,on-,line ,data-,acquisition ,systems in ,nuclear ,physics1 #aifi ,ad ,hoc ,panel on ,on-,line ,computers in ,nuclear ,research ,committee on ,nuclear ,science ,national ,research ,council ,,national ,,academy ,,of ,,sciences ,washington1 ,d4,c4 #aigj ,this is a report of work under ,contract ,,nsf-,c#caj1 ,t4,o4 #dg between the ,national ,science ,foundation and the ,national ,academy of ,sciences and under ,contract ,,at7#di-a7cbcf between the ,u4,s4 ,atomic ,energy ,commission and the ,national ,academy of ,sciences4 ,available from ,committee on ,nuclear ,science #baja ,constitution ,avenue ,washington1 ,d4,c4 #bjdah ,,preface ,the first digital electronic device employed to collect nuclear data was the binary electronic counter 7scaler7 of the #aicj's4 ,in the next decade single and multichannel pulse-height analyzers appeared1 still using vacuum tubes4 ,in the #aiej's the development of multichannel analyzers continued vigorously1 with vast improvement of the analog-to-digital converter sections and with the introduction of computer-type memories1 based first on acoustic delay lines and a short time later on ferrite cores4 ,the replacement of vacuum tubes by transistors beginning in the latter half of the #aiej's accelerated the pace of development and application of all types of electronic laboratory instruments4 ,the #aifj's was the decade of the computer4 ,before the #aifj's almost no on-line computers were used in nuclear research1 but since about #aifb the computer has moved into the nuclear laboratory4 ,it provides the research worker with an immensely flexible1 powerful1 and accurate tool capable of raising the research output of a laboratory while eliminating the most tedious part of the experimental work4 ,the phenomenal speed of development of computer hardware1 software1 and methodology contributes to the difficulty experienced by everybody involved in decision-making processes regarding data-acquisition systems4 ,since the cost of a computer system is often a sizable fraction of the total cost of a new laboratory1 there is urgent need for a set of guiding rules or principles for use by a laboratory director planning a system1 a reviewer going over a proposal for support1 or a potential funding agency considering proposals and reviews4 ,the purpose of this report is to assist in filling this need4 ,the material presented is current through #aifi4 ,although we deal with a field that is developing rapidly1 we hope that a substantial portion of the material covered will have long-lasting value4 ,the report was prepared by the ,ad ,hoc ,panel on ,on-,line ,computers in ,nuclear ,research of the ,committee on ,nuclear ,science1 ,national ,research ,council4 ,appointed in ,march #aifh1 the ,panel first met in ,washington1 ,d4,c41 on ,april #bb1 #aifh4 ,the original members of the ,panel were ,h4 ,w4 ,fulbright1 ,h4 ,l4 ,gelernter1 ,l4 ,j4 ,lidofsky1 ,d4 ,ophir 7through late #aifh71 ,l4 ,b4 ,robinson1 and ,m4 ,w4 ,sachs4 ,in ,june #aifh1 this group prepared an interim report4 ,l4 ,j4 ,lidofsky was on sabbatical leave in ,europe and therefore could not participate during the academic year #aifh-aifi4 ,early in #aifi ,j4 ,f4 ,mollenauer and ,j4 ,hahn joined the ,panel4 ,the ,panel has reviewed the present state of the field and has attempted to anticipate future needs4 ,we have agreed on many important matters1 including especially useful design features for computers employed in data acquisition1 as well as types of organization of data-acquisition systems suitable for various purposes1 types of software that manufacturers should supply1 and approximate costs of systems1 and we present a number of recommendations in these areas4 ,however1 the ,panel makes no recommendation on standards for computer hardware1 such as logic levels and polarities1 because of a conviction that these are now rapidly being established as a result of sound engineering progress and the pressure of economic competition in the fast-moving computer business4 ,throughout this report we have expressed opinions based on our own experience and on the best information at our disposal4 ,the nature of the report seemed to demand some discussion of properties of specific computers by name4 ,we have tried to be neither misleading nor unjust in our evaluations4 ,we wish to thank everyone who has aided us1 especially ,p4 ,w4 ,mc,daniel1 ,c4 ,v4 ,smith1 and ,g4 ,rogosa of the ,u4,s4 ,atomic ,energy ,commission and the many scientists in ,,aec-and ,,nsf-sponsored laboratories who supplied the basic data on which the economic survey chapter is based4 ,we are indebted to several members of the staff of the ,department of ,physics and ,astronomy of the ,university of ,rochester for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript1 especially ,mrs4 ,brignall and ,mrs4 ,hughes4 ,we also received initial directions and many helpful suggestions from ,d4 ,a4 ,bromley1 ,chairman of the ,committee on ,nuclear ,science1 ,f4 ,s4 ,goulding1 ,chairman of the ,subcommittee on ,instrumentation and ,methods1 ,w4 ,s4 ,rodney and ,p4 ,donovan of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 and ,charles ,k4 ,reed1 ,executive ,secretary of the ,committee on ,nuclear ,science4 ,h4 ,w4 ,fulbright1 ,chairman ,h4 ,l4 ,gelernter ,j4 ,f4 ,mollenauer ,j4 ,hahn ,l4 ,b4 ,robinson ,l4 ,j4 ,lidofsky ,m4 ,w4 ,sachs ,,contents #a4 ,,the ,,tasks ,,and ,,the ,,computer #a ,a4 ,introduction #a ,b4 ,the ,tasks #b ,c4 ,the ,computers #c ,d4 ,matching ,computers to ,tasks #e ,e4 ,on ,characteristic ,features of ,computers and ,related ,equipment #f #b4 ,,data-,,acquisition ,,systems #af ,a4 ,introduction #af ,b4 ,a ,small ,time-,shared ,data-,acquisition ,system ,based on a ,,pdp-#g ,computer #ai ,c4 ,a ,small ,system ,based on a ,,pdp-#h ,computer #bc ,d4 ,a ,medium-,sized ,on-,line ,computer ,system #bh ,e4 ,a ,large ,system ,based on a ,single ,computer 7,the ,yale-,,ibm ,nuclear-,data-,acquisition ,system7 #cb ,f4 ,multiple-,computer ,systems #ci ,g4 ,a ,process-,control ,system3 ,the ,brookhaven ,multiple ,spectrometer ,control ,system #dh ,h4 ,relationship to a ,remote ,computing ,center #ed #c4 ,a ,,review ,,and ,,analysis ,,of ,,expenditures #eh ,a4 ,the ,nature of the ,data #eh ,b4 ,breakdown of ,data for ,analysis #ei ,c4 ,types of ,computers #fa ,d4 ,some ,total ,costs #fa ,e4 ,breakdown of ,costs by ,systems #fd ,f4 ,rotating ,memory ,devices #fe ,g4 ,systems ,on-,line with ,computing ,centers #fe ,h4 ,anticipated ,future ,expenditures #fe ,i4 ,investment in ,accelerators1 ,computer ,systems1 and ,laboratory ,budgets #ff ,j4 ,process-,control ,application #fg #d4 ,,summary ,,and ,,recommendations ,,on ,,system ,,planning #fh ,a4 ,the ,need for ,on-,line ,computer ,systems #fh ,b4 ,where ,should ,large-,scale ,calculations ,be ,done8 #fi ,c4 ,exercising ,economic ,judgment in ,planning #gj ,d4 ,on the ,utility of ,small and ,medium-,sized ,computers #ga ,e4 ,growth ,considerations #ga ,f4 ,short ,summary of ,conclusions ,regarding ,system ,planning #gc ,appendix ,a3 ,,tables ,,of ,,properties ,,of ,,small ,,and ,,medium-,,sized ,,computers #gi ,appendix ,b3 ,,background ,,information ,,for ,,chapter #c1 ,a ,,review ,,and ,,analysis ,,of ,,expenditures #hf ,chapter #a ,,the ,,tasks ,,and ,,the ,,computers ,a4 ,,introduction ,on-line data-acquisition computer systems are made in a wide range of types and sizes4 ,in all cases at least one electronic computer is involved--a stored-program machine--because wired-program devices such as pulse-height analyzers are not considered to be computers4 ,the rest of the system typically consists of input_/output 7,i_/,o7 devices such as analog-to-digital converters 7,,adc's71 printers1 cathode-ray oscilloscopes1 plotters1 and control devices1 which may include1 in addition to the console typewriter1 switch boxes to simplify the control of special types of operations and perhaps a set of logic circuits associated with the input system1 used to provide preliminary selection of incoming data4 ,in a small but increasing number of cases a computer is seen dedicated entirely to a process-control application such as the automatic adjustment