The Honeywell Level 6 was a line of 16-bitminicomputers, later upgraded to 32-bit, manufactured by Honeywell, Inc. from the mid 1970s.[1] Honeywell literature for Models 6/06, 6/34 and 6/36 say "Series 60 (Level 6).[2] In 1979 the Level 6 was renamed the DPS 6, subsequently DPS 6 Plus and finally DPS 6000.
Honeywell DPS 6 and DATANET minicomputers in the OSAX room of the Diefenbunker, Carp Ontario, Canada.
These systems supported up to 64 K words (KW) of MOS memory with a cycle time of 650 nanoseconds.
All three models all featured the Megabus, which was a proprietary asynchronousbus architecture.
By 1978 the line had been extended downwards with the introduction of the 6/23 and 6/33, and upwards with the 6/43, 6/47, 6/53, and 6/57. The 6/23 did not support the Megabus. The 6/33 was the new entry-level upgradable model. The other four models supported up to 1 MW (Mega Words) of memory and 26 registers. A memory management unit (MMU), optional on the 6/43 and 6/47, and standard on the 6/53 and 6/57, supported memory segmentation and four protection rings. An optional Scientific Instruction Processor (SIP) added single- and double-precision hardware floating-point instructions. The 6/47 and 6/57 were enhanced versions of the 6/43 and 6/53 respectively which added a Commercial Instruction Processor (CIP) including 30 additional instructions for character-string manipulation and decimal arithmetic.[3] Among the final developments in the line were the high-end 32-bit 6/95-1, 6/98-1 and dual processor 6/95-2 and 6/98-2 models.[4]
In the 1980s, Honeywell's Datanet 8[5] line of communications processors, often used as front-end processors for DPS 8 mainframes, shared many hardware components with DPS 6. Another specialised derivative of the Level 6 was the Honeywell Page Printing System.[6]
In June 1986, following Honeywell Information Systems' merger with Bull, Honeywell Bull introduced the DPS 6 Plus line of symmetric multiprocessing 32-bit systems, models 410 and 420 (code named MRX - Medium Range eXtended) with up to four processors.[7] In 1987 they introduced the uniprocessor models 210 and 220 (code named LRX - Low Range eXtended), announced the HRX (High Range eXtended), and Computerworld reported that there were more than 50,000 DPS 6 systems installed worldwide.[8] The HRX was introduced as the DPS 6000 600 series. Recognising the commercial success of Unix, in 1988 Honeywell Bull introduced an 80386-based Unix co-processor for the DPS 6 Plus 400 series.
^Honeywell, Inc. (January 1976). Honeywell Level 6 Minicomputer Handbook(PDF). Retrieved July 26, 2014.
^Honeywell Series 60 (Level 6): Model 6/06 Minicomputer. R60 Rev. 0
^Honeywell, Inc. (October 1978). Honeywell Level 6 Minicomputer Systems Handbook. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
^"Hardware Roundup Large and Medium-Scale Systems". Computerworld. October 6, 1986. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
^"Honeywell revamps net architecture". Computerworld. October 7, 1985. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
^"A Nonimpact Page Printing System" (PDF). IEEE Computer Society. September 1975. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
^"Honeywell Bull's New Computers". The New York Times. June 10, 1987. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
^Bozman, Jean S. (September 21, 1987). "Honeywell Bull to ax U.S. plants, old systems". Computerworld. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
^. FEB-patrimoine. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
External links
Level 6 documentation at Bitsavers
January 07, 2023
