# 4690 Operating System > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/4690_Operating_System > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/4690_Operating_System.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4690_Operating_System > Source revision: 1331406489 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Operating system formerly developed by IBM This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "4690 Operating System" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Operating system 4690 Operating System Developer (Digital Research, Novell, IMS), IBM, Toshiba Written in C Supported languages: IBM 4680 BASIC, Metaware High-C, Java 2 Working state Current Source model Proprietary Initial release July 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07) Final release V6R5 CSD 2010 / December 18, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-12-18) Marketing target Point of sale Available in English Package manager Proprietary ASM (Apply Software Maintenance) System Supported platforms Point of sale terminals Kernel type Real-time operating system Default user interface Command-line interface, some screens spawn a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) License Proprietary Preceded by FlexOS 386, 4680 OS, REAL/32 Succeeded by TCx Sky Official website Toshiba Commerce: Operating Systems **4690 Operating System** (sometimes shortened to **4690 OS** or **4690**) is a specially designed [point of sale](/source/Point_of_sale) (POS) [operating system](/source/Operating_system), originally sold by [IBM](/source/IBM). In 2012, IBM sold its retail business, including this product, to [Toshiba](/source/Toshiba), which assumed support.[1] 4690 is widely used by IBM and Toshiba retail customers to run retail systems which run their own applications and others. Retailers have used the 4690 Operating System for their operations because of its many retail-specific and reliability features. In addition to running on IBM hardware, third-party vendors have exploited the 4690 features on competitive hardware.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## History 4690 is the successor product to IBM [4680 OS](/source/4680_OS), which was in use by IBM customers since 1986.[2] The original 4680 OS was based on [Digital Research](/source/Digital_Research)'s [Concurrent DOS 286](/source/Concurrent_DOS_286),[3] a system thereafter renamed to [FlexOS 286](/source/FlexOS_286) in November 1986. In July 1993,[2] IBM adopted [FlexOS](/source/FlexOS) version 2.32 as the basis of their 4690 OS version 1.[1][4] FlexOS 2.32 supported *286* ([Intel 80286](/source/Intel_80286)) and *386* ([Intel 80386](/source/I386)) modes and had no limit on applications running [concurrently](/source/Concurrent_computing). In 1995, IBM licensed IMS [REAL/32](/source/REAL%2F32) 7.50, a derivative of Digital Research's [Multiuser DOS](/source/Multiuser_DOS) and thereby a successor to [Concurrent DOS 386](/source/Concurrent_DOS_386), to bundle it with their 4695 POS terminals.[5] According to the article "The Year of the Store?", IHL Consulting Group/RIS News, IBM 4690 OS still had a market share of 12% in the POS register [client](/source/Client_(computing)) market in June 2005, when IBM was starting to phase it out in favor of [IBM Retail Environment for SUSE](/source/IBM_Retail_Environment_for_SUSE) (IRES).[2] IBM continued to maintain 4690 OS until April 2015, with the most recent version released by IBM in May 2012 being IBM 4690 OS Version 6 Release 3, which was supported until 2017 under special contracts with big-name companies. Meanwhile, Toshiba has released *Toshiba 4690 OS* Version 6 Release 4 (V6R4) in January 2014, and Version 6 Release 5 (V6R5) in January 2016. In May 2018, a [Linux](/source/Linux)-based successor of 4690 OS, named *TCx Sky* and codeveloped with [Wind River Systems](/source/Wind_River_Systems), was launched. Soon after, Toshiba discontinued 4690 OS for new customers; it is, however, still supported under service contracts signed between Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and stores still using 4690 OS on their POS terminals. The latest security update (CSD Level 2010) was released in December 2020, only for 4690 OS Version 6 Release 5.