28 Nov
2012
28 Nov
'12
10:40 p.m.
I think you are describing the 3B20S. Looked like a VAX/780 (but had a pull starter ;)
for the battery bring up. The duplex 3B20D was the control systems for the 5ESS. After
the consent decree was dropped, AT&T tried to market the S (simplex) version as a
general purpose computer. IIRC the 3B20 >>architecture<< became the WE32100
microprocessor that was used in the desktop machines.
Clem
On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 4:24 PM, Boyanich, Alastair <Alastair.Boyanich at
au.fujitsu.com> wrote:
Hello!
He's thinking of the WE designed processors that were used in the
later units. They were not bit slice but were fabricated using the
normal methods. Not surprisingly enough the devices could not even be
sold separately.
They were ran an appropriately written release of UNIX as native. One
of the first applications for them and the later models was in running
the first and second generation Electronic Switching Services
otherwise known as exchanges.
There's a whole article online someplace on the RT extensions that
needed to be written out and added to UNIX for that application.
Hi Greg,
Maybe it wasn't bit-sliced then.. interesting, but this seems to fit as
it was definitely:
a) a different ISA to the m68k stuff. Wouldn't even disassemble.
b) telco gear for very large PABX/exchange switching/management
c) UNIX (tm) based.
Al.