NORD-10

The NORD -10 was a minicomputer by Norsk Data in 16 -bit architecture, freely programmable in several languages, equipped with a real-time kernel and a time slot control for application programs. The NORD -10 was introduced in 1973, the second generation NORD -10 / S dominated addition Caching, Paging and contained further improvements.

The central processing unit containing a microprocessor - that's not a typo, because unlike the now popular notion led the operations manual at that time the term " microprocessor " as a shortening of " microcode processor " field. It was possible to replace the instruction set for application programs as micro- code program in the CPU. The base rate for A / spending, boot loader and system testing were housed in 1 K ROM. The exchange of the micro- code set was also possible for the customer.

The NORD -10 had a memory management with paging for memory expansion hardwaregestützem 64-256 K on 16- bit words. Memory protection consisted of two levels with control per Page and mode of the program. The interrupt system comprised 16 Hardinterrupts, each of which had its own set of registers in the CPU core available.

The central processing unit consisted of 24 boards, eight of them for input and output. The register set comprised a total of 160 registers, of which 128 are for user programs, divided into eight registers for the 16 levels of the system. In each of the divisions, six general purpose registers, a program counter and a status register. The processor -controlled next bit operation and byte operations and operations for 16-bit, 32 -bit integers and 48 -bit floating point numbers.

The main memory is managed in units of 8 K × 16 bits, each on a separate board, which were housed in a 19 -inch rack. Each rack could hold eight of these 8-K modules. The memory management with paging enabled it to go beyond the 64 K and then to address 18-bit addresses 256K.

The system software included the NORD - TSS (time -shared system) and a real-time system SINTRAN III. The minimum configuration contained SINTRAN III together with a NORD -10 and 8 K. Applications for NORD - TSS could be written in FORTRAN IV, BASIC, assembler MAC, NODAL, NORTH PL or QED ( text editor ).

There are a number of NORD -10 and NORD -10 / S, which still exist, most of them in operational condition and some in the hands of NODAF. The restoration of the systems is carried out both in Oslo in the NODAF, as well as in Trondheim at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology ( NTNU ).

The precursor was the NORD -1 and the successor to the NORD -100.

Swell

• January Aske Børresen: Inside NORTH 10th A / S Norsk Data Elektronikk, ND - nytt.

• Minicomputer