of the shim coils of a variable-energy cyclotron or the control of data acquisition in a nuclear-scattering experiment1 adjustments such as changing the angle of observation being made essentially under direct automatic control of the computer4 ,the smallest on-line systems use the smallest commercially available computers2 the largest use computers bigger than those which until recently served most computing centers4 ,large systems sometimes include one or more satellite computers4 ,the cost of individual systems ranges from #be1jjj to #a1jjj1jjj1 approximately4 ,the total cost of computer systems in low-energy nuclear laboratories is estimated by now to have reached about #bj1jjj1jjj4 7,there has been a larger expenditure in the high-energy nuclear field1 where computer systems have been employed extensively for some years longer and where experiments are so expensive that the economic advantages of computer use were quickly recognized47 ,b4 ,,the ,,tasks ,we first list the main uses to which on-line computer systems have been put4 ,we start with the simple operations1 which we call ,class #a4 ,class #a operations3 a4 ,accepting digital data from external devices and storing it in computer memory4 b4 ,preliminary processing of incoming data1 on-line1 before storage4 ,this usually involves only operations of logic and simple arithmetic4 c4 ,controlling the presentation of data via cathode-ray oscilloscope or typewriter1 often for the purpose of monitoring the progress of an experiment4 d4 ,controlling the recording of digital data on magnetic tape1 paper tape1 or other storage medium4 e4 ,controlling an incremental plotter4 f4 ,controlling the output of large quantities of data via a line printer4 g4 ,transmission of quantities of data between two computers or between a computer and a pulse-height analyzer or other device having a magnetic core memory4 99 99 99 99 99 ,several operations of intermediate complexity we will label ,class #b4 ,class #b operations3 a4 ,processing of data already accumulated and stored either in memory or on tape or other medium 7off-line processing74 ,this data reduction is often more complicated and lengthy than the preliminary on-line processing referred to in 7,class #a;b74 b4 ,calculation of information required by the experimenter during the experiment1 for example1 kinematics tables and particle energies corresponding to field strengths in analyzer magnets4 c4 ,process-control operations1 in which the computer directs or regulates a sequence of events in an experiment4 ,under program control the computer monitors the course of the experiment and supplies signals that cause automatic changes in experimental conditions1 such as starting and stopping times of event counting1 angles of observation of scattered particles1 and accelerator energies4 ,such applications are designed to relieve the experimenter of unnecessary labor and to reduce the probability of error in routine operations4 99 99 99 99 99 ,our final class involves even more complex calculations4 ,class #c operations3 a4 ,complicated treatment of reduced data1 including least squares and curve fitting4 b4 ,large-scale calculations such as those required for the evaluation of theoretical nuclear scattering and reaction cross sections1 e4g41 ,,dwba calculations1 which may each require running times of the order of minutes1 even at a modern computing center4 99 99 99 99 99 ,apparently ,class #c operations do not always have to be done during the course of the experiment2 in fact1 they can in most cases be carried out later1 leisurely1 at the local computing center4 ,nonetheless1 calculations of the first type1 and to a lesser extent the second1 are currently being done at laboratories having large1 powerful computers in their on-line data-acquisition systems4 ,c4 ,,the ,,computers #a4 ,introduction ,because computers have proved useful in so many fields1 many varieties are now on the market1 quite a few of them having properties highly suitable for nuclear-data acquisition4 ,the properties particularly useful are1 first1 the ease with which a great variety of external input and output devices can be attached 7interfaced to the computer72 second1 provisions for rapid1 efficient response to interrupt signals from external devices2 and third1 usually a means of transferring data from external devices directly into blocks of memory without use of the central processor1 the transfer possibly requiring only a single memory cycle per word4 7,this is referred to as direct memory access through a direct data channel47 ,several types of small computers have appeared on the market during the past year1 some having #h-;bit words1 but they are too small for general data-acquisition use1 although valuables for special applications4 ,for present purposes1 the smallest useful machines have a minimum memory size of #djif 7#dk7 #ab-;bit words1 which can usually be enlarged to #cbk words by the addition of memory modules1 while the larger machines have minimum memories of at least #hk1 with provision for expansion to several hundred k4 ,regardless of their size1 the machines of the present generation all have memory cycle times around #a or #b sec4 #b4 ,rough ,classification of ,computers ,before proceeding with the discussion it is convenient to find a simple scheme for classifying computers4 ,the scheme adopted here is to divide them into three loosely defined classes--small1 medium1 and large--essentially on the basis of the properties of the basic central processors3 ,small ,word length #ab to #ah bits ,useful memory size #dk ,number of bits in instruction #c or #d ,floating-point hardware orally offered ,approximate cost range #hejj to #dj1jjj ,medium ,word length #af to #bd bits ,useful memory size #h to #afk ,number of bits in instruction #d to #f ,floating-point hardware option sometimes offered ,approximate cost range #cj1jjj to #abj1jjj ,large ,word length #cb to #dh bits ,useful memory size at least #afk ,number of bits in instruction #g or more ,floating-point hardware ,approximate cost range #aej1jjj or more ,computers do not fall neatly into these three classifications1 especially since manufacturers offer many optional features2 therefore1 some argument about the assignment of a particular machine to one or the other class is possible4 ,this is especially true with respect to the small and medium types4 ,the properties of a large number of small and medium-sized computers are given in ,appendix ,a4 ,information on larger machines can be found in the ,adams ,associates ,computer ,characteristics ,quarterly4 ,d4 ,,matching ,,computers ,,to ,,tasks ,having classified both the computers and the jobs that they may be called on to do1 we now ask this question3 ,how suitable is each of the three types of computers for each of the three classes of jobs1 given that in every case the acquisition system consists of a single computer coupled to all necessary input and output equipment8 #a4 ,large ,computers ,we start with the large computer system4 ,all classes of jobs can be handled by this powerful system4 ,however1 we should question the wisdom of assembling a system based on a large machine unless a substantial amount of numerical calculating is anticipated1 because the essential advantage of the large computer--the advantage that costs so much--is its capacity for rapidly executing highly accurate floating-point arithmetical operations4 #b4 ,small ,computers ,the small computer system can handle the jobs of data acceptance1 data manipulation1 and output characteristic of the simple ,class #a operations1 but they are suitable for very few jobs involving floating-point arithmetic4 ,in fact1 we must usually be skeptical about the use of small machines for any of the ,class #b operations except those of the process-control type1 which in many cases would involve little if any arithmetic4 7,process-control applications have been rather few to date1 but a rapid increase can be expected in this field1 especially because of the convenience and low cost of small modern computers47 ,it is apparent that these machines have been designed as economical