Maxc - Revision history

Jnc: /* External links */ +Original boards from a Xerox MAXC Time Sharing System

2024-02-16T23:43:47Z

‎External links: +Original boards from a Xerox MAXC Time Sharing System

Jnc: link t new BBN Pager article

2024-01-08T18:06:38Z

link t new BBN Pager article

Jnc: +New category - well, 2 of them - _almost_ unique! :-)

2024-01-08T00:57:08Z

+New category - well, 2 of them - _almost_ unique! :-)

Jnc: typo

2023-06-10T12:43:40Z

typo

Jnc: Origin of name

2023-06-10T12:42:47Z

Origin of name

Larsbrinkhoff: /* External links */ Maxc machine room.

2023-05-14T05:50:14Z

‎External links: Maxc machine room.

Larsbrinkhoff: /* External links */ The complete 1981 Maxc Operations in a single document. Rendered from original files by Josh Dersch using ContrAlto.

2023-05-14T05:47:04Z

‎External links: The complete 1981 Maxc Operations in a single document. Rendered from original files by Josh Dersch using ContrAlto.

Larsbrinkhoff: Link to Byte Lisp information.

2023-05-12T07:36:15Z

Link to Byte Lisp information.

Jnc: Also supported PUP; link to some goodies

2023-05-11T14:56:09Z

Also supported PUP; link to some goodies

Larsbrinkhoff: /* External links */ Microcode etc.

2023-05-11T12:40:16Z

‎External links: Microcode etc.

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 **** [https://xeroxparcarchive.computerhistory.org/indigo/maxc/MaxcOperations0-24Press.Dm!3_/.MaxcOps0.Press.pdf Maxc Operations] - [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PDP-10/maxc/master/pdf/MaxcOperations0-24.press.pdf All files in one document]
 *** [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PDP-10/maxc/master/pdf/Maxc-room.pdf Maxc machine room]
 [[Category: PDP-10 Systems]]
 [[Category: Xerox Mainframes]]
 [[Category: Unique Computers]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 The [[main memory]] was built out of then-novel [[Dynamic RAM|DRAM]] [[integrated circuit|chips]] from [[Intel]], the new [[Intel 1103]] 1Kx1 chip. It used [[error-correcting code|ECC]] to produce reliable memory; with a [[word]] length of 48 bits (compared to the PDP-10's native length of 36 bits; only 7 of the extra 12 bits were used for the ECC), it could correct all single-bit errors, and detect (but not correct) double-bit errors. Thus, single failed chips could be ignored, and replaced during scheduled maintenance.
-They ran the [[TENEX]] [[operating system]]; to do this, Maxc implemented [[virtual memory]] mechanisms comparable to those added to the [[KA10]] by [[Bolt, Beranek, and Newman|BBN]], including a 1024x18 bit mapping memory. Both Maxc machines also supported [[PARC Universal Packet|PUP]].
+They ran the [[TENEX]] [[operating system]]; to do this, Maxc implemented [[virtual memory]] mechanisms comparable to those added to the [[KA10]] by the [[BBN Pager]], including a 1024x18 bit mapping memory. Both Maxc machines also supported [[PARC Universal Packet|PUP]].
 Maxc1 was built during the period from February 1971 to April 1973; it was de-commissioned early in 1981. Maxc2 was built between June 1975 and April 1977.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:57, 8 January 2024
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	[[Category: PDP-10 Systems]]		[[Category: PDP-10 Systems]]
	[[Category: Xerox Mainframes]]		[[Category: Xerox Mainframes]]
		+	[[Category: Unique Computers]]

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 [[Image:Maxc.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Xerox Maxc]]
-'''Maxc1''' and '''Maxc2''' (often originally capitalized '''MAXC''' - anacronym for 'Multiple Access Xerox Computer') were a pair of [[PDP-10]] clones made at [[Xerox PARC]], after the Xerox corporate level objected to the acquisition of machines from outside the company, instead of from Xerox's subsidiary, Xerox Data Systems - [[Scientific Data Systems]] before it was acquired by Xerox. (They chose the PDP-10 as they wanted to be able to run [[INTERLISP]].)
+'''Maxc1''' and '''Maxc2''' (originally capitalized '''MAXC''' - an acronym for 'Multiple Access Xerox Computer') were a pair of [[PDP-10]] clones made at [[Xerox PARC]], after the Xerox corporate level objected to the acquisition of machines from outside the company, instead of from Xerox's subsidiary, Xerox Data Systems - [[Scientific Data Systems]] before it was acquired by Xerox. (They chose the PDP-10 as they wanted to be able to run [[INTERLISP]].)
 They were [[microcode]]d machines, using an 72-bit [[instruction|microinstruction]]. They contained 2K [[word]]s of microcode, and microinstructions executed in 200 nsec (Maxc1); 4K words, at 150 nsec (Maxc2). The hardware supported up to 16 levels of [[subroutine]] calls in the microcode. This capability was used to support bulk data transfers (from [[disk]] [[mass storage]]); a technique which was later used in the [[Xerox Alto|Alto]].

