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Origin: USA
Category: Workstation
Desktop environment: CLI
Architecture: DEC PDP-11, VAX
Based on: UNIX
Wikipedia: UNIX System III
Media: Install
The last version | Released: unknown
UNIX System III (known as: System 3) – a version of the Unix operating system introduced by the Unix Support Group (USG) associated with AT&T. Its first version was released by Bell Labs in 1982. UNIX System III was a kind of a mix of previous versions of the same group’s Unix: version PWB/UNIX 2.0, version CB UNIX 3.0, version UNIX/TS 3.0.1 and version UNIX/32V. It worked with DEC, PDP-11 and VAX computers.
The origin of the name (or more precisely the origin of the three in the name) is most likely the fact that the system is based on versions UNIX/TS 3.0.1 and CB UNIX 3. The system documentation tells us about a system called UNIX Edition 3.0, although there was no previous system with I or II in the name. There was also no official publication of the UNIX/TS 4.0 system (which would be System IV). System III was therefore replaced only by System V, based on UNIX/TS 5.0. System V was the first commercial version of AT&T Unix.
The system introduced a few new features, such as the named pipe, the uname command, and the run queue. However, it did not include features that were introduced in BSD, such as the C shell (csh) and on-screen editing.
Variations of System III included: HP-UX, IRIX, IS/3, PC-UX, PNX, SINIX, Venix and Xenix (early versions).
The UNIX System III screenshot source: Wikipedia; author: Missileboi; License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International.
