egdorf@zaphod.lanl.gov (Skip Egdorf) (06/14/89)
I am posting this to comp.arch because it includes board-level architectural
questions.
I am posting this to comp.unix.wizards because it includes unix questions
probably answered only by those who have been around a few years.
I am posting this to comp.sys.m68k because it is about a M68010 based system.
I expect that most answers will be via email reply rather than news followup.
I will post a summary if response warrents it. If you must followup rather
than reply, please only followup to the appropriate group.
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I have come upon 4 of the old Cadmus M68010 QBus CPU boards and 8 of the
related 512K memory boards. I remember Cambridge Digital selling these
back in the early-middle 1980s and thinking they would be fine upgrades
to some old 11/23 V7 systems. For those who don't remember, this system was
built by a CAD vendor called Cadmus as an upgrade to Q-Bus systems before
the Microvax came along. Cambridge Digital's adds for these used the
phrase "Microvax your PDP." The system used the 22-bit Q-bus, but was before
the time of the C-D interconect private memory bus. The boards used two
40-pin ribbon connectors along the backs of the boards to provide what
was called the "S Bus" for 0 wait state connection to custom duel-port
(S-Bus QBus) 512K memory boards. I recall that in the early 80s, these were
a minor competitor to the Sun-2.
The boards work so far as the boot prom complaining when no proper device
is present.
One set of software with them is from Cambridge Digital and is labeled
"MUNIX V1.05 c1985" on a 1/4" DC 300XL tape cartridge.
A second set that includes normal Unix docs (in a very nice binder set)
seems to be directly from Cadmus, seems to be Sys V.1 (maybe V.2) based,
and is called "Unison".
These were cheap enough that I can afford to play with them, and so
I intend to use these to build one or two hobby-home systems. I have QBus
backplanes, SCSI and SMD controllers and a couple of disks, DLV-11Js,
DZV-11s, and a CDC 1/2" tape on an Emulex TC02 (TS11 emulating). I will
probably need an MT emulating tape...
A few questions:
1. Does anyone have access to more detailed design information on the
Cadmus CPU? What was its memory management like? What kernel-visible
registers or I/O-page addresses were interpreted on the CPU board?
Does anyone have documentation that I could have/buy/pay-for-copying?
2. Does anyone have specifications for the S-BUS private memory bus?
Does anyone have design information for the memory boards?
Does anyone know of attempts to make denser memory boards?
The existing boards fit 512K on a quad board with 64k technology.
Did anyone make a board with 256k chips? The S-Bus cables seem
easy to make with 40-pin connectors, ribbon cable and a cable press.
Any problems or gotcha's?
3. Does anyone know what 1/4" drive and Q-Bus controller were used with
these? The documentation mentions a Cipher drive on an MT emulating
controller. From some Cambridge Digital boxes over which I slobbered
sever USENIXes ago, I seem to remember Emulex SC03s (I have one) and
some other Emulex controller on the tape (But which one???).
The tapes are not QIC-11 or QIC-24. They are too early, and they
don't work (Why not try 'em. The Sun was just sitting there...).
4. As I may not be able to find a way to read the 1/4" tapes, does anyone
out there have copies of a system for these boards that I could get?
In particular, could I find some way to get them on 1/2" tape. A TS11
bootable system would be best, but If need be I can build disks from
an already-running PDP-11 Unix system.
The systems have V7 binary and Cadmus Sys-V.{1,2???} binary licenses.
The Sys-V binary licenses have restrictions that updates can only
come from Cadmus, but Cadmus is no longer around. I can't believe that
AT&T will quibble over something this antique. (OK guys, just kidding...
Please don't take away my long distance service...).
Does anyone have suggestions about what I might find? and where?