instruments specifically intended to handle ,class #a jobs4 ,the smallest word length of a machine in this group1 #ab bits1 is sufficient for storing in one word the output of a #djif-;channel ,,adc unit1 but it is not quite so convenient for handling the output of a typical scaler1 which would likely require the use of two words4 ,the capability of even a small computer system to convert experimental information into digital form1 to transfer it into memory1 to manipulate it1 and to present it for inspection in a digested1 convenient form1 all at a high rate and essentially without error1 is of immense value to an experimenter who has to cope with the abundant outflow of data from a modern nuclear experiment4 #c4 ,medium-,sized ,computers ,the capabilities of medium-sized computers are less clear4 ,these machines are superior to the small ones mainly in two respects3 they have a more flexible command structure 7i4e41 they have a larger set of wired-in operations71 and1 usually1 they have a longer word length4 ,these features make them easier to program and give them a limited1 but important1 capability to execute floating-point operations sufficiently quickly and accurately for many purposes1 even though these operations must in most cases be programmed1 in the absence of floating-point hardware4 ,we can reasonably conclude that the medium-sized machines will serve for any use listed in ,classes #a and #b4 ,certain simpler calculations of ,class #c;a are also expected to prove feasible1 but few1 if any1 of those of ,class #c;b4 ,e4 ,,on ,,characteristic ,,features ,,of ,,computers ,,and ,,related ,,equipment ,the value of any feature depends on its need in the application involved2 therefore detailed1 absolute statements regarding each characteristic usually cannot be made4 ,however1 the ,panel has discussed various features at some length1 and we present here some general comments on the pros and cons of these features4 ,among the items discussed are some1 such as word length and cycle time1 that represent basic1 inherent properties of the computer2 while a great many others1 such as priority interrupts1 are customarily offered as options4 #a4 ,word ,length ,the shorter the word length the cheaper the hardware1 generally speaking1 but the less the accuracy in calculations unless multiple precision is used4 ,for example1 although the #ab-;bit words of the ,,pdp-#h match the accuracy of data from most ,,adc's1 they are too small not to match the output data from most counters2 furthermore1 indirect addressing is often required because a single word is too short to include both the operation code and the absolute address of a memory location4 ,apart from addressing considerations1 a #ab-;bit word is too small for many uses1 e4g41 in general-purpose pulse-height analyzer applications where #af bits or1 better1 #ah bits should be considered a minimum4 ,fortran programs for numerical calculations are in general best run on machines having at least #cb-;bit words1 although #bd-;bit words are usually acceptable here when double precision can be used4 #b4 ,number of ,memory ,words ,in general the more words that a system can retain the better2 but the greater the memory1 the greater the expense4 ,the cost must be weighed against the need4 ,for simple handling of data1 a #dk memory may be adequate1 but in a large shared-time general-purpose machine a #afk or greater memory is essential4 ,in the latter case1 the resident shared-time monitor will probably occupy at least #fk of the memory1 so with a #afk memory only #ajk would be left accessible to users1 and experience has shown that this much can be taken up completely by one user compiling a ,fortran ,,iv program4 ,a #dk memory is adequate for many process-control applications1 but it is too small for many other applications such as general-purpose pulse-height analyzer use1 where an #hk memory is highly desirable4 ,adding a supplemental rotating memory device 7disk or drum71 at a cost per word about #a percent that of core storage1 is often preferable to adding core memory4 ,see #f below4 #c4 ,cycle ,time ,for most purposes the typical memory cycle time of #a to #b sec is quite adequate4 ,some of the modern computers have cycle times under #a sec4 #d4 ,direct ,data ,channels ,these allow sequential depositing of digital data from external devices directly into blocks of computer memory without intervention of the central processor 7direct memory access1 ,,dma74 ,such input may require only one computer cycle per word1 that being the next cycle after the one during which the interrupt signal arrives4 ,this is the fastest means of getting data into memory1 but it requires more external hardware and more complex interfacing than input through an accumulator of the central processor4 ,most data-acquisition machines provide both possibilities4 ,direct data channels can be valuable for interfacing to magnetic disks1 drums1 and tapes4 #e4 ,priority ,interrupts 7,nested7 ,these can be very useful4 ,they may cost as little as #abe each1 depending on the machine1 and can be used to reduce greatly the overhead running time losses of the computer4 ,in complicated data-taking applications many interrupt lines are desirable2 #h to #af priority levels are generally adequate4 ,the usual ,fortran compiler cannot compile programs that respond properly to interrupts1 although a relocatable object code generated by the compiler can always be assembled with a machine-language subroutine designed to handle interrupts4 ,enlargement of ,fortran compilers for data-acquisition use to include statements designed to handle interrupts is desirable4 7,see1 for example1 the discussion of the ,yale-,,ibm system1 ,chapter #b1 ,section ,e47 #f4 ,mass ,storage ,magnetic media--drums1 disks1 and standard magnetic tapes--are employed here4 ,,dec tapes are useful and reliable1 but they have only a small capacity4 ,the use of such microtapes is also limited by their incompatibility with typical computer-center equipment4 ,reliable1 inexpensive incremental magnetic tape units are now available which can be operated asynchronously at about #cjj ,hz1 too slow for many purposes4 ,some of them can also be run much faster in a synchronous mode4 ,drums and disks are highly desirable because they provide program-controlled rapid access to great volumes of data4 ,typically1 access times are of the order of #ag sec4 ,in the past few years1 good and inexpensive disks have been developed which are now on the market4 ,some suppliers are ,,ibm1 ,,cdc1 ,datadisk1 ,burroughs1 ,,dec1 and ,,sds4 ,disk storage is cheaper per word than core storage by two orders of magnitude2 therefore1 it is preferable for applications where data can be organized serially and where access and transfer time requirements can be relaxed somewhat4 ,for example1 a small ,,dec disk system for the ,,pdp-#h holds up to #abhk #ab-;bit words and has an average access time of #ag sec and a transfer rate of #af1jjj #ab-;bit words per sec4 ,it costs #fjjj for the first #cbk of capacity1 plus #cjjj for each additional #cbk1 including interfacing through the direct data channel4 ,larger and faster versions are available4 ,disks 7or drums7 should be important in future systems4 ,magnetic tapes of the ,,ibm-compatible type are valuable1 especially for communication with machines at computing centers1 but tape drives and interfacing are usually expensive4 ,it often costs #be1jjj or more to get a single tape drive in service1 although the next few are usually less expensive4 ,the cheapest tape drives available cost about #ejjj4 ,the cost of interfacing depends greatly on the particular computer4 ,it may be as little as #ejjj1 but it is often in the neighborhood of #ae1jjj or #bj1jjj4 #g4 ,program ,input ,method ,because they provide immediate access1 the most satisfactory program storage media are magnetic disks and drums1 followed by the ,,ibm tape4 ,the most satisfactory cheap device for input of programs is the high-speed1 punched-tape reader1 but the advantages of using small cartridge-type magnetic tapes have recently been emphasized4 ,recently1 card readers have appeared