Difference between revisions of "MINITS"

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[[PDP-11]] operating system created at MIT.
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'''MINITS''' was a [[PDP-11]] [[multi-tasking]] [[operating system]] created at [[MIT]], primarily for use in [[data network]] [[host]]s. It was mostly used in the MIT network for 'bridges' ([[router]]s, to use the contemporary nomenclature) and [[terminal]] [[terminal concentrator|concentrators]]. It was also used to drive [[graphics terminal]]s, and provide [[Chaosnet]] [[front end]]s to [[KL10]] processors.
  
Its design is vaguely reminiscent of [[ITS]].
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Its design is vaguely reminiscent of [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]]. It provided:
  
It was mostly used in the MIT network, as 'bridges' ([[router]]s, to use the contemporary nomenclature) and terminal concentrators. Also used to drive graphical terminals, and provide [[Chaosnet]] front ends to [[KL10]] processors.
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* creation and termination of [[process]]es
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* a fairly sophisticated [[main memory]] allocation system (freed adjoining blocks were automatically combined)
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==Networking==
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The MINITS [[source]] calls lots of things 'NCPs', but these have nothing to do with the 'real' [[Network Control Program (ARPANET)|NCP]]. In fact, MINITS doesn't support any [[IMP interface]]s. The use of 'NCP' was just a terminological affliction among the CHAOS people, to whom 'NCP' apparently meant 'protocol implementation' or 'network code'.
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[[Data network|Networking]] [[protocol]]s supported:
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* [[Address Resolution Protocol‎]]
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* [[Chaosnet|Chaos]] - the only full [[protocol suite|protocol family]] supported; the rest are all just partial scraps
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** [[SUPDUP]]
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** [[TELNET]]
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** [[Finger]]
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* [[Internet Protocol|IP]]
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* [[PARC Universal Packet|PUP]]
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==Hardware==
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[[Peripheral|Devices]] supported:
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* [[DH11 asynchronous serial line interface|DH11]]
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* [[DL11 asynchronous serial line interface|DL11]]
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* [[DZ11 asynchronous serial line interface|DZ11]]
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* DMC11
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* [[DR11 parallel interface|DR11]]
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* [[DUP11 synchronous serial line interface|DUP11]]
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* [[DTE20 Ten-Eleven Interface|DTE20]], [[KL10]] front end interface
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* [[CH11]], Chaosnet interface
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* 3com [[Ethernet]] interface
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* [[Interlan NI1010A/NI2010A Ethernet Communications Controller|Interlan NI1010A]] Ethernet interface
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* [[UNIBUS Experimental Ethernet interface|3 Mbit Ethernet]] interface
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* Pertek [[frame buffer]]
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* [[CAMAC]] interface
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{{semi-stub}}
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==See also==
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* [[Fuzzball]]
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* [[ELF operating system]]
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* [[MOS operating system]]
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
 
* [http://github.com/Chaosnet/minits MINITS source code]
 
* [http://github.com/Chaosnet/minits MINITS source code]
 
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* [https://github.com/PDP-10/its/tree/master/src/mits_s Alternative repository]
{{stub}}
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** [https://github.com/PDP-10/its/blob/master/src/mits_s/user.7 Process management]
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** [https://github.com/PDP-10/its/blob/master/src/mits_s/fsm.3 Free Storage Manager]
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* [https://github.com/PDP-10/its/blob/master/doc/minits/-how-t.21 How to Build a Terminal Concentrator] - combination of ware, software and boot PROMs
  
 
[[Category: PDP-11 Operating Systems]]
 
[[Category: PDP-11 Operating Systems]]
 
[[Category: Non-DEC Operating Systems]]
 
[[Category: Non-DEC Operating Systems]]
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[[Category: Networking Software]]

Latest revision as of 07:50, 27 February 2024

MINITS was a PDP-11 multi-tasking operating system created at MIT, primarily for use in data network hosts. It was mostly used in the MIT network for 'bridges' (routers, to use the contemporary nomenclature) and terminal concentrators. It was also used to drive graphics terminals, and provide Chaosnet front ends to KL10 processors.

Its design is vaguely reminiscent of ITS. It provided:

  • creation and termination of processes
  • a fairly sophisticated main memory allocation system (freed adjoining blocks were automatically combined)

Networking

The MINITS source calls lots of things 'NCPs', but these have nothing to do with the 'real' NCP. In fact, MINITS doesn't support any IMP interfaces. The use of 'NCP' was just a terminological affliction among the CHAOS people, to whom 'NCP' apparently meant 'protocol implementation' or 'network code'.

Networking protocols supported:

Hardware

Devices supported:

See also

External links