The ND-500 was a 32-bitsuperminicomputer delivered in 1981 by Norsk Data. It relied on a ND-100 to do housekeeping tasks and run the OS, SINTRAN III. A configuration could feature up to four ND-500 CPUs in a shared-memory configuration.
The ND-500 architecture lived through four distinct implementations. Each implementation was sold under a variety of different model numbers.
ND also sold multiprocessor configurations, naming them ND-580/n and an ND-590n, where n represented the number of CPUs in a given configuration, 2, 3, or 4.
ND-500/1Edit
Sold as the ND-500, ND-520, ND-540, and ND-560.
ND-500/2Edit
Sold as the ND-570, ND-570/CX, and ND-570/ACX.
ND-505Edit
A 28-bit version of the ND-500 machine. Pins were snipped on the backplane, removing its status as a superminicomputer, allowing it to legally pass through the CoComembargo.
SamsonEdit
Sold as the ND-5200, ND-5400, ND-5500, ND-5700, and ND-5800. The ND-120 CPU line, which constituted the ND-100 side of most ND-5000 computers, was named Delilah. As the 5000 line progressed in speed, the dual-arch ND-100/500 configuration increasingly became bottlenecked by all input/output (I/O) having to go through the ND-100.
RallarEdit
Sold as the ND-5830 and ND-5850. The Rallar processor consisted of two main VLSI gate arrays, KUSK (En: Jockey) and GAMP (En: Horse).
SoftwareEdit
LED was a programmer's source-code editor by Norsk Data running on the ND-500 computers running Sintran III. It featured automatic indenting, pretty-printing of source code, and integration with the compiler environment. It was sold as an advanced alternative to PED. Several copies exist, and it is installed on the NODAF public access ND-5700.
In 1982–83, Logica PLC in London undertook a project, on behalf of ND, to port UnixBerkley Software Distribution (BSD) 4.2 to the ND-500. A C compiler from Luleå University College in Northern Sweden was used. The goal was to port Unix BSD to the ND-500 and use the ND-100 running Sintran-III as the front end. Thus, all I/O had to go through the ND-100 which proved very inefficient. For example, running vi on the ND-500 brought the ND-100 to its knees. The purpose of the effort was so that ND could sell the 500 to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), who were buying VAXes from Digital Equipment Corporation. But the ND-500 was unable to meet CERN's goals. Although the ND-500 processor was very fast for its time, it couldn't compete with the superior VAX I/O architecture.
External linksEdit
ND-500 Reference Manual(PDF). Norsk Data. 1987. ND-05.009.3 EN.
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this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, templat. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources ND 500 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The ND 500 was a 32 bit superminicomputer delivered in 1981 by Norsk Data It relied on a ND 100 to do housekeeping tasks and run the OS SINTRAN III A configuration could feature up to four ND 500 CPUs in a shared memory configuration A typical large ND 500 configuration Contents 1 Hardware implementations 1 1 ND 500 1 1 2 ND 500 2 1 3 ND 505 1 4 Samson 1 5 Rallar 2 Software 3 External linksHardware implementations EditThe ND 500 architecture lived through four distinct implementations Each implementation was sold under a variety of different model numbers ND also sold multiprocessor configurations naming them ND 580 n and an ND 590n where n represented the number of CPUs in a given configuration 2 3 or 4 ND 500 1 Edit Sold as the ND 500 ND 520 ND 540 and ND 560 ND 500 2 Edit Sold as the ND 570 ND 570 CX and ND 570 ACX ND 505 Edit A 28 bit version of the ND 500 machine Pins were snipped on the backplane removing its status as a superminicomputer allowing it to legally pass through the CoCom embargo Samson Edit Sold as the ND 5200 ND 5400 ND 5500 ND 5700 and ND 5800 The ND 120 CPU line which constituted the ND 100 side of most ND 5000 computers was named Delilah As the 5000 line progressed in speed the dual arch ND 100 500 configuration increasingly became bottlenecked by all input output I O having to go through the ND 100 Rallar Edit Sold as the ND 5830 and ND 5850 The Rallar processor consisted of two main VLSI gate arrays KUSK En Jockey and GAMP En Horse Software EditLED was a programmer s source code editor by Norsk Data running on the ND 500 computers running Sintran III It featured automatic indenting pretty printing of source code and integration with the compiler environment It was sold as an advanced alternative to PED Several copies exist and it is installed on the NODAF public access ND 5700 In 1982 83 Logica PLC in London undertook a project on behalf of ND to port Unix Berkley Software Distribution BSD 4 2 to the ND 500 A C compiler from Lulea University College in Northern Sweden was used The goal was to port Unix BSD to the ND 500 and use the ND 100 running Sintran III as the front end Thus all I O had to go through the ND 100 which proved very inefficient For example running vi on the ND 500 brought the ND 100 to its knees The purpose of the effort was so that ND could sell the 500 to the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN who were buying VAXes from Digital Equipment Corporation But the ND 500 was unable to meet CERN s goals Although the ND 500 processor was very fast for its time it couldn t compete with the superior VAX I O architecture External links EditND 500 Reference Manual PDF Norsk Data 1987 ND 05 009 3 EN This minicomputer related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title ND 500 amp oldid 1142884992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
