Difference between revisions of "PDP-10"

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[[Image:PDP-10 1090.jpg|300px|rightt|thumb|A PDP-10 1090]]
 
[[Image:PDP-10 1090.jpg|300px|rightt|thumb|A PDP-10 1090]]
  
A series of large, 36-bit [[mainframe]]-like systems built by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]; they were basically a re-implementation of the earlier [[PDP-6]] architecture, whose engineering had been a failure. (The machines were so similar at the programming level that PDP-6 code could run on a PDP-10.)
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A series of large, 36-bit [[word]] [[mainframe]]-like systems built by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]. They were basically a re-implementation of the earlier [[PDP-6]] [[architecture]], whose [[hardware]] engineering had been a failure. (The machines were so similar at the programming level that PDP-6 [[object code]] could run on a PDP-10.)
  
 
DEC sold 4 different generations of PDP-10 processors: the [[KA10]], the [[KI10]], the [[KL10]], and the [[KS10]]. The first three were marketed as the [[DECsystem-10]], running the [[TOPS-10]] [[operating system]]; the third was also sold as the [[DECSYSTEM-20]], running [[TOPS-20]]. (The varying capitalization was the result of a trademark infringment suit.)
 
DEC sold 4 different generations of PDP-10 processors: the [[KA10]], the [[KI10]], the [[KL10]], and the [[KS10]]. The first three were marketed as the [[DECsystem-10]], running the [[TOPS-10]] [[operating system]]; the third was also sold as the [[DECSYSTEM-20]], running [[TOPS-20]]. (The varying capitalization was the result of a trademark infringment suit.)
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[[Image:DECsystem-10 ad.jpg|150px|left|thumb|PDP-10 ad]]
 
[[Image:DECsystem-10 ad.jpg|150px|left|thumb|PDP-10 ad]]
  
PDP-10s were very important machines on the early Internet, being one of the few (relatively!) cheaply available machines which could run a full NCP and later TCP/IP stack as a multi-user environment at the time.
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PDP-10s were very important machines on the early [[Internet]], being one of the few (relatively!) cheaply available machines which could run a full NCP and later TCP/IP stack as a multi-user environment at the time.
  
 
They still have a large following today. There are several good [[simulator]]s available, notably [[SIMH]] and [[KLH10]].
 
They still have a large following today. There are several good [[simulator]]s available, notably [[SIMH]] and [[KLH10]].
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==Cancelled projects==
 
==Cancelled projects==
  
The 36-bit line was cancelled many times.  The PDP-6 was difficult to manufacture and maintain, and only 23 were sold.  It was cancelled not long after its introduction. However, it made a comeback as the PDP-10 which was a success.
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The 36-bit line was cancelled many times.  The PDP-6 was difficult to manufacture and maintain, and only 23 were sold; it was cancelled not long after its introduction. However, it made a comeback as the PDP-10, which was a success.
  
 
* KXF10 "Dolphin", cancelled around 1978.
 
* KXF10 "Dolphin", cancelled around 1978.

Revision as of 21:42, 16 April 2018

A PDP-10 1090

A series of large, 36-bit word mainframe-like systems built by DEC. They were basically a re-implementation of the earlier PDP-6 architecture, whose hardware engineering had been a failure. (The machines were so similar at the programming level that PDP-6 object code could run on a PDP-10.)

DEC sold 4 different generations of PDP-10 processors: the KA10, the KI10, the KL10, and the KS10. The first three were marketed as the DECsystem-10, running the TOPS-10 operating system; the third was also sold as the DECSYSTEM-20, running TOPS-20. (The varying capitalization was the result of a trademark infringment suit.)

Two other very important operating systems also ran on PDP-10's: MIT's ITS (a very advanced system, from whence came EMACS, and much more besides), and TENEX, which DEC later turned into TOPS-20.

PDP-10 ad

PDP-10s were very important machines on the early Internet, being one of the few (relatively!) cheaply available machines which could run a full NCP and later TCP/IP stack as a multi-user environment at the time.

They still have a large following today. There are several good simulators available, notably SIMH and KLH10.

Cancelled projects

The 36-bit line was cancelled many times. The PDP-6 was difficult to manufacture and maintain, and only 23 were sold; it was cancelled not long after its introduction. However, it made a comeback as the PDP-10, which was a success.

  • KXF10 "Dolphin", cancelled around 1978.
  • KT20 "Minnow", cancelled around 1979.
  • KC10 "Jupiter", cancelled 1983.
  • KD10

Commercial clones

  • Xerox PARC: MAXC
  • Foonly: F-1, F2, F3, F4, F5 (unfinished)
  • Systems Concepts: SC-30M, SC-40
  • Tymshare: System 26, System 26KL.
  • CompuServe: JRG-1 (unfinished)
  • XKL: TOAD-1, TOAD-2

Hobbyist recreations

Software simulators

External links