Difference between revisions of "BCC 500"
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The '''BCC 500''' was a computer made by the [[Berkeley Computer Corporation]]. When the company went bankrupt, the prototype went to Hawaii and was successfully deployed as an [[ARPANET]] host until 1980. It was also the hub of the [[ALOHA network]] which inspired [[Ethernet]]. | The '''BCC 500''' was a computer made by the [[Berkeley Computer Corporation]]. When the company went bankrupt, the prototype went to Hawaii and was successfully deployed as an [[ARPANET]] host until 1980. It was also the hub of the [[ALOHA network]] which inspired [[Ethernet]]. | ||
| − | The computer consists of six independent | + | The computer consists of six independent [[microcode]]d processors, having a 24-bit word width, 18-bit addressing, and access to a shared memory. The microcode implements an [[instruction set]] with a 6-bit [[operation code|opcode]] and 18-bit [[address]] field. Two of the processors have expanded hardware capabilities and run user code. The other four are each responsible for implementing their own part of the [[operating system]]; part in microcode and part in macrocode. |
| − | At BCC, an [[ | + | At BCC, an [[IBM System/360|IBM 360/30]] acted as a [[front end]], handling tape drives, card readers, and printers. This was replaced by a [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]]2100A at Hawaii. A [[PDP-11/10]] running [[ELF operating system|ELF]] connected to the [[ARPANET]]. |
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* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/bcc/ BCC] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]] | * [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/bcc/ BCC] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]] | ||
| − | * [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/univOfHawaii/ | + | * [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/univOfHawaii/Aloha_BCC-500/ Aloha BCC-500] - more |
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/univOfHawaii/R-1_BCC500_DesignFeatures_Rev_Mar74.pdf Design Features of the BCC 500 CPU] | ** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/univOfHawaii/R-1_BCC500_DesignFeatures_Rev_Mar74.pdf Design Features of the BCC 500 CPU] | ||
| − | * [http://bitsavers.org/bits/UniversityOfHawaii/BCC-500/ Tape image "BCC 500 Proof Tape] | + | ** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/univOfHawaii/Aloha_BCC-500/pictures/hawaii_bcc500_block_diagram.jpg BCC500 block diagram] |
| + | ** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/univOfHawaii/Aloha_BCC-500/logbooks/Last_BCC500_HW_Log_Entry_19800229.pdf Last BCC500 Log Entry] | ||
| + | ** [http://www.bitsavers.org/bits/UniversityOfHawaii/BCC-500/ Tape image "BCC 500 Proof Tape] | ||
* [http://bwlampson.site/06a-BCC500Notes/06a-BCC500Notes.pdf Some Remarks on a Large New Time-Sharing System] | * [http://bwlampson.site/06a-BCC500Notes/06a-BCC500Notes.pdf Some Remarks on a Large New Time-Sharing System] | ||
* [http://bwlampson.site/06-DynamicProtect/06-DynamicProtect.pdf Dynamic protection structures] | * [http://bwlampson.site/06-DynamicProtect/06-DynamicProtect.pdf Dynamic protection structures] | ||
Revision as of 13:41, 8 March 2024
The BCC 500 was a computer made by the Berkeley Computer Corporation. When the company went bankrupt, the prototype went to Hawaii and was successfully deployed as an ARPANET host until 1980. It was also the hub of the ALOHA network which inspired Ethernet.
The computer consists of six independent microcoded processors, having a 24-bit word width, 18-bit addressing, and access to a shared memory. The microcode implements an instruction set with a 6-bit opcode and 18-bit address field. Two of the processors have expanded hardware capabilities and run user code. The other four are each responsible for implementing their own part of the operating system; part in microcode and part in macrocode.
At BCC, an IBM 360/30 acted as a front end, handling tape drives, card readers, and printers. This was replaced by a HP2100A at Hawaii. A PDP-11/10 running ELF connected to the ARPANET.