which are much cheaper than the older ,,ibm models4 ,they can read #bjj-cjj cards per minute4 ,they cost about #bjjj plus interfacing4 ,examples3 ,soroban1 ,general ,devices1 ,uptime4 ,a simple means of restoring the basic loader program 7other than toggling67 is desirable4 ,many computers have this feature1 e4g41 the ,,ibm #cfj series2 the ,,sds ,sigma #b1 ,sigma #e1 and #iaj ,,pdp-#i4 #h4 ,memory ,protection ,hardware memory protection is necessary in multiprogram systems4 ,it is very helpful in any machine with a batch-processing resident monitor and in other special situations4 #i4 ,parity ,check ,this feature is useful for purposes as detecting memory failures1 but it is usually not worth its cost in computer speed and in capital investment in the case of a small system4 #aj4 ,ease and ,cost of ,interfacing ,this is a big subject1 partly because the organization of computers for input and output of data varies with the manufacturer4 ,some computers such as the ,hewlett-,packard and the ,,dec models are especially easy to interface1 whereas the automatic channels of the ,,sds ,sigma computers and the ordinary ,,ibm machines 7e4g41 the #cfj series7 are very difficult4 ,the ,,ibm machines require an expensive control unit4 ,it is said that before a competent engineer could order plug boards for ,sigma interfacing he would have to study the system for a month or two4 ,however1 once interfaced1 these machines permit rapid input of data4 ,interfacing a #ejjj ,calcomp plotter to the automatic channel of an ,,ibm or ,sigma series machine may cost much more than the cost of the plotter4 #aa4 ,typewriters ,many small computers use teletype machines as console typewriters4 ,the ,,asr-#cc teletype has not performed well1 but it has recently been improved4 ,the ,,asr-#ce and ,,ksr-#ce have excellent records1 and the newer ,,asr-#cg and ,,ksr-#cg 7#ae characters_/sec7 are very good4 ,the ,,ibm ,selectric has had a mixed reliability record which is1 however1 improving4 ,in every case1 expert routine maintenance is required4 #ab4 ,index ,registers ,these are a valuable asset to efficient programming4 ,at least one1 and preferably more1 is desirable1 especially in the medium and large computers4 #ac4 ,line ,printers ,these are of great use for obtaining a permanent 7hard copy7 record1 especially when large volumes of output are produced2 however1 they are expensive1 usually costing #bj1jjj or more 7including interfacing74 ,in order to avoid tying up a large central processor during typewriter output of masses of data1 a line printer is not only very useful1 it is essential for efficient operation 7and to spare the typewriter74 ,a line printer can be immensely helpful and can save much time in the process of developing and debugging programs4 ,the cost1 however1 will often preclude its addition to a modest system4 ,if the system has an ,,ibm-compatible tape drive1 the computer output can be written on tape and later carried to a computing center for printing4 ,several industrial concerns are known to be working on new types of printers1 some being dry-copy1 nonpercussive types4 ,one type which has already been marketed1 the ,inktronic printer1 operates by spraying ink at the paper from small tubes4 ,the characters are well formed4 ,it operates at about #abj characters per second and costs #efjj4 ,conveniently1 it requires standard ,teletype interfacing1 and it can be ordered with an optional keyboard4 ,although it has exhibited a few new-product ailments in its first #h months or so of use1 it shows promise of becoming a very useful device4 ,another printer operating on a similar principle has just appeared--the ,a4,b4 ,dick ,company's ,videojet printer1 priced at about #dijj4 #ad4 ,plotters ,the overwhelming favorite is still the incremental machine called the ,calcomp plotter4 ,it costs about #ejjj and is easily interfaced to many computers4 ,it is very accurate 7about #j4ja in4 in each direction7 and provides valuable output to the experimenter4 ,it can be programmed to plot experimental points and theoretical curves together on white paper in ,india ink1 relieving draftsmen of considerable work and doing a more precise job4 ,other incremental plotters are now on the market1 e4g41 the ,houston ,instruments version4 ,varian has developed an electrostatic plotter to sell for about #ae1jjj4 #ae4 ,cathode-,ray ,tube ,displays ,at least four types are in use4 ,the standard scheme involves the displaying of bright spots under control of the computer1 which has generated appropriate words to cause x and y deflections of the spot when those words have been transformed by ,,adc's in the ,,crt unit4 ,the pattern is rewritten continuously4 ,a light pen held against a particular part of the display pattern can be used to signal the computer4 ,this scheme works well but may produce a flickering image if the computer is interrupted frequently to handle higher priority jobs or if the display is so complicated that the rewriting period exceeds #a_/cj sec4 ,the expensive hardware option called a character generator is considered not worthwhile unless large amounts of text are to be displayed4 ,on a #aj in4 x #aj in4 raster a matrix of dots #ajbd x #ajbd is sensible4 ,a second scheme involves a disk or drum on which the computer writes the words to generate the pattern4 ,separate reading heads send the words to the ,,crt unit4 ,thus the display1 automatically rewritten over and over1 is updated from time to time by the computer4 ,the light-spot cursor and joy-stick method replace the light pen in this case4 7,in passing1 it is worth remarking that a light pen is only as effective as the computer program allows it to be1 that the effort of programming for light-pen control is usually not trivial1 and that a substantial amount of core storage may be required4 ,a means of display control perhaps not so popular as it should be is sense-switch control47 ,a third scheme makes use of a modern storage ,,crt4 ,the computer sends the pattern to the ,,crt only once1 and the display can persist until erased4 ,this method is flicker-free and inexpensive1 but the pattern is not so distinct and sometimes not so bright as in the above schemes4 ,however1 it is cheap4 ,furthermore1 the storage tube can be used alternately as an ordinary ,,crt with quite satisfactory resolution4 ,a storage version is thus possible which reverts to the standard scheme1 for high-resolution inspection1 when a button is pushed4 ,the storage-tube scheme is probably the best buy for use in a typical small system4 ,the ,tektronix ,company has recently announced a storage-tube device1 ,type #deja1 which is said to generate a continuous video signal suitable for driving large-screen television monitors4 ,a fourth scheme involves the generation of a video 7analog7 signal corresponding to the display1 written on a disk or drum by the computer4 ,reading heads then send the video information to a ,,crt having a ,,tv raster synchronized with the rotation of the medium4 ,this is a good scheme where many displays are needed1 but it is too expensive for many applications1 costing upwards of #bj1jjj for the first unit4 7,for example1 the ,data ,disc ,system #fejj ,display costs about #bc1jjj47 ,one display feature considered desirable by many nuclear physicists is rotation of isometric data plots4 ,this can be accomplished in one of two ways3 recomputing every displayed dot or using an appropriate analog device 7potentiometer74 ,because the latter is so cheap1 clearly its use is more desirable than the recomputation of the rotated view4 ,also1 using a light pen on a recomputed display is especially difficult because the inverse computation has to be performed in order to maintain proper correlation with the original data4 ,however1 it should be noted that the ,,tv raster technique is limited in this respect3 rotating potentiometers cannot be used1 and the image must be recomputed4 ,the technology of displays is developing rapidly4 #af4 ,the ,role of ,external ,devices ,in many cases1 especially where typical standard operations are involved1 it is preferable to use external devices to handle preliminary