tyler@gen1.UUCP (Tyler IVANCO) (09/23/87)
We are currently looking into the integration and possible design
of a real-time laboratory data logging computer system. It should possess
the following possibly contradictory characteristics:
1) Inexpensive (isn't that always the case :-)
2) Multitasking operating system.
3) Capable of real time data aquisition given
that enough real memory for all of the processes exists and that
sufficient CPU power is available. What makes an operating system
capable of real time operation? Is UNIX capable of this?
Is BSD superior to Sys V in this respect? Are their any other
operating systems that might be better suited to this task?
OS/9 is said to be a real time system; why?
4) Popular bus such as the AT, multibus I or VME bus.
5) A *REAL* 32 bit processor (e.g. NSC32xxx, MC68020, i80386).
6) A hardened mass storage device that would survive the rigors of
field use ranging from the arctic to desert conditions. We are
concerned about thermal shock, water condensation and so on.
The machine will operate under normal temperature conditions.
What types of mass storage devices are available that can met
these requirements? We are interested in the names of vendors
that may sell such products. This includes hard drives, bubble
memory, battery backed up RAM, WORM drives.
Has anyone already designed such a system?
Please e-mail any responses to this query and perhaps the addresses
and phone numbers of organisations that have attempted such a design.
Tyler Ivanco, Brian Solheim,
Institute for Space and Terrestrial Science,
Solar and Terrestrial Physics Lab
--
Phone: (416)736-2100 x7765 Tyler Ivanco
BITNET: fs300022@yusol UUCP: ...uunet!mnetor!yetti!gen1!tyler
yfcs0027@yorkvm1 ...utzoo!/ \!carr!tylerirf@kuling.UUCP (Stellan Bergman) (10/01/87)
In article <310@gen1.UUCP> tyler@gen1.UUCP (Tyler IVANCO) writes: > > We are currently looking into the integration and possible design >of a real-time laboratory data logging computer system. It should possess >the following possibly contradictory characteristics: > > 1) Inexpensive (isn't that always the case :-) > > 2) Multitasking operating system. > > 3) Capable of real time data aquisition given > that enough real memory for all of the processes exists and that > sufficient CPU power is available. What makes an operating system > capable of real time operation? Is UNIX capable of this? > Is BSD superior to Sys V in this respect? Are their any other > operating systems that might be better suited to this task? > OS/9 is said to be a real time system; why? > > (deleted lines) > We have almost identical requirements as you: a portable realt-time UNIX system that we can use under harsh conditions in the field (arctic sea and the tropics -- Northern Norway/Puerto Rico). In the past we have used an HP 9826 workstation with a RT Pascal OS and have been extremely pleassed with the hardware --- never a single hardware failure in 7 years despite lots of air and car transportatioon of the equipment In addition the software has been very reliable indeed. We have now decided to upgrade our field computer system and have chosen the newer Hewlett-Packard HP9000/350 with the HP-UX Unix SV.2 + BSD4.2 + Real time + .... UNIX operating system which we use for our main in-house computer. THis OS is of very good quality and has the full UNIX *AND* real-time capabilities. The hardware seem to be impressive (MC68020 at 25 MHZ/68881 at 20 MHz), generous support for a variety of netwokrking both in hard- and software etc. plus a pleasingly low price (about USD 20000-30000 including UNIX, C, Fortran, Common LISP, X-windows, Pascal OS, 17 inch monitor (1024x792), mouse etc etc... The actual price being determined by the mass storage systems you buy. We've chosen a 130 MB Winchester plus a streamer cassette; later we will buy an optical disc as well). The performancew of the 9000/350 is about twice that of a VAX 11/780 and may be increased further by the addition of a foating point accelerator which will increase the speed by about 3.5. The 9000/350 also supports the VME bus (this is one way of connecting a non-HP optical disc drive). Estimated delivery date of our system,1 which we actually ordered yesterday, is about 8-10 weeks from now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bo Thide, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden. UUCP: ....enea!kuling!irfu!bt _______________________________________________________________________