Robotron K 1840
The K 1840 ( SKR- CM code 1710) was a super minicomputer from the GDR. Its exact name is RVS ( computer system with virtual memory ) K 1840.
It was developed from August 1985 in the VEB Robotron Elektronik Dresden in Dresden and introduced in 1988 in the series production.
The K 1840 as a model for the VAX 11/780 from Digital Equipment Corporation ( DEC). The exporting Western 32 -bit super minicomputer in the area of the CMEA ( Comecon ) was banned by the CoCom embargo technology. Therefore, had an in-house development to meet the needs of modern, done on a 32- bit architecture-based CAD computing technology.
The K 1840 was the first built in the GDR 32- bit computer, the DEC VAX - compatible computer line M 32 in the system of small computer ( SKR ) of the former countries of the CMEA. Replicas of the VAX-11/7xx computers are also made of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CM 5152 ), Hungary ( TPA-11/540, 560 and 580 ), Romania ( CORAL 8730 ) and the Soviet Union ( CM 1700) known.
The architecture of this computer system underlying and modern operating systems combined existing mainframe functions - such as virtual memory management, stack and multi- user applications - with the features and flexibility of small computers such as: real-time behavior, interactive data processing, user-friendly command languages , as well as additional equipment to accelerate floating point operations.
The K 1840 had a maximum processing speed of 1.1 MIPS and was able to to a main memory of max. 16 MB (4 GB virtual) access. As a circuit -based ICs Schottky TTL series were used.
The initial start-up of a laboratory prototype with the main computer core components was carried out in April 1987. September 1987 Until further 5 functional models were built. In October 1987, the new host of the public was presented and awarded with the National Prize of the GDR, First Class, and at the Leipzig Spring Fair 1988 Fair gold. The serial production began in June 1988. K From 1840 to 1990, 217 plants at a cost of 1.9 million marks were delivered.
In developing the K 1840 his successor K 1845 (corresponding VAX 11/785 ) have already been designed. Development focus at the K 1845 in addition to 1840 K above all, a module for realization of multi-machine capability with the corresponding operating system components. The concept was created parallel to the K 1840 in mid 1987. The development of the K 1845 began in late 1987 as an independent going concern issue. The K 1845 was presented at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1990 to the public. He possessed a maximum of 64 MB main memory and a larger could have a larger number of bus adapters and controllers than its predecessor. From the K 1845 20 patterns were built.
In addition, as the successor of the K 1850 ( according to the idol VAX 8000) with a capacity of 6 MIPS with max. 128 MB of main memory using ECL gate arrays designed with production launch in 1993.
Under the name of K 1820 a replica of the MicroVAX II was developed by Robotron. K 1820 extended the number of VAX computers compatible line in the SKR, wherein the models of K 1820 reached about 90 % of the power of the K 1840. The K 1820 was fully software compatible with the 1840 K, so that already developed system and user software could be used. From 1995, a continuation of this line as K 1830 ( analog MicroVAX III) was planned on the basis of a CMOS microprocessor system U80900.
Mid- 1990, production of the K 1840/1845 has been set and all development work stopped because an economic recovery under the new market conditions after the Monetary, Economic and Social Union and the breaking away of traditional markets in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe was no longer given.
From the K 1840 located one copy in the Technical Collections Dresden and Konrad Zuse Computer Museum Hoyerswerda and in the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, United States.
Hardware
The K 1840, consisting of three cabinets, made in a 19 "rack system.
Cabinet 1 (K 0681) was equipped with the following main modules that were connected via the internal synchronous bus ( ISB):
- Central Processing Unit CPU K 2810
- Console subsystem KSS K 2811
- Gleitkommabeschleuniger FPA K 2812
- Main memory MEM 3581.10 K and 3581.11 K memory expansion MEME
- SKRBUS adapter SBA K 2815
- MSBUS adapter MBA 2816 K
- Power supply module with fans
In the closet 2.1 ( 0682 K ) two bays SBE K 0685 could be built to accommodate up to 44 additional SKRBUS controllers, such as:
- Multifunction communication controller AMF18 K 8081 ( V.24, IFSS, IFSP, Centronics ) and
- Local network controller RONAS K 8681 ( ROLANET2 / Ethernet).