selection and sorting of events1 rather than to ask the computer to do the entire job4 ,for example1 particle identification by use of signals from two counters involves one or two multiplications and additions1 which can be carried out almost instantly by a fairly simple external analog device1 whereas a small computer would likely require at least #ejj sec for the job1 assuming calculation1 and perhaps #dj sec1 assuming table look-up4 #ag4 ,time ,sharing ,computers as small as a ,,pdp-#h have been successfully time-shared by several users in special applications4 ,the justification given is that all the peripheral hardware can be shared also1 so that the added constraints and programming difficulties are balanced by savings in hardware costs4 ,computers have also been shared for simultaneous on-line data-taking in low-data-rate experiments4 ,in working out the economics of time-sharing1 the added hardware 7such as ,,crt's and remote consoles and memory protection7 needed to allow simultaneous access by more than one user1 as well as the extra memory space needed by the time-sharing monitor1 should be considered4 ,the greatest costs1 however1 lie in the added constraints placed on each of the users and in the greatly increased cost of programming4 ,in many cases the use of two or more identical computers is preferable4 ,however1 in large1 expensive systems time-sharing can be very useful4 #ah4 ,software ,that ,should ,be ,supplied by ,manufacturer ,complete documentation should be provided1 including listings1 step-by-step user instructions1 and some fully worked out examples4 a4 ,hardware diagnostic routines3 ,to test memory addressing1 instruction set and to test correct operation of every peripheral and special hardware feature4 b4 ,systems to edit1 assemble1 and debug programs in symbolic machine language3 ,these should efficiently use any special ,i_/,o device such as magnetic tape1 disk1 or line printer4 c4 ,efficient subroutines should be provided for operation of any special peripheral device purchased from the computer manufacturer4 ,symbolic language source tapes or card decks1 listings with comments1 and examples of use should be included4 d4 ,conversational ,fortran-type programs provided by some manufactures are useful for supplemental calculations4 ,,note3 ,the following points apply particularly to the medium and large machines and become increasingly important as the computer becomes larger and more complex4 e4 ,fortran compiler and operating system1 with convenient method to insert machine language instructions and subroutines4 ,good compile and run-time diagnostics are essential4 f4 ,mathematical subroutines should be provided in binary and source language4 g4 ,complete specifications and documentation for the programming system should be supplied1 so that programs prepared by users can be made compatible4 ,it may be objected that this will cost too much1 but not to do so will be very costly and frustrating to many users4 #ai4 ,note on the ,cost of ,programming ,experience at ,brookhaven and ,berkeley has shown that a programmer can produce between #aj and #bj debugged and documented lines of program per day1 depending on such factors as experience1 when he is working on reasonably straightforward programming4 ,when working on a complicated monitor system he would be considerably less productive4 ,system programming is obviously very expensive1 therefore the average person exploring the computer market would be well advised to consider the software support along with the hardware offered in each case4 ,manufacturers vary greatly in this respect4 ,a major contributing factor to the persistent popularity of the ,,pdp-#h is that the software support is so extensive4 ,in general1 the newer a computer1 the less software is likely to be available4 ,chapter #b ,,data-,,acquisition ,,systems ,a4 ,,introduction #a4 ,history ,the movement toward computer systems began in earnest about #aifb4 ,much of the early work depended on the use of magnetic tape for storage of data1 either raw or partially digested1 the analysis of data being carried out later1 off-line4 ,more recently1 computers have been used increasingly for on-line processing4 ,the early work is well known and will not be described here4 ,some of the more recent systems are basically very close descendants of one or another of the early systems4 ,many varieties are now in service4 ,most incorporate small or medium-sized computers1 however1 extensive new experience has been gained during the past two or three years of operation of a few large time-shared systems1 in particular those in the tandem ,van de ,graaff accelerator laboratories at ,yale and at ,rochester1 perhaps the first large systems in operation which were planned systematically for nuclear research4 ,both operate with multiprogramming monitor control1 background calculations being possible1 on a low-priority basis1 simultaneously with data acquisition4 #b4 ,possible ,systems ,simple rules for the design of various types of data-acquisition systems cannot be stated1 but some examples of possible systems can be given4 7,see ,figure #a47 a4 ,a simple system for pulse-height analysis work can be assembled from a small computer1 a #e-;in4 ,tektronix ,,cro1 an ,,adc unit1 and a teletype with paper-tape attachment for a cost of about #cj1jjj1 providing that a competent engineer is available1 not counting programming and engineering costs4 ,a ,calcomp plotter could be added for about #fjjj4 ,to maintain and operate the system at least a half-time technician-programmer would be required4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #a ,basic data-acquisition system4 b4 ,a general-purpose system for use in an accelerator laboratory can be assembled from a medium-sized computer1 two typewriters1 four #ac-;bit 7#j-haib7 ,,adc's1 six #ah-;bit 7#j-bfb1add7 counters1 a #aj in4 x #aj in4 ,,cro display unit with light pen1 two tape drives 7for ,,ibm tape71 a ,calcomp plotter1 and a fast paper-tape reader for about #age1jjj plus the cost of engineering service and programming4 ,at least one full-time technician-programmer would be needed for maintenance and programming4 c4 ,a large shared-time system of the smallest configuration which makes much sense consists of a large computer with a #afk memory1 two typewriters1 a fast punched-tape reader1 four ,,dec tapes 7or the equivalent71 one ,,ibm-compatible magnetic tape1 one ,,cro with light pen1 one incremental plotter1 input devices for experimental data 7,,adc's1 counters1 etc471 plus an interfacing system to link the external input-output devices to the computer4 ,the interfacing system may include a fixed-wired front end1 such as that used at ,yale1 a small computer1 such as that used at ,rochester1 or both4 ,the hardware would probably cost over #djj1jjj exclusive of engineering1 and to this must be added a large expense for programming1 even if the manufacturer supplies a satisfactory shared-time monitor plus all the usual software4 ,three men would be needed to assemble1 maintain1 and operate the system3 an engineer1 technician-programmer1 and a full-time programmer1 or some equivalent combination1 assuming use of the system in a large laboratory with an active and continually developing research program4 ,thus the cost of this stripped-down system must be expected to reach #ejj1jjj before it is in full operation1 and the cost of keeping it going1 including salaries1 overhead1 and replacement parts will likely exceed #ej1jjj per year1 although this could perhaps be trimmed somewhat once the system is running4 ,furthermore1 to run efficiently1 the system would need additional components3 another #afk 7at least7 of core memory1 another ,,ibm-compatible magnetic-tape drive1 and a line printer4 ,a rotating memory device would also be helpful4 ,these would raise the cost by well over #ajj1jjj4 ,it is apparent that large time-shared systems are so expensive that they can ordinarily be justified only in the largest1 most lively research establishments4 #c4 ,small ,computers as ,satellites ,in medium and large systems the use of small computers for coupling input