TS11 controller

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TS11 controller

The TS11 controller was a UNIBUS magnetic tape controllers from DEC; it was part of the TS11 Subsystem, along with a TS04 Tape Transport. It used DMA to transfer both data, and 'command packets', which are commands to the device to perform various functions, stored in main memory.

The TS11 controller is a hex card, the M7982, which plugs into an SPC slot. Two DIP switches, E90 and E34, configure the controller's bus address and interrupt vector (respectively). The controller is designed for PDP-11 and VAX computers with a UNIBUS.

Device registers

The TS11 contains only three registers in its own hardware; two are read-only and write-only (respectively), and share the same bus address:

Register Abbreviation Address
Data Buffer Register TSDB 772520 (write)
Bus Address Register TSBA 772520 (read)
Status Register TSSR 772522

(Addresses are given assuming the TS11 is configured to the standard base address, 0772520.)

Data Buffer Register (TSDB)

Data15 <---> Data00
15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00

Bus Address Register (TSBA)

BA15 <---> BA02 Unused (0)
15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00

Status Register (TSSR)

SC UPE SPE RMR NXM NBA XBA SSR OFL FC TC Unused
15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00
  • SC - Special Condition
  • UPE - Unibus Parity Error
  • SPE - Serial Bus Parity Error
  • RMR - Register Modification Refused:
  • NXM - Nonexistent Memory
  • NBA - Need Buffer Address
  • XBA - Extended Bus Address
  • SSR - Subsystem Ready
  • OFL - Off-Line
  • FC - Fatal Termination Class
  • TC - Termination Class

External links