NAME

Hercules - IBM System/370, ESA/390, and z/Architecture Emulator

SYNOPSIS

hercules [-f config-filename] [-d] [-b logo-filename] [-p dyn-load-dir] [[-l dynmod-to-load]...] [> logfile]

DESCRIPTION

Hercules is a software implementation of the System/370, ESA/390 and z/Architecture mainframe architectures.

It means that your PC can emulate an IBM mainframe processor. The mainframe can range from a System/360 to a z10 - running in "S/370" mode, "ESA/390" mode, or "z/Architecture" mode.

Hercules executes S/370, ESA/390, and z/Architecture instructions and channel programs. It emulates mainframe I/O devices by using PC devices. For example, 3390 DASD devices are emulated by large files on your hard disk, and local 3270 screens are emulated by tn3270 sessions. (Note: Not all 370 and 390 features have been implemented in Hercules. Also, certain non-standard models, 360/20s, and the 360/67 virtual memory mode are not emulated.)

Hercules implements only the raw S/370, ESA/390, and z/Architecture instruction set; it does not provide any operating system facilities. This means that you need to provide an operating system or standalone program which Hercules can load from an emulated disk or tape device. You will have to write the operating system or standalone program yourself, unless you can manage to obtain a license from IBM to run one of their operating systems on your PC, or use IBM programs and operating systems which have been placed in the public domain.

OPTIONS

-f config-filename: Sets the name of the configuration file. The default, if none is specified, is hercules.cnf. The default may be overridden via the HERCULES_CNF environment variable.
-d: Specifies that Hercules is to be run in 'daemon' mode, wherein it runs invisibly with no attached console.
-b logo-filename: Sets the name of the file containg the screen logo that's presented when a 3270 terminal connects. When not specified the default herclogo.txt file is looked for and when not found the built-in logo is used.
-p dyn-load-dir: Sets the directory from which dynamic modules are to be loaded. The default depends on the host platform on which Hercules is being run. This option overrides the default.
-l dynmod-to-load: Sets the name of an additional dynamic module to be loaded at startup. More than one additional module may be specified, although each must be preceded with the -l option specifier.
logfile: Sets an optional log file which will receive a copy of all messages displayed on the control panel

FILES

hercules.cnf

ENVIRONMENT

HERCULES_CNF

AUTHORS

Hercules was created by Roger Bowler. Jay Maynard (“the Tron Guy”) was the maintainer from 2000 to 2012. Jan Jaeger designed and implemented many of the advanced features of Hercules, including dynamic reconfiguration, integrated console, interpretive execution and z/Architecture support. A dedicated crew of programmers is constantly at work implementing new features and fixing bugs.

This manual page was written by Dan Horák using text snippets from the Hercules web site.