and output devices to the main computer offers a number of attractive advantages1 especially now that mass production and competition have brought the prices down so low that a large amount of hardware nearly ideal for the purpose is available at a bargain4 ,some advantages3 7#a7 ,the small machine can control data acquisition1 accumulating blocks of data while the large machine is doing background calculations1 interrupting those calculations only occasionally to transfer raw or partially processed data4 7#b7 ,the small machine can continuously control the monitor ,,cro4 7#c7 ,it can control output devices such as a plotter1 line printer1 rotating memory1 or tape drive4 7#d7 ,it can carry out many logic operations on the incoming data4 ,experience has shown that such operations are numerous1 and from the economic point of view they should not be allowed to tie up the larger machine1 which1 at the same time1 can better be engaged in complicated calculations4 ,in some cases the use of two small satellite computers can easily be justified4 ,the chief disadvantage3 ,programming can be complicated4 ,however1 if the larger machine already has a time-shared monitor which recognizes the small machine as a typical input-output device 7as is the case with the ,,pdp-#f plus ,,pdp-#h system at ,rochester7 the programming problem is not bad4 ,in the following five sections descriptions of a number of data-acquisition systems of various types and sizes will be given in order to illustrate concretely some practical system configurations4 ,in each case a breakdown of costs and a discussion of the lessons learned in connection with planning1 construction1 and operation will be included4 ,the systems are of the following types3 two small1 one medium1 one large1 two multiple-,,cpu1 and one process control4 ,b4 ,a ,,small ,,time-,,shared ,,data-,,acquisition ,,system ,,based ,,on ,a ,,pdp-#g ,,computer #a4 ,introduction ,in #aiff1 two identical computer systems based on ,,pdp-#g computers were set up in two different locations at the ,lawrence ,radiation ,laboratory 7,,lrl71 to be used by several groups of experimenters 7see ,figure #b74 ,assembly of the hardware for the first system was completed #f months after delivery of the computer4 ,assembly of the second system required only #c months4 ,two years after operation commenced1 the first satisfactory time-sharing monitor was completed and put into service4 ,the basic use of these systems is pulse-height analysis4 ,in principle many other types of operation are possible4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #b ,,pdp-#g data-acquisition system at ,lawrence ,radiation ,laboratory4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #c ,a switch panel used for data taking and control of ,,crt display in conjunction with the ,,pdp-#g computer4 ,the switch-setting codes can be read into the ,,pdp-#g accumulator under program control and are used to select branch points in the program4 ,as many as eight of these units can be connected to the system4 ,the lights are used to indicate program status4 #b4 ,operational ,features ,data-reduction jobs currently possible in the shared-time operating mode include spectrum stripping1 normalization1 smoothing1 storage and retrieval of data from magnetic tapes1 graph plotting1 printout1 energy calibration1 background fitting1 peak integration1 and transfer of data from a remote analyzer4 ,remote control of the computer from up to eight experimental locations is possible using inexpensive switch panels 7,figure #c74 ,remote slave ,,crt display is also provided4 ,multiparameter pulse-height acquisition and analysis can be done on a time-shared basis but often requires all the computer's time and memory4 #c4 ,hardware ,the hardware configuration is shown in ,figure #b4 ,the ,,pdp-#g computer was supplied by the ,digital ,equipment ,corporation with an #hk memory 7#ah bits7 extended arithmetic hardware1 microtape 7,dectape71 paper tape1 teletype1 and cathode-ray tube 7,,crt74 ,the other items were built or interfaced at ,,lrl4 ,automatic memory increment and memory-protection hardware1 together with suitable programming1 allow a user to carry out simple data-reduction jobs with a live ,,crt display while two other users are independently acquiring separate1 #bjdh-;channel1 pulse-height spectra in part of the computer memory1 with computer-controlled-gain stabilization4 ,,adc dead time per pulse is less that #dj sec4 ,up ,to #fadd words of the memory can be used for data 7one ,,pha channel per word71 while machine language programs fill the remaining #bjdh words of memory4 #d4 ,lessons ,learned from ,operating ,experience ,the system works well for pulse-height analysis1 but for new applications1 e4g41 nuclear magnetic resonance magnet control1 it needs additional hardware and programs4 ,two groups of experimenters1 doing chiefly pulse-height analysis experiments are very satisfied with the system4 ,another group1 with a wider range of interests1 has been dissatisfied because of the time lag to implement new experiments4 ,one programmer is now engaged full time preparing more programs4 ,lack of free computer time has become a limitation for both users and programmers4 ,provision for programming at the outset was inadequate4 ,one full-time systems programmer should have been assigned to these systems for #ah months4 ,experimenters need ,fortran or similar language capability4 ,a disk1 or more core memory1 would make this practical4 ,the memory size is totally inadequate for multiple users because of the large amount of data space needed for the high-resolution spectra now obtainable with ,ge7,li7 detectors4 ,an external #hk memory is being acquired for data acquisition in each system so that more of the computer memory can be used for computing4 ,memory ,,crt's are needed to provide independent displays for each user4 ,a separate teletype for each user would be invaluable4 ,a disk memory is needed for rapid overlay of programs and for sorting of multiparameter data4 ,a czar should have been appointed for day-to-day assignment of facilities1 consultations with users1 and routine maintenance and upkeep of the hardware and programs4 ,the czar could be a good electronics technician interested both in programming and in physics4 #e4 ,costs ,system costs for the ,,pdp-#g with time-sharing are given in ,table #a4 ,fabrication time is included as a dollar cost4 ,engineering and programming times shown are one half those charged against two identical systems4 ,additional special-purpose experimental equipment commonly used with the system includes gain stabilizers1 analog pulse derandomizers1 amplifiers1 pulse pileup rejection1 low-noise preamplifiers1 and ,ge7,li7 detectors4 ,,table #a ,system ,costs--,,pdp-#g with ,time-,sharing,a ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,items ,costs ,man-,months ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,,cpu 7#hk1 ,,eae7 ,,pdp-#g1 #aiff #eb1jjj ,dual microtape #aj1cej ,calcomp plotter #d1hbe ,calcomp interface #bjj #a_/b ,,crt controller #b1cjj ,large screen ,,crt #c1ejj #c small ,,crt's 7#e in47 #a1iie #a_/b ,mag tape 7#eef ,,bpi1 #cj ,,ips7 #h1fij 7with erase head7 ,mag tape interface #bjj #d ,memory protection #b1jjj #c ,direct memory multiplexer #b1jjj #b #b ,,adc's 7#djif-;channel1 #ce sec #e1jjj - per count7 ,,adc multiplex interface 7automatic #b1jjj #c memory increment7 #h-parameter input to ,,adc #a1ejj #a 7analog multiplexer7 #d remote memory switch panels #a1bjj #b ,cabling to experiments #a1ejj #a #hk external1 #ah-;bit1 #b-sec memory #ab1jjj #c ---------- ------ #bj ,programming #ah ---------- ------ #aac1bfj #ch ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,a ,the ,,pdp-#g is no longer made4 ,its modern equivalent is the ,,pdp-#ae4 ,c4 ,a ,,small ,,system ,,based ,,on ,a ,,pdp-#h ,,computer #a4 ,history and ,hardware ,this second example of a small computer system is also taken from experience at ,,lrl4 ,it was planned in ,february #aifg and first put into operation in the summer of #aifg4 ,data were first taken with the aid of the system in the spring of #aifh1 and the system