The IBM System/34 was an IBMmidrange computer introduced in 1977.[2] It was withdrawn from marketing in February 1985.[2] It was a multi-user, multi-tasking successor to the single-user System/32. It included two processors, one based on the System/32 and the second based on the System/3. Like the System/32 and the System/3, the System/34 was primarily programmed in the RPG II language.[3]
The 5340 System Unit contained the processing unit, the disk storage and the diskette drive. It had several access doors on both sides. Inside, were swing-out assemblies where the circuit boards and memory cards were mounted. It weighed 700 lb (320 kg) and used 220V power.[4] The IBM 5250 series of terminals were the primary interface to the System/34.
Processorsedit
S/34s had two processors, the Control Storage Processor (CSP), and the Main Storage Processor (MSP). The MSP was the workhorse, based on System/3 architecture; it performed the instructions in the computer programs. The CSP was the governor, a different processor with different RISC-like instruction set, based on System/32 architecture; it performed system functions in the background. The CSP also executed the optional Scientific Macroinstructions, which were a set of emulated floating point operations used by the System/34 Fortran compiler and optionally in assembly code.[5] The clock speed of the CPUs inside a System/34 was fixed at 1 MHz for the MSP and 4 MHz for the CSP. Special utility programs were able to make direct calls to the CSP to perform certain functions; these are usually system programs like $CNFIG which was used to configure the computer system.
Picture of a System/34 showing the diskette magazine drive
Memory and storageedit
The smallest S/34 had 48K of RAM and an 8.6 MB hard drive. The largest configured S/34 could support 256K of RAM and 256MB of disk space. S/34 hard drives contained a feature called "the extra cylinder," so that bad spots on the drive were detected and dynamically mapped out to good spots on the extra cylinder. Disk space on the System/34 was organized by blocks of 2560 bytes.
The System/34 supported memory paging, referring to as swapping.[6] The System/34 could either swap out entire programs, or individual segments of a program in order to free up memory for other programs to run.
One of the machine's most distinctive features was an off-line storage mechanism that utilized "magazines" - boxes of 8-inch floppies that the machine could load and eject in a nonsequential fashion.[7][8][9]
Softwareedit
IBM System/34 with 5251 terminal (on top) and 5211 printer (right, with top opened)
The System Support Program (SSP) was the only operating system of the S/34. It contained support for multiprogramming, multiple processors, 36 devices, job queues, printer queues, security, indexed file support. Fully installed, it was about 5 MB.[10] The Operational Control Language (OCL) was the control language of SSP.
Programmingedit
The System/34's initial programming languages were limited to RPG II and Basic Assembler[11] when introduced in 1977.[12]FORTRAN was fully available six months after the 34's introduction,[7] and COBOL was available as a PRPQ.[13]BASIC was introduced later.
Successor systemsedit
The IBM System/38 was intended to be the successor of the System/34 and the earlier System/3x systems. However, due to the delays in the development of the System/38 and the high cost of the hardware once complete, IBM developed the simpler and cheaper System/36 platform which was more widely adopted than the System/38.[14] The System/36 was an evolution of the System/34 design, but the two machines were not object-code compatible. Instead, the System/36 offered source code compatibility, allowing System/34 applications to be recompiled on a System/36 with little to no changes. Some System/34 hardware was incompatible with the System/36.
