Difference between revisions of "Interdata 8/32"

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This was the one of the first non [[DEC]] machine to run [[Unix]].
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The '''Interdata 8/32''' was a 32-bit [[supermini]] whose [[instruction set architecture|ISA]] was roughly modelled on that of the [[IBM System/360]] [[mainframe]]. It had higher performance than its very similar 'little sister', the [[Interdata 7/32]]; the 8/32 was [[microcode]]d, and optionally allowed the users to write their own additional microcode.
  
According to Richard Miller, "The First Unix Port" The first port began in 1976, at Wollongong, on an Interdata 7/32, 192k-core/2x5Mb disk drives.
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==Simulators==
  
In April 1977, Unix version 6 was booting. When Bell Labs was contacted:
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The [[SIMH]] simulator supports the 8/32.
  
<blockquote>In fact there was a surprise on both sides: a team at Bell Labs was in the midst of doing their own port of UNIX to an Interdata 8/32 (a slightly more powerful 32-bit mini-computer). They had begun work at the beginning of 1977 in anticipation of the delivery of their machine in April and had a kernel working by June less than two months after the Wollongong kernel first ran on the bare 7/32.</blockquote>
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==UNIX==
  
The Interdata 7/32 and 8/32 were the first 32-bit machines to both run Unix version 6, which had the Interdata 8/32 port becoming the basis for UNIX 7th Edition.  
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The 8/32 and the 7/32 were the one of the first non-[[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] machines to run [[UNIX]]. Amazingly, the ports to the 7/32 and 8/32 were done roughly simultaneously, by two separate organizations; the 8/32 port was done by the Research group at [[Bell Laboratories]].
  
Oddly enough, real information about this machine is near nonexistent, short of the [[SIMH]] simulator.
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Work on the 8/32 port began in early 1977 (on the [[C programming language|C]] [[compiler]], etc); the machine itself was delivered at the end of April 1977. By June, the system was working reasonably well.
  
[https://www.usenix.org/legacy/publications/library/proceedings/usenix98/invited_talks/miller.ps The First Unix Port, Miller, R,]
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The Interdata 7/32 and 8/32 were the first 32-bit machines to run [[UNIX Sixth Edition|Unix Version 6]]; the Interdata 8/32 port became the basis for [[Unix Seventh Edition]].
  
[https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/portpap.html Portability of C Programs and the UNIX System, Johnson, S.C. Ritchie, D. M.]
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==External links==
  
[[Category: Minicomputers]]
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* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/interdata/32bit/8-32/ 8-32] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
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** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/interdata/32bit/29-365R01_32BitRefMan_Jun74.pdf 32 Bit Series Reference Manual]
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** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/interdata/32bit/8-32/8-32_Brochure_1977.pdf Model 8/32 Processor]
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** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/interdata/32bit/8-32/29-428_M83-Series_8-32_8-32C_8-32D_Processors_User_May78.pdf M83-Series Models 8/32, 8/32C, and 8/32D Processors User Manual]
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===Unix port===
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* [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/portpap.html Portability of C Programs and the UNIX System; Johnson, S.C. Ritchie, D. M.]
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** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/odd.html Odd Comments and Strange Doings in Unix] - at "You are not expected to understand this" is a description of the problem found in the 8/32 port
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[[Category: Superminis]]

Latest revision as of 17:25, 22 December 2023

The Interdata 8/32 was a 32-bit supermini whose ISA was roughly modelled on that of the IBM System/360 mainframe. It had higher performance than its very similar 'little sister', the Interdata 7/32; the 8/32 was microcoded, and optionally allowed the users to write their own additional microcode.

Simulators

The SIMH simulator supports the 8/32.

UNIX

The 8/32 and the 7/32 were the one of the first non-DEC machines to run UNIX. Amazingly, the ports to the 7/32 and 8/32 were done roughly simultaneously, by two separate organizations; the 8/32 port was done by the Research group at Bell Laboratories.

Work on the 8/32 port began in early 1977 (on the C compiler, etc); the machine itself was delivered at the end of April 1977. By June, the system was working reasonably well.

The Interdata 7/32 and 8/32 were the first 32-bit machines to run Unix Version 6; the Interdata 8/32 port became the basis for Unix Seventh Edition.

External links

Unix port