programming was completed in ,may #aifi4 ,the system is used extensively in experiments with the ,bevatron4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #d ,,pdp-#h data-acquisition system at ,lawrence ,radiation ,laboratory4 ,the computer-system hardware consists of the items shown in ,figure #d4 ,the ,,pdp-#h has #dk of memory4 ,the disk is a ,data ,disc unit with a removable disk 7#abh tracks and a movable head7 on the same shaft as a smaller disk and three fixed data heads4 ,two of the fixed-head tracks are devoted to the display3 they drive a hardware-translator continuously4 ,a single display track is used when the number of points does not exceed #bjjj4 ,for larger displays two tracks are used alternately4 ,the display is controlled from the switch panel4 ,on-line operating functions may be controlled both from the switch panel and from the teletype4 #b4 ,programming ,three classes of programming have been completed3 ,system ,programs3 ,symbolic ,text ,editor1 ,assembler1 a general-purpose library system--all disk oriented4 ,data-,taking ,programs3 ,these cause the ,,adc to be read1 control elementary sorting1 update histograms resident on the disk1 write raw data on tape1 and monitor the beam4 ,the ,bevatron has approximately #a sec of beam every #f sec4 ,during a beam pulse the computer is devoted entirely to acquiring data1 saving raw data in core1 on the disk1 and on tape4 ,after a beam pulse1 the #ac-;disk histograms are updated1 then the display programs are read into core memory and the display is updated4 ,the system is designed to be capable of accepting over #ajjj events per beam burst1 and it has met this requirement4 ,simple ,data-,analysis ,programs3 ,these compute displays 7linear1 log1 isometric1 and contour--all double precision71 read out the sealers1 monitor the real-time clock1 allow resorting of raw data from tape1 and generate tapes for remote plotting4 #c4 ,lessons from ,operating ,experience ,the system now functions as originally intended and does its job very satisfactorily4 ,the experimenter relies heavily on the main computer center for data processing4 ,in assembling this system now1 one would buy the disk already interfaced by the computer manufacturer2 furthermore the manufacturer now offers programs that would greatly reduce the programming costs4 ,a memory scope would eliminate the need for a disk-to-,,crt display interface4 ,less-expensive magnetic tapes are now available4 ,however1 it would be better to buy the tape already interfaced by the manufacturer of the computer4 ,the added cost of buying a #af-or #ah-;bit computer would have been almost completely offset by savings in the cost of programming4 ,the addition of a fast printer 7e4g41 ,inktronic #efjj7 would have paid for itself in time saved during programming but would not be of much use in experiment4 #d4 ,costs ,the costs of the ,,pdp-#h are given in ,table #b4 ,,table #b ,system ,costs ,,pdp-#h--aifg ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,costs ,man-,months ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,,cpu1 #dk1 #ab-;bit #ah1jjj - ,data disk #h1cjj - ,disk interface #b1ejj #f ,,crt display control #a1jjj #a ,,crt #gjj - ,mag tape 7#eef ,,bpi1 #cj ,,ips7 #h1hjj #j ,mag tape interface #b1jjj #f ,misc4 interfaces #b1gjj #ab #h scalers 7on loan7 - - ,,adc 7#djif-;channel1 #ce-sec #b1ejj - dead time7 #h-parameter input to ,,adc #a1ejj - 7analog multiplexer7 ,remote console 7switch panel7 #cjj - ,time-of-day clock #a1jjj - -------- #di1cjj ,systems programs #ab ,data-handling programs #ab ,engineering diagnosis1 debugging #i ---- #eh ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,illustration3 ,,figure #e ,block diagram of ,,emr #facj data-acquisition system at ,columbia ,university4 ,d4 ,a ,,medium-,,sized ,,on-,,line ,,computer ,,system #a4 ,introduction ,an ,,emr #facj computer system has been installed and is being prepared for use with ,columbia ,university's ,neutron ,velocity ,spectrometer data-acquisition and analysis system4 ,the spectrometer is characterized by high data rates and many events per burst4 ,at present1 peak arrival rates are approximately #ajf events per second1 with #dj-fj events per burst and a burst rate of #gj ,hz4 ,the arrival distribution is random2 therefore1 #aj percent of the interarrival intervals are #ajj nsec long1 and #a percent are #aj nsec long4 ,in the future1 peak arrival rates of #ajg events_/sec and #djj-fjj events per burst are possible1 with a burst rate of #cjj ,hz4 ,with an appropriate time-of-flight front end1 the #facj will be able to handle the anticipated faster rates4 ,the ,,emr #facj is a #af-;bit1 #gge-nsec computer4 ,the memory has a multibus structure which permits each bus to communicate simultaneously with a separate memory module4 ,up to four memory buses may be purchased4 ,the ,columbia system has two memory buses4 ,if a high-speed buffered data channel is used1 block transfer may occur at memory cycle speeds4 ,with two buses1 data may be stored in two memory modules at rates up to twice memory speed4 ,alternatively1 one bus1 channel1 and one or more memory modules may be dedicated to data acquisition1 while the central processor and standard peripheral devices1 using the second bus1 simultaneously operate in the remaining memory modules4 #b4 ,description of the ,system ,a block diagram of the ,columbia system is given in ,figure #e4 ,the system has three #hk core modules4 ,memory bus #a is dedicated to a high-speed channel serving the time-of-flight acquisition system4 ,memory bus #b serves both the central processor and a second high-speed channel4 ,low-speed input-output devices1 such as the operator's console1 teletype1 card reader1 and plotter communicate directly through the processor4 ,the high-speed input-output devices1 namely1 a magnetic tape unit1 line printer1 fixed head disk1 and interactive ,,crt display1 communicate through the channel4 ,the box designated as time-of-flight system represents special-purpose electronics1 including a #ej-m,hz clock1 time-quantizing circuits which clock an input event from one of the detectors to the nearest clock pulse following its arrival1 a #ej-m,hz counter1 and a #af-word derandomizing buffer capable of storing a new word of data 7i4e41 arrival time7 every #bj nsec4 ,the number of channels1 nominally #af1jjj1 is limited not by the front end but by the amount of core available for histogram storage in the #facj system4 7,for the high data rates anticipated in the future1 the time-of-flight clock speed and derandomizing buffer data acceptance rate will be increased to #ajj m,hz4 ,at the same time1 an accumulating buffer of several hundred words capacity1 with a #bj-m,hz data acceptance rate1 will be added to empty the derandomizing buffer and store temporarily the time-of-arrival data prior to its transmission to the #facj system47 ,illustration3 ,,figure #f ,diagram illustrating mode of utilization of core memory in the ,columbia ,system shown in ,figure #e4 #c4 ,how the ,system is ,used ,during the time-of-flight experiment1 memory is utilized as follows 7see ,figure #f74 ,the channel dedicated to data acquisition writes on alternate bursts1 into two buffer regions1 of approximately #ajj words each1 in the top of memory module #c4 ,the remaining parts of memory module #c and all module #b will be devoted to histogram storage 7i4e41 time-of-flight channels74 ,module #a will contain a stripped-down monitor program and all data-handling programs1 including buffer regions for the external devices other than the time-of-flight front end4 ,programs will be capable of referring to all module #a or #b in full concurrency with data acquisition4 ,reference to module #c will also overlap data acquisition1 except for a period of high input data rate of #ajj-to #bjj-sec duration per burst4 ,with the type of memory allocation described1 the system will permit the use of all standard ,i_/,o devices1 concurrent with the essential operations of input data buffering and histogram generation4 ,thus1 new data may be stored on1 or old data retrieved from1 the disk or magnetic tape2 either new or old