The cabinet was 2.2 as equipment cabinet in 3 variants for holding storage devices are available:
- Disk space K 5502 (124 MB Winchester hard disk for operating system, access time 52 ms, transfer rate 806 kB / s)
- Removable hard disk storage WPS CM 5416 (174 MB Manufacturer: ISOT, Bulgaria, access time 30 ms, transfer rate 806 kB / s)
- Magnetic tape unit CM 5306 ( 0.5 " magnetic tapes up to 40 MB, Manufacturer: ISOT, Bulgaria)
As peripheral devices have been offered:
- Alphanumeric K 8911.80 through IFFS, K 8911.81 via V.24
- VT220 - compatible terminal K 8941 via V.24
- Interactive graphics terminal K 8918 (based on 7150 A, resolution 680x480 pixels, connection via IFSS, V.24 or DNÜ K 8172 )
- Dot Matrix Printer K 6313/14
- Dot Matrix Printer K 6328, compatible with the DEC Letter Printer 100 ( LA100 )
- Printer drum VT 27000 and VT 23000 tape printer ( Manufacturer: Videoton, Hungary VR )
- Plotter K 6411 (A2 flatbed pen plotter )
- 6404.20 K digitizer ( tablet with magnifier and pen in the format DIN A0)
- Data transmission device DNÜ K 8172 ( transfer rate up to 19200 bit / s, range up to max. 30km)
- Modem VM 2400 ( up to 2400 bit / s data transmission over public telephone networks )
- Modem TAM 1200 (1200 bit / s, Manufacturer: Telefongyar, Hungary)
Additional hardware K 1845
The K 1845 is a further development of the K 1840, so that the above mentioned main components of K in 1840 continue to be used. The increase in power was achieved with the following additional modules:
- Main memory MEM K 3581.20 and 3581.21 with memory expansion MEME K to 64 MBbyte storage
- High-speed interface adapter HIA K 2817 (interface for multi- computer network )
- High-speed interface distributor HIV K 4181 ( distributor for a maximum of 16 knots)
- DMA interface controller AR16W K 6081 for the connection of peripheral devices
- Process controller ATP18 K 9081 for integration as a host computer in process automation
- ROLANET1 controller LNC1S K 8626 for connection to the LAN ROLANET1
- Communication controller KMS16 K 8082 for the realization of an X.25 interface
- SKRBUS tester SET K 4285 for testing during commissioning and testing of SKRBUS interfaces
Operating Systems / Software
As operating systems VMS -compatible SVP1800 and the UNIX -compatible MUTOS1800 had been developed. For the K 1840 compilers for programming languages C, MODULATION 2, FORTRAN77/88 and for COBOL, LISP, PROLOG and ADA were available. Numerous applications for the K 1840 have been adapted, for example, the CAD software PROCAD ( example: MEDUSA ) or GBS1800 ( 3D CAD based GKS1800 ) and database software DABA 32 ( Ingres - compatible) or ALLDBS ( example: Oracle).
Successor
A significant increase in performance should be achieved with the transition to ECL circuitry. Subsequent to the K 1840/1845 was a model K 1850 8800 planned, modeled on the VAX with the aim of production introduction in 1993. The K 1850 should be based on an ECL gate array system and a single processor in the power range up to 6 MIPS with max. 128 MB of main memory can be realized ( using 1 MBit DRAM ICs). The bus systems of the K 1840 / K 1845 should continue to be used, so that a continued use of the controllers and peripherals these predecessors in the I / O system was possible. Prerequisite for achieving this performance and schedule targets was the establishment of an ECL circuit line in the GDR. For this purpose, an ECL gate array system developed by the type D600/D1200 at VEB semiconductor plant in Frankfurt (Oder).