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Maxc.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Xerox Maxc]]
-'''Maxc1''' and '''Maxc2''' (often capitalized '''MAXC''') were a pair of [[PDP-10]] clones made at [[Xerox PARC]], after the Xerox corporate level objected to the acquisition of machines from outside the company, instead of from Xerox's subsidiary, Xerox Data Systems - [[Scientific Data Systems]] before it was acquired by Xerox. (They chose the PDP-10 as they wanted to be able to run [[INTERLISP]].)
+'''Maxc1''' and '''Maxc2''' (often originally capitalized '''MAXC''' - anacronym for 'Multiple Access Xerox Computer') were a pair of [[PDP-10]] clones made at [[Xerox PARC]], after the Xerox corporate level objected to the acquisition of machines from outside the company, instead of from Xerox's subsidiary, Xerox Data Systems - [[Scientific Data Systems]] before it was acquired by Xerox. (They chose the PDP-10 as they wanted to be able to run [[INTERLISP]].)
 They were [[microcode]]d machines, using an 72-bit [[instruction|microinstruction]]. They contained 2K [[word]]s of microcode, and microinstructions executed in 200 nsec (Maxc1); 4K words, at 150 nsec (Maxc2). The hardware supported up to 16 levels of [[subroutine]] calls in the microcode. This capability was used to support bulk data transfers (from [[disk]] [[mass storage]]); a technique which was later used in the [[Xerox Alto|Alto]].

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 They were [[microcode]]d machines, using an 72-bit [[instruction|microinstruction]]. They contained 2K [[word]]s of microcode, and microinstructions executed in 200 nsec (Maxc1); 4K words, at 150 nsec (Maxc2). The hardware supported up to 16 levels of [[subroutine]] calls in the microcode. This capability was used to support bulk data transfers (from [[disk]] [[mass storage]]); a technique which was later used in the [[Xerox Alto|Alto]].
-In addition to a PDP-10-compatible mode, Maxc microcode also implemented a '''Byte Lisp''' mode with 9-bit instructions specially tailored for [[LISP]].  The INTERLISP compiler and runtime has support for this instruction set under a Maxc condition, and the Maxc monitor has special JSYS calls to facilitate Byte Lisp code.
+In addition to a PDP-10-compatible mode, Maxc microcode also implemented a '''[[Maxc Byte Lisp|Byte Lisp]]''' mode with 9-bit instructions specially tailored for [[LISP]].  The INTERLISP compiler and runtime has support for this instruction set under a Maxc condition, and the Maxc monitor has special JSYS calls to facilitate Byte Lisp code.
 A [[front end]] (a [[Data General Nova]] on Maxc1, and an Alto on Maxc2) was used to load and [[debug]] the microcode; all the [[input/output]] [[peripheral]]s other than the disks were also connected to the front end.

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 * [http://www.softwarepreservation.org/projects/LISP/interlisp-d/Deutsch-3IJCAI.pdf A LISP Machine with Very Compact Programs], L. Peter Deutsch, 1973.
 * [https://github.com/PDP-10/maxc/tree/master/monitor Maxc monitor sources (and other files related to PUP)]
-* [https://xeroxalto.computerhistory.org/_cd8_/pup/.index.html Alto directory with some Maxc files], i.e. .MAC, .SAV, .REL, .UNV.
+* Files from Xerox PARC archives: [https://xeroxalto.computerhistory.org/_cd8_/pup/.index.html PUP], [https://xeroxparcarchive.computerhistory.org/indigo/maxc/.index.html Maxc microcode, diagnostics, etc]
 [[Category: PDP-10 Systems]]
 [[Category: Xerox Mainframes]]