kevinf@percival.UUCP (Kevin Fowler) (11/19/86)
More on the PD32 public domain NS32016 system
/*
** Back in September I posted information on the creation of
** a public domain NSC32016 board designed to provide low cost UNIX for
** the masses and the user's group that is forming around it.
** Below is a repeat of the information posted and a follow-up on
** what has been happening with the board and the group:
*/
The following is a selected excerpt from Micro Cornucopia Magazine.
"Our primary goal in designing this 32000 based system was
was to come up with a low cost system without compromising
performance. One of the unique aspects of the design is that is
has been released to the public; schematics, PAL equations, inter-
face software and the PCB artwork. For this reason, we named our
design the PD32. (We are, however, restricting commercial copying
of the system, see the note below.)
"We chose the National Semiconductor 32016 chip set because
it's inexpensive, is a mature product, and was designed to support
high level languages. The total cost of both the hardware and
UNIX System V, with which the system runs, should be under
$1000.00.
"The version of UNIX availble for this board is the full AT&T
UNIX System V release 2. The port was performed by ZAIAZ Commun-
ications and is AT&T and National Semiconductor approved.
and downward software compatibility at the binary level."
The system accesses the outside world (and your host system) via a
parallel port interface, some of the advantages of this approach are:
-very simple interface requirements on the host. The PC
clone, or a Z80 based system make ideal hosts.
-the data transfer rate is 250Kbytes for a Z80 machine and
up to 500Kbytes for a PC.
For more information on the operation of the PD32 system please refer to
Micro C issue #32, ( available at B. Dalton Booksellers ) or contact the
following parties:
PD32 users group
c/o Dan Efron
8910 Westmoreland Lane
Minneapolis MN 55426
George Scolaro
72 Longfellow St.
Thousand Oaks CA 91360
Micro Cornucopia
PO Box 223
Bend OR 97709
or call the Micro C RBBS at 1-503-382-7643
"Note: George Scolaro is maintaining the copyright on the
hardware design and is restricting copying to small-quantity,
non-commercial users. Any commercial production of this system
must be by license through George."
I would also like to draw attention to Dave Rand for his work in
the design of the interface software (and all the other things
that I'm probably not aware that he is doing to make this all possible.)
/*
** The following are excerpts from the PD32 conference
** on Micro Cornucopia's BBS.
*/
Date: 10-21-86 (22:11) Number: 24
To: ALL Refer#: None
From: DANIEL EFRON Recv'd: (n/a)
Subj: PD32 Sec'ty: Public Message
Here's the latest scoop on the PD32. I will be sending out more
information to people who have written to me (and are therefore on my
mailing list).
Definicon has come through with a full kit that can be purchased
immediately. There are a few things that one should consider before
purchasing. 1) The PD32 purchased from Definicon will only be
supported by the PD32 users group. 2) All the hardware is sold
basically on an as is basis (although you should expect working parts).
3) Do not buy this system if you are not capable of building it or
of having someone else build it for you. 4) To run Unix you'll need
at least 20 megs of diskspace.
With that said, here are the details: You purchase the board
direct from Definicon. You can either call them or write them. Their
address and phone number are:
Definicon Systems
31324 Via Colinas #108/9
Westlake, Village, CA 91362
(818) 889-1646
You must ask for the LOW COST UNIX board. The prices are as follows:
6 Mhz, 1 Meg = $287
6 Mhz, 2 Meg = 425
10 Mhz, 1 Meg = 473
10 Mhz, 2 Meg = 610
That's a little misleading though, everyone MUST purchase Unix from
Definicon when they order a board through them. The cost of Unix is:
Unix Sys V.2 = $500
These prices do not include shipping. You can get second day shipping
for about $20.
The best deal here seems to be the 6Mhz, 2 Meg board. Anyway order
to your hearts content. We will probably be providing bare boards with
PALs and proms. Any interest? You will be able to buy Unix for these
separately through the users group.
Please send me your name for more info. We'll be supplying a lot
of nice little extras through the users group.
Dan Efron
Date: 11-08-86 (01:42) Number: 38
To: ALL Refer#: None
From: DANIEL EFRON Recv'd: (n/a)
Subj: PD32 Sec'ty: Public Message
All,
I've been busy lately. There's been a lot of interest lately in the
PD32. I defer to my previous message for info on how to purchase
the board through Definicon. Also those who have sent me their
addresses should be receiving some info soon. I've decided to put
out a small monthly newsletter with interesting tidbits about the
board. Also I mentioned previously that I would post my college
address, but alas I ran out of board time. Anyway here it is:
Dan Efron
Box 16
Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
(415) 643-2270
I'll be at that address every year between 8/15-12/15 and 1/15/5-15.
Anyway the best way to get on the user's group mailing list is to write
me at those addresses or at my e-mail addresses:
arpa: defron@violet.berkeley.EDU
uucp: ...ucbvax!ucbviolet!defron
Also info about UNIX is included in the newsletter. Please make sure
you notify me when you buy a board so that I can give you the software
the user's group will be offering (e.g. emacs and hack). Also I may
be working on a port of the C shell (maybe). Anyway so long for now.
Dan Efron
/*
** AT&T, UNIX, ZAIAZ, Micro Cornucopia, etc.
** are registered trademarks blah blah blah.
*/
Me? I'm...
Kevin Fowler
6854 NE Multnomah PDX OR 97213
!tektronix!reed!percival!kevinf