An Access Control Mechanism for Computing Resources

Early in 1970, a research project was started at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center to implement a prototype system to improve dataset security and resource allocation in the Systern1360 Model 91 that was operating there. Late in 1970, the IBM San Jose Research Laboratory began to consider problems of managing a rapidly growing database in their System1360 Model 91. TSO service was being planned and there was already experience with TSS at the Research Center and other installations to indicate that interactive terminal service would create a user database that could require more extensive administrative services and program tools than we then had available. It was clear in both the Research Center and the San Jose Laboratory that the necessary function would eventually have to be delivered without a substantial increase in computer operations manpower. Since a Research Center prototype access control system met many of the San Jose Laboratory requirements, the prototype was transferred to San Jose late in 1970, where the major development activity took place. Certain partly implemented proposals in the TSS/360 and CTSS systems1 were also attractive to workers at San Jose and were incorporated into the access control system that is described in this paper.