honeywell, level, line, minicomputers, later, upgraded, manufactured, honeywell, from, 1970s, honeywell, literature, models, series, level, 1979, level, renamed, subsequently, plus, finally, 6000, honeywell, datanet, minicomputers, osax, room, diefenbunker, ca. The Honeywell Level 6 was a line of 16 bit minicomputers later upgraded to 32 bit manufactured by Honeywell Inc from the mid 1970s 1 Honeywell literature for Models 6 06 6 34 and 6 36 say Series 60 Level 6 2 In 1979 the Level 6 was renamed the DPS 6 subsequently DPS 6 Plus and finally DPS 6000 Honeywell DPS 6 and DATANET minicomputers in the OSAX room of the Diefenbunker Carp Ontario Canada Contents 1 Description 2 Software 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditAs initially introduced the Level 6 consisted of three models the 6 06 the 6 34 and the 6 36 The CPU featured a real time clock a ROM bootstrap loader and 64 interrupt levels The architecture provided a variety of addressing modes and 18 programmer visible registers Rack mount and tabletop versions were available These systems supported up to 64 K words KW of MOS memory with a cycle time of 650 nanoseconds All three models all featured the Megabus which was a proprietary asynchronous bus architecture By 1978 the line had been extended downwards with the introduction of the 6 23 and 6 33 and upwards with the 6 43 6 47 6 53 and 6 57 The 6 23 did not support the Megabus The 6 33 was the new entry level upgradable model The other four models supported up to 1 MW Mega Words of memory and 26 registers A memory management unit MMU optional on the 6 43 and 6 47 and standard on the 6 53 and 6 57 supported memory segmentation and four protection rings An optional Scientific Instruction Processor SIP added single and double precision hardware floating point instructions The 6 47 and 6 57 were enhanced versions of the 6 43 and 6 53 respectively which added a Commercial Instruction Processor CIP including 30 additional instructions for character string manipulation and decimal arithmetic 3 Among the final developments in the line were the high end 32 bit 6 95 1 6 98 1 and dual processor 6 95 2 and 6 98 2 models 4 In the 1980s Honeywell s Datanet 8 5 line of communications processors often used as front end processors for DPS 8 mainframes shared many hardware components with DPS 6 Another specialised derivative of the Level 6 was the Honeywell Page Printing System 6 In June 1986 following Honeywell Information Systems merger with Bull Honeywell Bull introduced the DPS 6 Plus line of symmetric multiprocessing 32 bit systems models 410 and 420 code named MRX Medium Range eXtended with up to four processors 7 In 1987 they introduced the uniprocessor models 210 and 220 code named LRX Low Range eXtended announced the HRX High Range eXtended and Computerworld reported that there were more than 50 000 DPS 6 systems installed worldwide 8 The HRX was introduced as the DPS 6000 600 series Recognising the commercial success of Unix in 1988 Honeywell Bull introduced an 80386 based Unix co processor for the DPS 6 Plus 400 series Software EditThe operating system for the Level 6 was GCOS 6 GCOS 6 Mod 200 was an entry version of the system oriented toward interactive data entry GCOS 6 Mod 400 was a batch operating system also used to run process control applications GCOS 6 Mod 600 was a time sharing operating system 9 The DPS 6 Plus line ran HVS 6 Plus See also EditGeneral Comprehensive Operating SystemReferences Edit Honeywell Inc January 1976 Honeywell Level 6 Minicomputer Handbook PDF Retrieved July 26 2014 Honeywell Series 60 Level 6 Model 6 06 Minicomputer R60 Rev 0 Honeywell Inc October 1978 Honeywell Level 6 Minicomputer Systems Handbook Retrieved July 26 2014 Hardware Roundup Large and Medium Scale Systems Computerworld October 6 1986 Retrieved December 20 2014 Honeywell revamps net architecture Computerworld October 7 1985 Retrieved December 20 2014 A Nonimpact Page Printing System PDF IEEE Computer Society September 1975 Retrieved December 20 2014 Honeywell Bull s New Computers The New York Times June 10 1987 Retrieved July 29 2014 Bozman Jean S September 21 1987 Honeywell Bull to ax U S plants old systems Computerworld Retrieved July 29 2014 Honeywell GCOS 6 FEB patrimoine Archived from the original on June 27 2014 Retrieved July 29 2014 External links EditLevel 6 documentation at Bitsavers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Honeywell Level 6 amp oldid 1070707183, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
