high-level project leadership and cloud migrations.
Professional Career Timeline
1990 – 1994:Programmer at The Software Partnership (later Deluxe Data). Developed electronic banking software (sp/ARCHITECT-BANK) on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop) for major banks like TSB and Bank of Scotland.
1994 – 1995:Lead Analyst at Deluxe Data International, continuing support and development for banking customer systems.
1995 – 2013: Project Manager of Strategic Technical Initiatives at Insider Technologies Limited. Oversaw projects involving Reflex 80:20, Sentra development, and corporate website authoring.
2013 – 2014: Project Manager (Banking Division) at Wincor Nixdorf Limited, focusing on professional services for the banking sector.
2014 – 2016: Senior Digital Project Manager at Betfred Limited, managing the Online and Mobile Division.
The Software Partnership (TSP) was a Runcorn-based software house co-founded by Nigel Walsh in the mid-1980s. Specialising in on-line banking systems for Tandem and UNIX platforms, the company underwent several acquisitions that integrated its technology into global financial services.
Corporate Timeline
Mid-1980s: Founded as The Software Partnership.
1990: Initial operations were based at Wingate Drive in Timperley before moving to Norton House in Crowngate, Runcorn.
1992: Relocated to Wingate House on Northway, Runcorn.
1994: Acquired by the American firm Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems (a subsidiary of Deluxe Corporation).
2000: The company transitioned to EFD eFunds.
2007: Became part of Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), eventually moving operations to Daresbury Park in Warrington.
Key Products
The company’s primary legacy is the development of sp/ARCHITECT-BANK, a software suite designed for secure card management and electronic transaction processing. This technology became a foundational component for the secure payment systems later managed by Deluxe Data and FIS.
The Software Partnership, Norton House, Crowngate, Runcorn, CheshireThe Software Partnership (TSP) was a Runcorn-based software houseDeluxe Data International Operations, Wingate House, Northway
Insider Technologies Limited is a UK-based software and services company founded in 1989 that specialises in 24×7 mission-critical systems, primarily for the financial, government, and defence sectors.
Key Historical Timeline
1989: Foundation. The company was incorporated on 27 February 1989. It was established in Manchester, England, by IT industry veterans.
1995–2013: Growth & Partnerships.
Became a significant HP Partner, developing solutions for the HP NonStop platform (formerly Tandem Computers).
Expanded its client base to include major institutions such as the Bank of England, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Euroclear.
2002: Training Platform Launch. Founded its interactive systems training platform, which eventually utilised its patented Cloning Technology.
2015: Leadership Transition. In October 2015, there was a major change in the board with the termination of appointments for directors Paul Cashmore, Richard Launder, and Anthony Mowatt, and the appointment of Andrew Donald Hall as a director.
2016–2017: Relocation. The company moved its registered office to 4th Floor, 2 City Approach in Eccles, Manchester, where it remains today.
2019: 30th Anniversary. Celebrated 30 years of operations, highlighting its long-term stability in the NonStop business technology community.
2020–2021: Recent Restructuring. Transitioned its ownership structure under Insider Technologies (Holdings) Limited.
2025: Current Status.
Now operates as part of the PartnerOne group, a global family of mission-critical software companies.
Continues as a Microsoft Gold Partner for Application Development.
Recent board changes include the appointment of Andrew Donald Hall and Jonathan Dionne as directors in late 2025.
Core Product Evolution
Reflex & MultiBatch: Software for business-critical 24×7 systems.
Sentra & RTLX Reactor: Monitoring and tracking products for Windows, Linux, and Unix platforms.
Mission-Critical Support: Provides 24×7 technical support for high-stakes payment and messaging systems.
