Difference between revisions of "WAITS"

From Computer History Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Version history: More links.)
(Serial numbers.)
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Operating system used at the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|Stanford AI Lab]].  It ran on a [[PDP-6]], [[KA10]], and [[KL10]] connected together in various configurations.  The name unofficially means "West-coast Alternative to [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]]" (although this may be a 'backronym' - a SAIL page which discusses the meaning of the name does not mention it).
+
Operating system used at the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|Stanford AI Lab]].  It ran on a [[PDP-6]] (serial number 16), [[KA10]] (#32), and [[KL10]] (#1075) connected together in various configurations.  The name unofficially means "West-coast Alternative to [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]]", or "West-coast Artificial Intelligence Time-Sharing" (although these may be a 'backronym' - a SAIL page which discusses the meaning of the name does not mention it).  It also ran on [[PDP-10]] clones at Stanford, manufactured by [[Foonly]]; one at CCRMA, and one at the [[S-1 supercomputer|S-1]] project.
  
It also ran on [[PDP-10]] clones at Stanford, manufactured by [[Foonly]]; one at CCRMA, and one at the [[S-1 supercomputer|S-1]] project.
+
Much like its "cousin" ITS, WAITS has support for exotic hardware: custom made vector displays from [[III]], raster displays from [[Data Disc]], robotic devices, and a powerful sound synthesis device called the [[Samson Box]].
  
In modern times, WAITS is running on a KL10 at the Living Computers Museum, and on Richard Cornwell's KA10 emulator.
+
In modern times, WAITS is running on a KL10 at the Living Computers Museum, and on Richard Cornwell's KA10 emulator.  SAIL alumnus Bruce Baumgart's [http://saildart.org/ Saildart] project has an archive of files from magnetic tapes, and documents the history of SAIL and WAITS.
  
 
==Version history==
 
==Version history==
Line 9: Line 9:
 
Versions and events for the main WAITS track at SAIL.  Offshots include CCRMA and LLL [[S-1]] project, both running on [[Foonly]] machines.
 
Versions and events for the main WAITS track at SAIL.  Offshots include CCRMA and LLL [[S-1]] project, both running on [[Foonly]] machines.
  
* The [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|Stanford AI Lab]] acquired a [[PDP-6]] in June 1966.
+
* Previous timesharing experiments at the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|Stanford AI Lab]] include Odin, Thor, and Zeus on a PDP-1 with Philco vector displays.
 +
* The lab acquired a [[PDP-6]] in June 1966.
 
* The SAIL monitor was based on an early PDP-6 Monitor from [[DEC]].
 
* The SAIL monitor was based on an early PDP-6 Monitor from [[DEC]].
 
* The 2 series monitor had storage on [[DECtape]]s only.
 
* The 2 series monitor had storage on [[DECtape]]s only.
Line 16: Line 17:
 
* The first monitor version recorded on tape is Stanford 6.09F, from 1972-10-02.
 
* The first monitor version recorded on tape is Stanford 6.09F, from 1972-10-02.
 
* The last 6 series version is Stanford 6.19/B from 1975-04-14.
 
* The last 6 series version is Stanford 6.19/B from 1975-04-14.
* The 7 series added use of the [[BBN]] pager.
+
* The 7 series added use of the [[BBN]] pager to extend physical memory beyond 256K
 
* Stanford 7.01 dates from 1975-04-19.
 
* Stanford 7.01 dates from 1975-04-19.
 
* The last 7 series version is Stanford 7.05/I/1400P from 1976-05-06.
 
* The last 7 series version is Stanford 7.05/I/1400P from 1976-05-06.
Line 22: Line 23:
 
* Stanford 8.00 is from 1976-06-06.
 
* Stanford 8.00 is from 1976-06-06.
 
* 1978-04-09 marks the renaming of the system with WAITS 8.70/I.
 
* 1978-04-09 marks the renaming of the system with WAITS 8.70/I.
 +
* To differentiate between sites, the machine name was added to the version string.
 
* The last 8 series version is SU-AI WAITS 8.73/Q from 1978-12-21.
 
* The last 8 series version is SU-AI WAITS 8.73/Q from 1978-12-21.
 
* The 9 series monitors had the "P2 processor separate" (unclear).
 
* The 9 series monitors had the "P2 processor separate" (unclear).

Revision as of 14:24, 18 October 2021

Operating system used at the Stanford AI Lab. It ran on a PDP-6 (serial number 16), KA10 (#32), and KL10 (#1075) connected together in various configurations. The name unofficially means "West-coast Alternative to ITS", or "West-coast Artificial Intelligence Time-Sharing" (although these may be a 'backronym' - a SAIL page which discusses the meaning of the name does not mention it). It also ran on PDP-10 clones at Stanford, manufactured by Foonly; one at CCRMA, and one at the S-1 project.

Much like its "cousin" ITS, WAITS has support for exotic hardware: custom made vector displays from III, raster displays from Data Disc, robotic devices, and a powerful sound synthesis device called the Samson Box.

In modern times, WAITS is running on a KL10 at the Living Computers Museum, and on Richard Cornwell's KA10 emulator. SAIL alumnus Bruce Baumgart's Saildart project has an archive of files from magnetic tapes, and documents the history of SAIL and WAITS.

Version history

Versions and events for the main WAITS track at SAIL. Offshots include CCRMA and LLL S-1 project, both running on Foonly machines.

  • Previous timesharing experiments at the Stanford AI Lab include Odin, Thor, and Zeus on a PDP-1 with Philco vector displays.
  • The lab acquired a PDP-6 in June 1966.
  • The SAIL monitor was based on an early PDP-6 Monitor from DEC.
  • The 2 series monitor had storage on DECtapes only.
  • A PDP-10 was installed September 1968.
  • The 6 series introduced the use of disk file storage.
  • The first monitor version recorded on tape is Stanford 6.09F, from 1972-10-02.
  • The last 6 series version is Stanford 6.19/B from 1975-04-14.
  • The 7 series added use of the BBN pager to extend physical memory beyond 256K
  • Stanford 7.01 dates from 1975-04-19.
  • The last 7 series version is Stanford 7.05/I/1400P from 1976-05-06.
  • The 8 series marked the port to the KL10 processor.
  • Stanford 8.00 is from 1976-06-06.
  • 1978-04-09 marks the renaming of the system with WAITS 8.70/I.
  • To differentiate between sites, the machine name was added to the version string.
  • The last 8 series version is SU-AI WAITS 8.73/Q from 1978-12-21.
  • The 9 series monitors had the "P2 processor separate" (unclear).
  • SU-AI WAITS 9.01 is from 1978-12-30.
  • The disk system moved to RH20 and RP07 drives in 1983.
  • The ultimate version is SAIL.Stanford.EDU WAITS 9.18/M from 1990-04-26.
  • WAITS was shut down permanently on Friday 7 June 1991.

External links