VME = Virtual Machine Environment, the native operating system for 2900 / Series 39. DME = Direct Machine Environment, this turns your 2900 into a 1900 (or System 4). CME = Concurrent Machine Environment, allows running both 2900 and 1900/System 4 environments at the same time. CME* is similar to CME but the DME environment runs inside a virtual machine on VME instead of being side by side.