MLP-900 - Revision history

Jnc: Canonicalize a bit, add a few links

2024-04-24T13:39:28Z

Canonicalize a bit, add a few links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:39, 24 April 2024
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	~~== Multi-Lingual Processor ==~~

	[[Image:MLP900.png\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Wanda Canillas with the ISI MLP-900.]]		[[Image:MLP900.png\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Wanda Canillas with the ISI MLP-900.]]

	~~Computer~~ created by STANDARD Computer Corporation, intended for microprogrammed emulation of other computers. Data words are 36 bits wide. Instructions were 32 bits, but expanded to 36 bits at USC ISI.		The ''MLP-900''' ('Multi-Lingual Processor') was a computer created by STANDARD Computer Corporation, intended for [[microcode\|microprogrammed]] [[emulation]] of other computers. Data words are 36 bits wide. Instructions were 32 bits, but expanded to 36 bits at [[Information Sciences Institute\|USC ISI]].

	=== Recollections from Richard Shiffman ===		=== Recollections from Richard Shiffman ===

	<q>[[Information Sciences Institute\|ISI]]'s machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.		<q>[[Information Sciences Institute\|ISI]]'s machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.
	~~Kieth~~ Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from [[RAND]], put the machine room on the top floor of the building.		Keith Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from [[RAND]], put the machine room on the top floor of the building.
	Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.		Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.
	This would drive Ray Mayson nuts, he was always repairing it.		This would drive Ray Mayson nuts, he was always repairing it.

Jnc: rm dup cat

2024-01-08T00:53:49Z

rm dup cat

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:53, 8 January 2024
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	* [https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2023/03/the-early-isi-years-a-firsthand-account-from-the-hardware-team/ The Early ISI Years: A Firsthand Account from the Hardware Team]		* [https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2023/03/the-early-isi-years-a-firsthand-account-from-the-hardware-team/ The Early ISI Years: A Firsthand Account from the Hardware Team]

	~~[[Category: Computers]]~~
	[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]
	[[Category: Unique Computers]]		[[Category: Unique Computers]]

Jnc: +New category

2024-01-08T00:51:51Z

+New category

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:51, 8 January 2024
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	[[Category: Computers]]		[[Category: Computers]]
	[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]
			[[Category: Unique Computers]]

Larsbrinkhoff: Quote from USC article.

2023-10-24T05:59:42Z

Quote from USC article.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:59, 24 October 2023
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	The MLP was big rectangular prism full of [[emitter-coupled logic\|ECL]] small scale [[integrated circuit\|ICs]], Motorola 10K or 100K series I think.		The MLP was big rectangular prism full of [[emitter-coupled logic\|ECL]] small scale [[integrated circuit\|ICs]], Motorola 10K or 100K series I think.
	It used a lot of power, but was the fastest ICs at that time.</q>		It used a lot of power, but was the fastest ICs at that time.</q>

			=== From "The Early ISI Years: A Firsthand Account from the Hardware Team" ===

			<q>The dusty deck problem was the motivation for the MLP-900, which could emulate instruction set architectures from previous generation machines or from machines yet to be developed. In fact, the MLP-900 could not only emulate previous generation machines but could execute “dusty decks” faster than the original machine. Since a user could define the machine architecture that their deck was created for, they could continue to run decks that would have become obsolete without the MLP-900 emulation engine.

			Although it was created by Standard Computer Corporation, ISI engineer Ray Mason made several significant hardware modifications to the machine, including a new control store, improved cooling, and improved power distribution. It was supported by a high level language and a programming environment which supported remote users via the ARPAnet.</q>

	=== External Links ===		=== External Links ===
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	* [ftp://ftp.isi.edu/isi-pubs/tm-78-7.pdf "PRIM System: Tool Builders Manual and User Reference Manual"]		* [ftp://ftp.isi.edu/isi-pubs/tm-78-7.pdf "PRIM System: Tool Builders Manual and User Reference Manual"]
	* [http://www.datasaab.se/Papers/Datasaab%20Experiences%20and%20Reflections.pdf "Datasaab Experiences and Reflections"], by Harold "Bud" Lawson		* [http://www.datasaab.se/Papers/Datasaab%20Experiences%20and%20Reflections.pdf "Datasaab Experiences and Reflections"], by Harold "Bud" Lawson
			* [https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2023/03/the-early-isi-years-a-firsthand-account-from-the-hardware-team/ The Early ISI Years: A Firsthand Account from the Hardware Team]

	[[Category: Computers]]		[[Category: Computers]]
	[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]

Larsbrinkhoff: +photo

2023-10-23T13:04:42Z

+photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:04, 23 October 2023
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	== Multi-Lingual Processor ==		== Multi-Lingual Processor ==

			[[Image:MLP900.png\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Wanda Canillas with the ISI MLP-900.]]

	Computer created by STANDARD Computer Corporation, intended for microprogrammed emulation of other computers. Data words are 36 bits wide. Instructions were 32 bits, but expanded to 36 bits at USC ISI.		Computer created by STANDARD Computer Corporation, intended for microprogrammed emulation of other computers. Data words are 36 bits wide. Instructions were 32 bits, but expanded to 36 bits at USC ISI.