A third party product from California Software Products, Inc. named BABY/34 allowed System/34 applications to be ported to IBM PC compatible hardware running MS-DOS. [15][16]
system, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2021, learn, when, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources IBM System 34 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message The IBM System 34 was an IBM midrange computer introduced in 1977 2 It was withdrawn from marketing in February 1985 2 It was a multi user multi tasking successor to the single user System 32 It included two processors one based on the System 32 and the second based on the System 3 Like the System 32 and the System 3 the System 34 was primarily programmed in the RPG II language 3 IBM System 34IBM System 34 type 5340Also known asS 34ManufacturerInternational Business Machines Corporation IBM Product familySystem 34Release dateApril 1977 47 years ago 1977 04 DiscontinuedFebruary 1985Operating systemSystem Support ProgramCPUMSP and CSPMemory48K 256KDimensions1220x660x1570mm 1 PredecessorIBM System 32SuccessorIBM System 36 IBM System 38RelatedIBM 5520Website IBM Archives System 34 Archived from the original on 2018 10 05 Contents 1 Hardware 1 1 Processors 1 2 Memory and storage 2 Software 2 1 Operating System 2 2 Programming 3 Successor systems 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHardware editThe 5340 System Unit contained the processing unit the disk storage and the diskette drive It had several access doors on both sides Inside were swing out assemblies where the circuit boards and memory cards were mounted It weighed 700 lb 320 kg and used 220V power 4 The IBM 5250 series of terminals were the primary interface to the System 34 Processors edit S 34s had two processors the Control Storage Processor CSP and the Main Storage Processor MSP The MSP was the workhorse based on System 3 architecture it performed the instructions in the computer programs The CSP was the governor a different processor with different RISC like instruction set based on System 32 architecture it performed system functions in the background The CSP also executed the optional Scientific Macroinstructions which were a set of emulated floating point operations used by the System 34 Fortran compiler and optionally in assembly code 5 The clock speed of the CPUs inside a System 34 was fixed at 1 MHz for the MSP and 4 MHz for the CSP Special utility programs were able to make direct calls to the CSP to perform certain functions these are usually system programs like CNFIG which was used to configure the computer system nbsp Picture of a System 34 showing the diskette magazine drive Memory and storage edit The smallest S 34 had 48K of RAM and an 8 6 MB hard drive The largest configured S 34 could support 256K of RAM and 256MB of disk space S 34 hard drives contained a feature called the extra cylinder so that bad spots on the drive were detected and dynamically mapped out to good spots on the extra cylinder Disk space on the System 34 was organized by blocks of 2560 bytes The System 34 supported memory paging referring to as swapping 6 The System 34 could either swap out entire programs or individual segments of a program in order to free up memory for other programs to run One of the machine s most distinctive features was an off line storage mechanism that utilized magazines boxes of 8 inch floppies that the machine could load and eject in a nonsequential fashion 7 8 9 Software edit nbsp IBM System 34 with 5251 terminal on top and 5211 printer right with top opened Operating System edit Main article System Support Program The System Support Program SSP was the only operating system of the S 34 It contained support for multiprogramming multiple processors 36 devices job queues printer queues security indexed file support Fully installed it was about 5 MB 10 The Operational Control Language OCL was the control language of SSP Programming edit The System 34 s initial programming languages were limited to RPG II and Basic Assembler 11 when introduced in 1977 12 FORTRAN was fully available six months after the 34 s introduction 7 and COBOL was available as a PRPQ 13 BASIC was introduced later Successor systems editThe IBM System 38 was intended to be the successor of the System 34 and the earlier System 3x systems However due to the delays in the development of the System 38 and the high cost of the hardware once complete IBM developed the simpler and cheaper System 36 platform which was more widely adopted than the System 38 14 The System 36 was an evolution of the System 34 design but the two machines were not object code compatible Instead the System 36 offered source code compatibility allowing System 34 applications to be recompiled on a System 36 with little to no changes Some System 34 hardware was incompatible with the System 36 A third party product from California Software Products Inc named BABY 34 allowed System 34 applications to be ported to IBM PC compatible hardware running MS DOS 15 16 References edit ibm system34 GA21 9242 1 System 34 Installation Manual Physical Planning Sep77 1977 03 13 a b IBM Corporation 23 January 2003 System 34 IBM Archives Retrieved December 4 2012 System 34 RPG II Reference Manual PDF 3533 Spring Creek Road The New York Times March 1 2019 Insulated Shop space with 220V power IBM System 34 and IBM System 32 Scientific Macroinstructions Functions Reference Manual PDF Bitsavers IBM July 1978 Retrieved 2021 12 22 System 34 Concepts and Design Guide PDF IBM January 1982 Retrieved 2021 08 01 a b System 34 Introduction PDF March 1978 the diskette magazine drive can process up to 23 diskettes without manual intervention p 11 three slots for holding individual diskettes and two slots for holding magazines of 10 individual diskettes p 20 IBM System 34 System Support Program Logic Manual PDF Fortran IV One Highlight Of IBM 34 Enhancements Computerworld September 26 1977 p 23 Andrew Pollack May 17 1983 I B M introduces computer to replace System 34 model The New York Times potentially available special order Frank G Soltis 1997 Inside the AS 400 Second Edition Duke Press ISBN 978 1882419661 BABY 34 Software enables you to run IBM System 34 RPG II programs on your PCs XTs and ATs Computerworld March 18 1985 p 50 Product Briefs InfoWorld July 21 1986 p 47 Further reading editMassoglia Charles Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the System 34 But Nobody Told You Massoglia Charles System 3 System 34 and System 36 Disk Sort as a Programming Language Massoglia Charles Writing and Using System 34 Procedures Effectively citation needed External links edit IBM Archives System 34 Archived from the original on 2018 10 05 Bitsavers Archive of System 34 Documentation IBM midrange computers Preceded byIBM System 3 IBM System 341977 1985 Succeeded byIBM System 36 Preceded byIBM System 32 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title IBM System 34 amp oldid 1226487221, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