[6] ## Supported hardware This [IBM 4683](/source/IBM_4683) register uses a controller with a 4690 operating system. 4690 supports many POS terminal devices, store controller [servers](/source/Server_(computing)), and combination controller–terminals. The 4690 documentation contains a list of supported POS devices, some in use over 20 years. The family of IBM Universal Serial Bus ([USB](/source/USB)) POS devices that 4690 supports includes keyboards, displays, and [cash drawers](/source/Cash_drawer). 4690 also supports other [input/output](/source/Input%2Foutput) (I/O) devices designed and conforming to IBM's USB POS device interface specifications. IBM makes interface specifications available to third-party vendors to enable them to connect their devices to POS terminals using [RS-485](/source/RS-485), [RS-232](/source/RS-232), and USB connections. IBM provides a *Controller Matrix* document with a list of compatible IBM servers for use with 4690 OS as store controllers and controller–terminals. These servers represent current and formerly available devices which continue to be supported by 4690. ## Notable features Perhaps the most notable feature of the 4690 OS is its ability to provide a "redundancy infrastructure". IBM designed the 4690 OS to work either as one server, or with one or more other 4690 servers. These servers are commonly called *store controllers*. When connected in a [local area network](/source/Local_area_network) (LAN), these 4690 store controllers provide redundant backup using mirrored data files. Using a system of *master controller*, *alternate master*, *file server*, and *alternate file server* designations, the controllers preserve data integrity and allow file backup in case a store controller fails and needs to be replaced. A copy of the 4690 OS is maintained in each store controller. The 4690 POS terminals (registers) load a copy of 4690 from the store controller into memory when they [Initial Program Load](/source/Initial_Program_Load) (IPL). The 4690 controllers provide terminal support in the form of terminal loading, price lookup, and transaction logging. [Non-volatile memory](/source/Non-volatile_memory) is used to ensure that data is not lost in transit from the terminals to the store controller. Terminals are assigned to a primary store controller, and that controller is typically backed up by another controller. If the primary controller fails, the terminals automatically access the backup controller, providing uninterrupted sales at the POS terminal. If both the primary and backup controllers are unavailable, the terminal can go into a standalone state, or, some of the applications are able to support a *Terminal Offline* (TOF) state wherein terminals run offline using a terminal-based item file and logging stored in their own memory. To maintain software at the store level, 4690 OS provides a *software maintenance facility* to manage updates. This facility provides checking to ensure that all updates have been transferred to the store, and the ability to apply the maintenance from store level commands or under central control. The updated software can be applied in *test*, which preserves the prior software in case the maintenance needs to be backed off for some reason. 4690 supports communications to the store controller in several forms. including [TCP/IP](/source/TCP%2FIP), [X.25](/source/X.25), [Systems Network Architecture](/source/Systems_Network_Architecture) (SNA), and asynchronous communications. ### Commands The following list of [commands](/source/Command_(computing)) are supported by the 4690 Operating System.