Larsbrinkhoff: 36-bit cat.

2023-07-11T11:37:03Z

36-bit cat.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:37, 11 July 2023
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	[[Category: Computers]]		[[Category: Computers]]
			[[Category: 36-bit Computers]]

Jnc: /* External Links */ +good overview

2022-03-09T16:26:52Z

External Links: +good overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:26, 9 March 2022
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	=== External Links ===		=== External Links ===

			* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp11/1140/1140E/Oakley_A_Comparison_of_Two_Microprogrammable_Processors_May75.pdf A Comparison of Two Microprogrammable Processors] - overview of the MLP-900 and the [[PDP-11/40E]]
	* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/standardComputer/809001-6_MLP-900_Multi-Lingual_Processor_PrincOps_May70.pdf "MLP-900 Multi-Lingual Processor - Principles of Operation"]		* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/standardComputer/809001-6_MLP-900_Multi-Lingual_Processor_PrincOps_May70.pdf "MLP-900 Multi-Lingual Processor - Principles of Operation"]
	* [ftp://ftp.isi.edu/isi-pubs/rr-73-8.pdf "A Microprogramming Language for the MLP-900"]		* [ftp://ftp.isi.edu/isi-pubs/rr-73-8.pdf "A Microprogramming Language for the MLP-900"]

Larsbrinkhoff: Link to ISI page.

2021-11-02T06:30:37Z

Link to ISI page.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:30, 2 November 2021
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	=== Recollections from Richard Shiffman ===		=== Recollections from Richard Shiffman ===

	<q>ISI's machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.		<q>[[Information Sciences Institute\|ISI]]'s machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.
	Kieth Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from [[RAND]], put the machine room on the top floor of the building.		Kieth Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from [[RAND]], put the machine room on the top floor of the building.
	Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.		Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.

Jnc: +cat, links

2021-08-25T13:00:58Z

+cat, links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:00, 25 August 2021
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	<q>ISI's machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.		<q>ISI's machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.
	Kieth Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from RAND, put the machine room on the top floor of the building.		Kieth Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from [[RAND]], put the machine room on the top floor of the building.
	Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.		Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.
	This would drive Ray Mayson nuts, he was always repairing it.		This would drive Ray Mayson nuts, he was always repairing it.
	I don't remember seeing the MLP run, but with the right microcode loaded the MLP could emulate a KA10 faster than DEC's KA10.		I don't remember seeing the MLP run, but with the right [[microcode]] loaded the MLP could emulate a [[KA10]] faster than DEC's KA10.
	The MLP was big rectangular prism full of ECL small scale ICs, Motorola 10K or 100K series I think.		The MLP was big rectangular prism full of [[emitter-coupled logic\|ECL]] small scale [[integrated circuit\|ICs]], Motorola 10K or 100K series I think.
	It used a lot of power, but was the fastest ICs at that time.</q>		It used a lot of power, but was the fastest ICs at that time.</q>

Line 20:		Line 20:
	* [ftp://ftp.isi.edu/isi-pubs/tm-78-7.pdf "PRIM System: Tool Builders Manual and User Reference Manual"]		* [ftp://ftp.isi.edu/isi-pubs/tm-78-7.pdf "PRIM System: Tool Builders Manual and User Reference Manual"]
	* [http://www.datasaab.se/Papers/Datasaab%20Experiences%20and%20Reflections.pdf "Datasaab Experiences and Reflections"], by Harold "Bud" Lawson		* [http://www.datasaab.se/Papers/Datasaab%20Experiences%20and%20Reflections.pdf "Datasaab Experiences and Reflections"], by Harold "Bud" Lawson

			[[Category: Computers]]

Larsbrinkhoff: Recollections from Rick Shiffman.

2021-04-21T07:03:04Z

Recollections from Rick Shiffman.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:03, 21 April 2021
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	Computer created by STANDARD Computer Corporation, intended for microprogrammed emulation of other computers. Data words are 36 bits wide. Instructions were 32 bits, but expanded to 36 bits at USC ISI.		Computer created by STANDARD Computer Corporation, intended for microprogrammed emulation of other computers. Data words are 36 bits wide. Instructions were 32 bits, but expanded to 36 bits at USC ISI.

			=== Recollections from Richard Shiffman ===

			<q>ISI's machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.
			Kieth Uncapher, the founder of ISI, Tom Ellis, and Mac McMinley, when they moved from RAND, put the machine room on the top floor of the building.
			Unfortunately the roof would leak when it rained; the leak was always over the MLP, no matter where they moved it.
			This would drive Ray Mayson nuts, he was always repairing it.
			I don't remember seeing the MLP run, but with the right microcode loaded the MLP could emulate a KA10 faster than DEC's KA10.
			The MLP was big rectangular prism full of ECL small scale ICs, Motorola 10K or 100K series I think.
			It used a lot of power, but was the fastest ICs at that time.</q>

	=== External Links ===		=== External Links ===