7 Mar
2022
7 Mar
'22
10:26 p.m.
> Under Tops-10, the situation might be considered
to be worse (but I
> believe that term to be unfair). That is, the operating system has no
> control over what might be examined or deposited from the front panel.
> There, the CTY is even more special: it doesn't need a password for
> /any/ login. You can do an _I [1,2]_ and you are now an operator (I.E.,
> root). However, for many years, I thought this was just neat...
>
> What about other DEC multi-user operating systems? Do you have
> 'magic' consoles?
I think we are "over board", if you are standing next to the machine
all bets are off.
Om the KI10, the front panel works while the CPU is running, not like
KA10 where you have to halt the CPU.
On the KI you can examine/deposit anywhere, use physical addresses or
go through the "MMU". You can put an instruction on the switches and
press XCT and the CPU will execute that as next instruction in current
context.
Yes, there is a "front panel lock" toggle switch, but no key-lock.....
(Or walk to the back of the CPU and turn power off...)
(or shut down the air conditioner)
Even Inter CPU's have a "front end" that can be accessed if you have access
to the motherboard....
-P