[7] - [ASSIGN](/source/ASSIGN_(DOS_command)) - [BACKUP](/source/BACKUP_(DOS_command)) - [BATCH](/source/Batch_file) - [BREAK](/source/BREAK_(DOS_command)) - [BURNISO](/source/Optical_disc_authoring) - [CHDIR](/source/Cd_(command)) - [CHKDSK](/source/CHKDSK) - [CLS](/source/Cls_(command)) - [COMMAND](/source/COMMAND.COM) - [COMP](/source/Comp_(command)) - [COPY](/source/Copy_(command)) - DEFINE - [DIR](/source/Dir_(command)) - [DISKCOMP](/source/Diskcomp) - [DISKCOPY](/source/Diskcopy) - [ECHO](/source/Echo_(command)) - [ELSE](/source/ELSE_(DOS_command)) - [ERASE](/source/Del_(command)) - [EXIT](/source/Exit_(command)) - FCOPY - [FIND](/source/Find_(Windows)) - [FOR](/source/FOR_(DOS_command)) - [FORMAT](/source/Format_(command)) - FSET - [GOTO](/source/GOTO_(DOS_command)) - [IF](/source/IF_(DOS_command)) - LIST - [MKDIR](/source/Mkdir) - [MORE](/source/More_(command)) - ORDER - [PATH](/source/PATH_(DOS_command)) - [PAUSE](/source/PAUSE_(DOS_command)) - [PRINT](/source/Print_(command)) - [PROMPT](/source/PROMPT_(DOS_command)) - QUERY - [REM](/source/REM_(DOS_command)) - [RENAME](/source/Ren_(command)) - [RESTORE](/source/RESTORE_(DOS_command)) - [RMDIR](/source/Rmdir) - SECURITY - [SHIFT](/source/SHIFT_(DOS_command)) - [SORT](/source/SORT_(DOS_command)) - [SYS](/source/SYS_(command)) - [TREE](/source/Tree_(command)) - [TYPE](/source/TYPE_(DOS_command)) - UNLOCKP - [VER](/source/Ver_(command)) - [VERIFY](/source/VERIFY_(DOS_command)) - [VOL](/source/Vol_(command)) ## Technology and software 4690 OS has been updated annually to address the needs of its user community and in anticipation of upcoming requirements. 4690 Version 5 incorporated new security enhancements, such as [Secure Shell](/source/Secure_Shell) (SSH), [IPsec](/source/IPsec), and enhanced operator security (allowing alphanumeric operator IDs, password complexity requirements, password expiration, etc.). This has helped its users address new security requirements from the credit card companies. Another recent addition to 4690 was the ability to forward store hardware- and software-level events to a Remote Management system to facilitate central control and monitoring. File integrity monitoring and lockdown of 4690s are becoming increasingly important due to recent breaches caused by [point-of-sale malware](/source/Point-of-sale_malware) based threats. 4690 supports applications written in a [CBASIC](/source/CBASIC) variant named IBM 4680 BASIC, Metaware High-[C](/source/C_(programming_language)), and [Java](/source/Java_(programming_language)) 2. The Java language-based ability at both the server and the client, along with the extension of [Internet protocol suite](/source/Internet_protocol_suite) TCP/IP ability to the client, enables Java applications at both the server and client to run concurrently with extant CBASIC or C applications. Users can make functional enhancements to extant applications by developing a new Java application that communicates with an extant application. ## Versions IBM 4690 Operating System versions: - 1 (July 1993) - 2 release 1 - 2 release 2 - 2 release 3 - 2 release 4 - 3 release 1 - 3 release 2 - 3 release 3 - 4 release 1 - 4 release 2 - 5 release 1 - 5 release 2 - 6 release 1 - 6 release 2 - 6 release 3 (May 2012) Toshiba 4690 Operating System versions: - 6 release 4 (January 2014) - 6 release 5 Classic – Enhanced (January 2016)[8] ## See also - [Digital Research](/source/Digital_Research) - [Toshiba TCx Sky](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toshiba_TCx_Sky&action=edit&redlink=1) - [FlexOS](/source/FlexOS) - [IBM 4680 OS](/source/IBM_4680_OS) - [IBM 4683](/source/IBM_4683) - [IBM 4693](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IBM_4693&action=edit&redlink=1) - [IBM 4694](/source/IBM_4694) - [IBM 4695](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IBM_4695&action=edit&redlink=1) - [IMS REAL/32](/source/IMS_REAL%2F32) - [IBM Retail Environment for SUSE](/source/IBM_Retail_Environment_for_SUSE) (IRES) - [Distributed Data Management Architecture](/source/Distributed_Data_Management_Architecture) (DDM) ## Further reading - [*IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Programming Guide*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hak0_4690_v6r2_pg_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Configuration Guide (English)*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hah0_4690_v6r2_picg_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V6.2 User's Guide (English)*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hai0_4690_v6r2_ug_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Communications