[Info-vax] Dave Cutler, Prism, DEC, Microsoft, etc.

[Rich Alderson]

koehler at eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) writes:

> In article <mddljhj4ohn.fsf at panix5.panix.com>, Rich Alderson
> <new at alderson.users.panix.com> writes:

>> No, they used PDP-10 systems, eventually making a deal with Systems Concepts
>> to manufacture their own SC-40 CPUs at a license fee per box of 40% of list.

>    Never actually saw a PDP-10 that didn't have an -11 as a front end, 
>    although I know systems like the 2020 were built without one.

The KA10 (3 years before the PDP-11) and KI10 (roughly contemparaneous) from
DEC, though both could have PDP-8 comms processors added, and the KI could have
PDP-11s in the same function.  *Processing* is done by the PDP-10 CPU.

Then there's the Foonly systems, the Systems Concepts systems (8080 processor,
like the KS10 = 2020), and the XKL Toad-1 (no separate boot or comms processor
at all).  I don't know what MAXC at Xerox PARC had.

>    Our 2050 and 2060 had two PDP-11 each, one for the console front end
>    and one for DECnet.

Every KL10 had one as boot processor/console.  Up to three more could be
attached for various comms purposes and card/printer control.

>    Interesting that the 11/40 front end happened to run RSX-11F.  Or
>    was someone at DEC ammused that "F" was unassigned at the time?  8-)

Actually, it's called RSX-20F, derived from -11M and -11D, and it's not the
original software for the KL10 front end.  That's KLDCP, which continues in
use as the loader for diagnostics to this day.

-- 
Rich Alderson                  "You get what anybody gets. You get a lifetime."
news at alderson.users.panix.com                           --Death, of the Endless