Difference between revisions of "BCC 500"
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[[Image:BCC-500_1.jpg|300px|right|thumb|BCC 500]] | [[Image:BCC-500_1.jpg|300px|right|thumb|BCC 500]] | ||
| − | The '''BCC 500''' was a computer made by the [[Berkeley Computer Corporation]]. When the company went bankrupt in 1971, the prototype was sold to University of Hawaii. After two years of refurbishment it 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]], from an initial design at [[Project GENIE]]. When the company went bankrupt in 1971, the prototype was sold to University of Hawaii. After two years of refurbishment it was successfully deployed as an [[ARPANET]] host until 1980. It was also the hub of the [[ALOHA network]] which inspired [[Ethernet]]. |
| − | The computer | + | The computer consistd of six independent [[microcode]]d processors, having a 24-bit word width, 18-bit addressing, and access to a shared memory. The microcode implemented an [[instruction set]] with a 6-bit [[operation code|opcode]] and 18-bit [[address]] field, as well as a subset of the [[SDS 940|940]] instruction set. Two of the processors had expanded hardware capabilities and ran user code. The other four were each responsible for implementing their own part of the [[operating system]]; part in microcode and part in macrocode. |
| − | 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 | + | 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 an [[HP2100]]A at Hawaii. A [[PDP-11/10]] running [[ELF operating system|ELF]] connected to the ARPANET. |
{{semi-stub}} | {{semi-stub}} | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[:Image:BCC-500-microengine.png|Internal architecture of the BCC 500 microengine]] | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
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** [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://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/pictures/hawaii_bcc500_block_diagram.jpg BCC500 block diagram] | ||
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** [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/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://www.bitsavers.org/bits/UniversityOfHawaii/BCC-500/ Tape image "BCC 500 Proof Tape"] |
| + | * [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/bcc-500/ Files from the BCC 500 computer at University of Hawaii] - extracted from the above | ||
| + | ** [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/bcc-500/tree/master/doc BCC 500 documents] - from Butler Lampson | ||
| + | ** [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/bcc-500/tree/master/text Extracted files] | ||
| + | *** [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/bcc-500/blob/master/text/WWL%3A%20(PERSONAL%20FILES)/ARCHITECTURE The BCC 500 Computing System: An Introduction and Overview] | ||
| + | *** [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/bcc-500/blob/master/text/SYSTEM-10%3A%20(DOCUMENTATION)/PFS-MANUAL PFS Reference Manual] - '"PFS" probably stands for 'Preliminary File System' | ||
* [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 14:09, 14 January 2025
The BCC 500 was a computer made by the Berkeley Computer Corporation, from an initial design at Project GENIE. When the company went bankrupt in 1971, the prototype was sold to University of Hawaii. After two years of refurbishment it was successfully deployed as an ARPANET host until 1980. It was also the hub of the ALOHA network which inspired Ethernet.
The computer consistd of six independent microcoded processors, having a 24-bit word width, 18-bit addressing, and access to a shared memory. The microcode implemented an instruction set with a 6-bit opcode and 18-bit address field, as well as a subset of the 940 instruction set. Two of the processors had expanded hardware capabilities and ran user code. The other four were 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 an HP2100A at Hawaii. A PDP-11/10 running ELF connected to the ARPANET.
See also
External links
- BCC - documentation at Bitsavers
- Aloha BCC-500 - more
- Files from the BCC 500 computer at University of Hawaii - extracted from the above
- BCC 500 documents - from Butler Lampson
- Extracted files
- The BCC 500 Computing System: An Introduction and Overview
- PFS Reference Manual - '"PFS" probably stands for 'Preliminary File System'
- Some Remarks on a Large New Time-Sharing System
- Dynamic protection structures
