3B1s and "old school" UNIX, was Re: [HECnet] US Seller with some interesting stuff

[Clem Cole]

I think you are describing the 3B20S.   Looked like a VAX/780 (but had a pull starter ;) for the battery bring up.   The duplex 3B20D was the control systems for the 5ESS.   After the consent decree was dropped, AT&T tried to market the S (simplex) version as a general purpose computer.   IIRC the 3B20 >>architecture<< became the WE32100 microprocessor that was used in the desktop machines.

Clem


On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 4:24 PM, Boyanich, Alastair <Alastair.Boyanich at au.fujitsu.com> wrote:
> Hello!
> He's thinking of the WE designed processors that were used in the
> later units. They were not bit slice but were fabricated using the
> normal methods. Not surprisingly enough the devices could not even be
> sold separately.
>
> They were ran an appropriately written release of UNIX as native. One
> of the first applications for them and the later models was in running
> the first and second generation Electronic Switching Services
> otherwise known as exchanges.
>
> There's a whole article online someplace on the RT extensions that
> needed to be written out and added to UNIX for that application.

Hi Greg,

Maybe it wasn't   bit-sliced then.. interesting, but this seems to fit as
it was definitely:

a) a different ISA to the m68k stuff. Wouldn't even disassemble.
b) telco gear for very large PABX/exchange switching/management
c) UNIX (tm) based.

Al.