Wang OIS Systems

The OIS is a minicomputer system, the successor to Wang's word processing system that was famous in the late 1970's. Besides Wang word processing, other applications were available, as well as programming languages such as Wang BASIC, Z80 assembler, and PL/M-80. The OIS supported a wide array of peripherals including printers, workstations, telecommunications controllers, disk and tape drives, and networking interfaces (WISE) used to connect OIS systems together, as well as VS systems.
All OIS peripherals contain their own Z80 microprocessor. They are actually self-contained microcomputers, some containing a small EPROM with diagnostic firmware, but most of them download microcode from the master system unit when powered on. This gives the ability to upgrade the 'firmware' through software. OIS programs actually run inside the workstation, not the master processor. The master processor can be considered a special 'file server' for the peripheral devices, as well as a means for the devices to communicate with each other (and other systems).

Early OIS systems, the 125 and 130, used 8080 microprocessors in the master unit as well as the peripherals. Newer OIS programs use Z80 opcodes, and may not run on these systems. Later on, these were replaced with the 125A and 130A, using Z80 processors. Some systems were available with an optional extra 64k memory, this required replacing the CPU board with one that contained a daughter-board with the additional memory.
The OIS-105,115,125A,and 130A are in the large desktop(!?) cabinet you see on this site. The 140 and 145 are in a cabinet that is about the size of a dishwasher. The 140 and 145 contain a SMD interface board, for connection of external disk devices, as no internal disk was supported. The 105 and 115 contained an internal 8-inch hard disk, using SA1000 interface (precursor to the ST506/412 interface used in PC MFM hard drives). The 125A and 130A were connected to an external CDC Hawk hard disk (washing machine), with a whopping 10MB per drive storage space!

Later on, Wang designed the OIS-40 series, a floor-standing machine in a oversize tower style case. These contained 64k memory, a 5 1/4" floppy, and internal MFM hard disk, in various sizes. It also offered 'internal' workstations, where the Z80 board resides in the master unit, and is connected to a 'terminal' by a 15-pin cable. Other internal cards were offered, WISE cards and serial printer cards to name a few. This series consisted of the OIS-40 through OIS-75.

The OIS system was originally the development platform for the WP Systems. The OIS-130 and WPS-30 are the same. The OIS was sold from 1980 to 1990. The OIS Disk Operating System is not Year-2000 compliant.

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