Programming Guide*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/hal0_4690_v6r2_cpr_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V6.2 Messages Guide*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver6r2/haj0_4690_v6r2_mg_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Programming Guide*](https://web.archive.org/web/20220125063705/ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsi1_PG_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Archived from [the original](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsi1_PG_mst.pdf) (PDF) on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Configuration Guide (English)*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bse1_PIC_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V5.2 User's Guide (English)*](https://web.archive.org/web/20220125063641/ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsf1_UG_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Archived from [the original](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsf1_UG_mst.pdf) (PDF) on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Communications Programming Guide*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsh1_CPR_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V5.2 Messages Guide*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver5r2/bsg1_MG_mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. - [*IBM 4690 OS V4.1 IBM 4680 BASIC Language Reference*](https://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/retail/pubs/sw/opsys/4690/ver4r1/sco9mst.pdf) (PDF). IBM. Retrieved 2015-03-01. These and many other documents could be obtained from IBM at the Retail Publications Download Center.[9] In 2016, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, the current owner of 4690 OS, removed public access to all 4690 related manuals and publications from their servers. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IBM_2010_4690_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IBM_2010_4690_1-1) ["IBM 4690 Operating System"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110930011638/http://www-03.ibm.com/products/retail/products/software/4690/index.html). [IBM](/source/IBM). Archived from [the original](http://www-03.ibm.com/products/retail/products/software/4690/index.html) on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-09-06. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Novell_2005_Linux_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Novell_2005_Linux_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Novell_2005_Linux_2-2) ["How to choose the best OS for your point-of-sale"](http://www.novell.com/industries/retail/bestos.pdf) (PDF). *360Commerce*. [Novell](/source/Novell). 2005. (NB. This PDF has a short history of [POS](/source/Point_of_sale) operating systems, also mentioning IBM 4680 and IBM 4690.) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-CBR_1987_FlexOS-286_3-0)** CBR, ed. (1987-01-15). ["Digital Research launches FlexOS 286 Real-Time Manufacturing Operating System"](http://www.cbronline.com/news/digital_research_launches_flexos_286_real_time_manufacturing_operating_system). *Computer Business Review*. Retrieved 2018-09-15.{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-IBM_1993_4690_4-0)** ["IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1"](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/archive/ENUS293-281) (Announcement letter). [IBM](/source/IBM). 1993-06-01. 293-281. Retrieved 2025-01-19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-IMS_1995_REAL32_5-0)** Pontin, Jason (1995-11-27). ["IMS offers Real32 OS for application servers"](https://books.google.com/books?id=VzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28). *[InfoWorld](/source/InfoWorld)*. Retrieved 2017-01-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Support News"](https://www.toshibacommerce.com/wps/portal/marketing/?urile=wcm:path:/en-us/home/support/support-news). *Toshiba Commerce*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [https://archive.org/details/4690OSV6r2UsersGuide/page/n169](https://archive.org/details/4690OSV6r2UsersGuide/page/n169) [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Toshiba_2016_V6R5_8-0)** ["Toshiba 4690 Operating System, Version 6 Release 5"](http://tgcs04.toshibacommerce.com/cs/groups/internet/documents/document/dg9z/njyw/~edisp/prod.tos660737.pdf) (PDF). [Toshiba Corporation](/source/Toshiba_Corporation). January 2018. RTD12521-USEN-03. Retrieved 2018-09-15.