5. Any other ideas, war stories, suggestions?stefan@yendor.phx.mcd.mot.com (Stefan Loesch) (06/15/89)
In article <EGDORF.89Jun13165319@zaphod.lanl.gov> egdorf@zaphod.lanl.gov (Skip Egdorf) writes: > >I have come upon 4 of the old Cadmus M68010 QBus CPU boards and 8 of the >related 512K memory boards. I remember Cambridge Digital selling these >back in the early-middle 1980s and thinking they would be fine upgrades >to some old 11/23 V7 systems. For those who don't remember, this system was I don't know about that >"MUNIX V1.05 c1985" on a 1/4" DC 300XL tape cartridge. >A second set that includes normal Unix docs (in a very nice binder set) >seems to be directly from Cadmus, seems to be Sys V.1 (maybe V.2) based, >and is called "Unison". <lots deleted> > The systems have V7 binary and Cadmus Sys-V.{1,2???} binary licenses. > come from Cadmus, but Cadmus is no longer around. I can't believe that > Does anyone have suggestions about what I might find? and where? > >5. Any other ideas, war stories, suggestions? Cadmus is still around. Cadmus was only the name of the System, the company that made these boxes is the Munich, W.Germany based Company PCS (owned by Mannesmann). Your System is a VERY old one (Probably V.1). I don't have a address right here, but if your interested, I probably can come up with something. Send me email. In Germany these machines (and their predecessors) are (have been ?) very popular in the universities. They also were known to be quite buggy (might have changed). Hope that helps Regards Stefan
mike@pcsbst.UUCP (Mike Schroeder) (06/20/89)
In article <11093@yendor.phx.mcd.mot.com> stefan@yendor.UUCP (0000-Admin) writes: >In article <EGDORF.89Jun13165319@zaphod.lanl.gov> egdorf@zaphod.lanl.gov (Skip Egdorf) writes: >> [ stuff on our old 68010 boards deleted ] >Cadmus is still around. Cadmus was only the name of the System, the >company that made these boxes is the Munich, W.Germany based Company >PCS (owned by Mannesmann). Your System is a VERY old one (Probably V.1). > that's right, we're still here !-). >I don't have a address right here, but if your interested, I probably >can come up with something. Send me email. > We've already contacted Skip and given him info by email. >In Germany these machines (and their predecessors) are (have been ?) >very popular in the universities. They also were known to be quite >buggy (might have changed). > well, we think that that *has* changed a lot. Actually, primarily the US-built systems were buggy, our's seemed to be stabler from the start (the design, drives etc. were different). And the machines are still popular at universities. Cheers -- Mike Schroeder PCS-Mail: msc DOMAIN: msc@cochise.pcs.de (EUR) or msc@cochise.pcs.com (US) BANG: ..unido!pcsbst!msc (EUR) or ..pyramid!pcsbst!msc (US)
kencr@haddock.ima.isc.com (Kenny Crudup) (06/27/89)
>In article <11093@yendor.phx.mcd.mot.com> stefan@yendor.UUCP (0000-Admin) writes: >>Cadmus is still around. Cadmus was only the name of the System, the >>company that made these boxes is the Munich, W.Germany based Company >>PCS (owned by Mannesmann). Your System is a VERY old one (Probably V.1). In article <861@pcsbst.UUCP> msc@cochise.pcs.com (Mike Schroeder) says: >that's right, we're still here !-). >>In Germany these machines (and their predecessors) are (have been ?) >>very popular in the universities. They also were known to be quite >>buggy (might have changed). >well, we think that that *has* changed a lot. Actually, primarily >the US-built systems were buggy, our's seemed to be stabler from >the start (the design, drives etc. were different). And the >machines are still popular at universities. >Mike Schroeder PCS-Mail: msc (see what happens when you don't read for a while; you lose track of the stuff you might be interested in) When I'm between contracts, I work for a company in Burlington, MA that (this is what the owners told me) services a large part of the US market. In fact, I own a 9000. I like mine, and it has the best parts of both unixes....for the most part. Of course, working for a company that fixes them means you get a lot of spare goodies...mine has 3M in it and 280 MB online! They are: Data National 128 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA 01803 (617) 272-0770 -- Kenneth R. Crudup, Contractor, Interactive Systems, Cambridge MA StarTrekV 3'rd favorite line: "Oh yeah?! Beam THIS up, pal!!" - D. Letterman E-Mail, (which tends not to be delivered :-( ) Phone (617) 661 7474 x238 {encore, harvard, spdcc, think}!ima!haddock!kencr kencr@haddock.ima.isc.com