MLP-900
The MLP-900' ('Multi-Lingual Processor') was a 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
ISI's machine room was on the 12th floor of the south triple tower in Marina del Rey, California.
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.
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.
From "The Early ISI Years: A Firsthand Account from the Hardware Team"
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.
External Links
- A Comparison of Two Microprogrammable Processors - overview of the MLP-900 and the PDP-11/40E
- "MLP-900 Multi-Lingual Processor - Principles of Operation"
- "A Microprogramming Language for the MLP-900"
- "PRIM System: Overview"
- "PRIM System: Tool Builders Manual and User Reference Manual"
- "Datasaab Experiences and Reflections", by Harold "Bud" Lawson
- The Early ISI Years: A Firsthand Account from the Hardware Team