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [https://archive.today/20130103085241/http://www2.clearlake.ibm.com/store/support/html/pubs.html](https://archive.today/20130103085241/http://www2.clearlake.ibm.com/store/support/html/pubs.html) ## External links - [Official website](http://commerce.toshiba.com/wps/portal/marketing/?urile=wcm:path:/en-us/home/software/operating-systems/supported) - [Data Format Description Language (DFDL) schemas for IBM 4690 ACE](https://dfdlschemas.github.io/IBM4690-TLOG/) to parse and write IBM 4690 ACE transaction logs v t e Operating systems by IBM Supercomputer INK CNK Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server, mainframe IBSYS BOS/360 TOS/360 TSS/360 RAX DOS/360 and successors VSE OS/360 and successors OS/VS1 SVS MVS OS/390 z/OS VM line ACP TPF CPF System/88 OS IBM i AIX zLinux DPCX DPPX SSP SRTOS Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop, workstation Textpack PC DOS DOS/V PC/IX AIX OS/2 AOS Red Hat Enterprise Linux Point of sale 4680 OS 4690 OS Projects Taligent Workplace OS Monterey Trillian K42 Related Fedora Linux Category v t e Real-time operating systems (RTOS) Operating systems POSIX support Unix-like DNIX Junos OS LiteOS° LynxOS Multi-Environment Real-Time^ (MERT – Unix-RT) OS2000 QNX^ Real-Time Linux° RTLinux° UNOS Partial ChorusOS^ Integrity^ Nucleus RTOS^ NuttX^° Operating System Embedded^ (OSE) PX5 RTOS^ RIOT^° RTEMS° Zephyr° TRON support ITRON project T-Kernel Micro T-Kernel T-Engine Forum (organization) T-License Partial eCos° RTEMS° Capability-based EROS^° seL4^° Java virtual machine Chorus/Jazz^ (JavaOS + ChorusOS^) DOS Multiuser DOS Concurrent DOS FlexOS REAL/32 L4 kernel L4Linux^° PikeOS^ REX OS^ Wombat^° Psion EKA2^° kernel → Symbian OS^° Microsoft ThreadX^ Windows Embedded Compact IBM 4680 OS 4690 OS Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) Texas Instruments DSOS TI-RTOS Kernel^° DEC: PDP-11, VAX RSX-11 RT-11 VAXELN Low resource ChibiOS/RT^° Contiki° ERIKA Enterprise° FunkOS° Mynewt° Nano-RK° OpenComRTOS^ PX5 RTOS^ RT-Thread° Nano RIOT° RTEMS° ThreadX^ Zephyr° BeRTOS^° DioneOS embOS FreeRTOS^° µC/OS^° µ-velOSity^ MQX^ OS-9 (Microware) Phantom OS^° pSOS RMX RT-Thread° Standard ScreenOS Sintran III THEOS Thoth^ → Harmony^ VRTX^ VxWorks UniProton Frameworks, kits CMSIS-RTOS2° Robot Operating System° 2 RTAI° TI-RTOS^° Xenomai° Developers Gordon Bell David Cheriton Dave Cutler Dan Dodge Adam Dunkels Ken Sakamura Italics = discontinued ^ = Microkernel ° = Open-source software Comparison Category v t e Disk operating systems (DOS) API Timeline Comparison Commands Games MS-DOS, IBM PC DOS, compatible systems MS-DOS Multitasking MS-DOS 4.0/4.1 MS-DOS 7 IBM PC DOS DOS/V DR-DOS H-DOS Novell DOS ROM-DOS SISNE plus PTS-DOS FreeDOS Other x86 4680 OS 4690 OS 86-DOS ADOS Concurrent CP/M-86 Concurrent DOS CP/M-86 CP/K Datapac System Manager DOS Plus K8918-OS FlexOS MP/M-86 Multiuser DOS NetWare PalmDOS Novell DOS OpenDOS PC-MOS/386 REAL/32 SB-86 SCP1700 Towns OS TurboDOS Other platforms AmigaDOS AMSDOS ANDOS Apple DOS Apple ProDOS Apple SOS Atari DOS Atari TOS BW-DOS Commodore DOS Concurrent DOS 68K Concurrent DOS V60 CP/M Cromemco DOS CSI-DOS DEC BATCH-11/DOS-11 DIP DOS DOS/360 DOS XL Edos EOS FLEX GEMDOS IDEDOS IMDOS iS-DOS ISIS MDOS MicroDOS MP/M MSX-DOS MyDOS NewDos/80 OS/M PTDOS RealDOS SB-80 SCP Sinclair QDOS RDOS SmartDOS SpartaDOS SpartaDOS X Technical Support SuperDOS Top-DOS TR-DOS TRSDOS TurboDOS UDOS Z-DOS Z80-RIO Category List --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [4690 Operating System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4690_Operating_System) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4690_Operating_System?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.