[net.micro.68k] 68010 random number generator

wa301@sdcc12.UUCP (wa301) (06/27/85)

I am writing a random number generator in Pascal for
the Apollo workstations we have here.  I'd like
to use the linear congruential method described in
Knuth.  This requires the hardware to correctly perform
integer arithmetic modulo 2**(word length).  However,
I'm not sure what the Apollo will do, and there are
several cases to worry about:  16 vs. 32 bits, signed
vs. unsigned, addition vs. multiplication.
It might even trap.  The various
Apollo models that we own are all based on the 68010,
except for the DN660, which has a bit-slice imple-
mentation of the 68010 architecture.

Can anyone help me, either with information on
integer overflow or with a working random number
generator?  Please mail replies to me, and I'll
post a summary if there's interest.

Thanks,

Ron David  ...sdcsvax!sdcc12!wa301
Burroughs Corporation, MicroComponents Group, San Diego, CA