Difference between revisions of "WAITS"
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| − | '''WAITS''' was the [[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 University|Stanford]], manufactured by [[Foonly]]; one at CCRMA, and one at the [[S-1 supercomputer|S-1]] project. | + | '''WAITS''' was the [[operating system]] used at the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|Stanford AI Lab]]. It ran on a [[PDP-6]] (serial number 16), a [[KA10]] (#32), and a [[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 University|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 [[ | + | Much like its "cousin" ITS, WAITS has support for exotic hardware: custom made [[vector graphics|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 [http://saildart.org/ Saildart] project has an archive of files from [[magnetic tape]] backups, and documents the history of SAIL and WAITS. | 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 tape]] backups, and documents the history of SAIL and WAITS. | ||
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==Version history== | ==Version history== | ||
| − | Versions and events for the main WAITS track at SAIL. | + | Versions and events for the main WAITS track at SAIL. Offshots include CCRMA and LLL S-1 project, both running on Foonly machines. |
| − | * Previous [[time-sharing]] experiments at IMSSS include Odin, Thor, and Zeus on a PDP-1 with Philco vector displays. Many concepts were brought over to the SAIL system. | + | * Previous [[time-sharing]] experiments at IMSSS include Odin, Thor, and Zeus on a [[PDP-1]] with Philco vector displays. Many concepts were brought over to the SAIL system. |
* The lab acquired a PDP-6 in June 1966. | * 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 [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]. |
* The 2 series monitor had storage on [[DECtape]]s only. | * The 2 series monitor had storage on [[DECtape]]s only. | ||
* A [[PDP-10]] was installed September 1968. | * A [[PDP-10]] was installed September 1968. | ||
| − | * The 6 series introduced the use of [[disk]] file [[ | + | * The 6 series introduced the use of [[disk]] file [[secondary storage|storage]]. |
* 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]] [[ | + | * The 7 series added use of the [[BBN]] [[memory management|pager]] to extend [[main memory|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. | ||
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* The ultimate version is SAIL.Stanford.EDU WAITS 9.18/M from 1990-04-26. | * 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. | * WAITS was shut down permanently on Friday 7 June 1991. | ||
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| + | {{semi-stub}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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* [http://infolab.stanford.edu/pub/voy/museum/pictures/AIlab/SailFarewell.html The Autobiography of SAIL] | * [http://infolab.stanford.edu/pub/voy/museum/pictures/AIlab/SailFarewell.html The Autobiography of SAIL] | ||
* [https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/776233.pdf The First Ten Years of Artificial Intelligence Research at Stanford] | * [https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/776233.pdf The First Ten Years of Artificial Intelligence Research at Stanford] | ||
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[[Category: PDP-10 Operating Systems]] | [[Category: PDP-10 Operating Systems]] | ||
[[Category: Non-DEC Operating Systems]] | [[Category: Non-DEC Operating Systems]] | ||
Revision as of 05:50, 27 May 2023
WAITS was the operating system used at the Stanford AI Lab. It ran on a PDP-6 (serial number 16), a KA10 (#32), and a 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 tape backups, 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 time-sharing experiments at IMSSS include Odin, Thor, and Zeus on a PDP-1 with Philco vector displays. Many concepts were brought over to the SAIL system.
- 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.
