Large cabinet (5xx)¶
The full-size coprocessor cabinet. Holds a 1xx machine and a 32-bit CPU together.
| Used from | 1981 |
| Type | Cabinet |
| Family | Coprocessor systems |
| Takes which CPU | One 1xx CPU as I/O processor, plus one or more 5xx CPUs |
| Coprocessor? | Yes - that is the point |
The short version¶
The cabinet for an ND-500 or ND-5000 system. It is a different design from the 1xx large cabinet, because it has to hold two machines: a complete ND-100-line computer that runs SINTRAN III and does all the input and output, and the 32-bit CPU or CPUs that do the computing.
A system in this cabinet can run everything a standalone 1xx machine runs, plus programs written for the 32-bit CPU.
Specification¶
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Format | Full-size floor-standing, distinct design from the 1xx large cabinet |
| Backplanes | Two or more - the ND-100 bus, and the 5xx CPU and support boards |
| I/O processor | One 1xx CPU board plus its memory and I/O cards |
| Compute CPUs | One to four 5xx CPUs, sharing memory |
| Multiprocessor | ND-580/n and ND-590n on the ND-500 line; ND-5900 models 2/3/4 on the ND-5000 line |
| Host link | PCB 3022 DMA registers (ND-500) or octobus (ND-5000) |
What goes in it¶
| Slot / backplane | Holds |
|---|---|
| ND-100 bus backplane | 1xx CPU, memory, I/O controllers - a complete standalone machine |
| 5xx backplane | ND-500 or ND-5000 CPU boards and their support boards |
| Shared | Multiport memory reachable by both sides |
Notes¶
- This is the cabinet that makes group B what it is: a 1xx machine and a 32-bit machine in one box.
- ND-5000 Satellite and Technostation cabinets exist too (drawings B2C20) - not yet documented here.
Sources¶
- Primary:
Reference-Manuals/500/ND-05.017.01 EN ND-5000 HARDWARE MAINTENANCE.mdTable 2 (large cabinet configurations) - Repo:
SINTRAN/ND500/ND500-ND5000-INTERFACE-COMPREHENSIVE-GUIDE.md
Index: ../README.md. Full context: ../../MACHINE-TIMELINE.md.