A significant new feature of IBM* OS/2* Version 2.0 is the ability to execute multiple DOS applications concurrently, with pre-emptive multitasking and full memory protection for each application. Microsoft** Windows** applications are also supported in the same way. These capabilities allow the use of OS/2 Version 2.0 as an integration platform for DOS applications, Windows applications, and OS/2 applications in a seamless, fully functional environment.
This chapter provides a brief overview of the OS/2 Version 2.0 product and the Multiple Virtual DOS Machines component which provides support for DOS and Windows applications. DOS and Windows application support is then described in more detail in the remainder of the document.