data may be displayed on the ,,crt2 and the same or other data may be output with the plotter or line printer4 ,control information will be input from the teletype1 the operator's console1 or from special-purpose switches4 ,the importance to the physicist is that hard copy output is immediately available during data acquisition and may be used to monitor1 or modify1 the experiment4 ,subsequent to the input data increase1 a high-speed memory incrementing channel will be used to input time-of-flight data directly to the histogram area4 ,with this channel the buffer area in module #c will no longer be required4 ,histogram data will be stored in all modules #b and #c1 and no program intervention will be required for histogram generation4 ,between data-acquisition runs1 the system will be used for data analysis4 #d4 ,present ,status ,the computer1 with two memory modules and one channel and bus1 was delivered in ,july #aifh4 ,the remaining memory module channel and bus were delivered in the fall of #aifh1 the ,,crt arrived in ,june #aifi1 and the line printer 7which was not purchased from ,,emr7 came shortly afterward4 ,the first time-of-flight run with this system was scheduled for ,december #aifi4 ,during the period from delivery to the first run1 one full-time programmer and approximately half the time of one physicist were devoted to the debugging of manufacturer-supplied programs and the writing of the on-line programs required for the run4 ,it has been hoped that the system would be used extensively for the analysis of previously acquired data1 beginning shortly after delivery2 however1 very little such use has proved possible1 essentially because of the unreliability of the #ajj-;cpm card reader supplied by ,,emr4 ,the lack of a line printer was also a factor4 ,a more reliable reader has been purchased4 ,the delivery of a line printer should rectify the second need4 ,the development of high-speed1 buffered1 time-of-flight front ends has been a continuing interest at ,columbia4 ,it is therefore difficult to estimate the precise costs of the time-of-flight system developed for use with the #facj4 ,a rough estimate of the design and development time is approximately #c engineer man years4 #e4 ,lessons from ,development and ,testing ,experience ,columbia chose to order the ,,emr #facj1 even though at that time 7#aiff7 it was not in production1 because it seemed a very powerful machine which matched the needs of the system planners4 ,the alternate possibility open was to order a larger1 much more expensive machine of proven capability4 ,as it turned out1 difficulties in the development of the #facj caused a delay of over a year in the delivery of the main frame and of over two years in the delivery of the ,,crt display4 7,when these delays became apparent1 ,,emr loaned ,columbia a #bd-;bit computer and also a small display for use during the interim period47 ,the ,,emr #facj is perhaps the most powerful #af-;bit computer available today1 in spite of one or two changes in the original specifications1 but in order to get it ,columbia apparently traded time for money4 #f4 ,cost ,the costs of the ,columbia ,university ,,emr #facj system are given in ,table #c4 ,,table #c ,cost of ,columbia ,university ,,emr #facj ,system 7,prices from ,,emr ,except where ,indicated7 ---------------------------------------- ------------------ #a ,central processor with #afk core memory #fe1ejj #a ,additional #hk core memory #ag1hej #a ,teletype1 model #ce #a1icj #b ,word_/byte buffered channels #aj1cjj #a ,additional memory bus and control #d1cjj #a ,additional cabinet assembly #e1jjj #a ,card reader1 #ajj cpm #d1ajj #a ,magnetic disk and control #af1hjj #a ,tape transport and control #bf1jjj #a #h levels1 priority interrupt #a1jjj #a ,,crt display1 including vector generator and light pen #bg1gej #a #cjj-lpm line printer,b #ah1jjj -------- #aih1ecj ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,b ,purchased from printer manufacturer with #facj interface4 ,e4 ,a ,,large ,,system ,,based ,,on ,a ,,single ,,computer 7,,the ,,yale-,,ibm ,,nuclear-,,data-,,acquisition ,,system7 #a4 ,introduction ,since early #aiff1 ,yale and ,,ibm ,research have been engaged in a joint study in the application of computers to nuclear-data acquisition4 ,the main goal was the production of an integrated hardware-software system which is fully under the control of the experimenter in the sense that he can define his entire data acquisition and analysis process with a ,fortran program4 ,the joint study may be divided into four areas3 7#a7 ,development of a suitable general and powerful data-acquisition interface and control unit 7front end7 with a set of compatible nuclear instrumentation modules 7scalers1 ,,adc's1 and general-purpose input registers74 7#b7 ,development of a suitable display system4 7#c7 ,development of a data-acquisition language 7as an extension to ,fortran7 and the necessary library routines to support this language4 7#d7 ,development of a general-purpose multiprogramming system for the selected computer 7the ,,ibm ,system_/#cfj1 ,model #dd7 into which the data-acquisition system could be incorporated4 ,the first three areas became operational in ,july #aifg1 within three months after delivery of the computer1 using the standard batch programming system for the #cfj_/dd as a basis4 ,development continues on the multiprogramming system1 which has now reached a state where users inexperienced in using the system can compile and execute ,fortran programs1 but the data-acquisition components are not yet operational4 #b4 ,description of the ,system ,nuclear data are input by means of a general-purpose nuclear-data-acquisition interface and control unit1 organized around the concept of an event1 an occurrence in the real world which causes the outputs of a group of instruments selected by the user to be read into computer memory4 ,sixteen independent events are provided for1 with each of which may be associated any or all of #cj different instruments 7scalers1 ,,adc's1 or general-purpose monitor registers7 by means of a diode plug board matrix4 ,the instruments themselves1 also designed and built by ,,ibm1 are modular and completely interchangeable and enable the experimenter to configure his experiment in any way desired1 i4e41 to determine not only which instruments are to be read but also in what order4 ,exclusion logic is provided to prevent processing of certain events if and when other defined events occur simultaneously 7,figure #g74 ,the cathode-ray-tube display unit provides a #ajbd x #ajbd point plotting oscilloscope with seven levels of intensity1 character-generation hardware1 a light pen1 and a programmed function keyboard1 by means of which the user can call in programs by pushing buttons4 ,such programs can perform any function from changing displays gains to curve-fitting4 ,they may be system-supplied or user-written and may be 7and usually are7 written ,fortran4 ,a parallel1 high-resolution photographic system permits computer assembly of publication quality illustrations4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #g ,block diagram of the ,,ibm #cfj_/dd system at ,yale4 ,the data-acquisition and display-programming system is composed of a group of subroutines which may be called from ,fortran programs for performing the various processes in data acquisition and display4 ,for this purpose1 a considerable number of additional statements have been added to the ,fortran language4 ,these statements perform such functions as defining multidimensional pulse-height analyzers in the computer memory1 performing pulse-height analysis using incoming data as channel numbers1 and defining separate programs to process each of the #af classes of input events4 ,all the special statements that make up the new data-acquisition language are implemented by means of a preprocessor which converts them into ,fortran coding1 which the standard #cfj_/dd ,fortran compiler then processes4 #c4 ,software ,system ,the general-purpose multiprogramming operating system is a multilevel priority system designed to provide access to the system simultaneously by an1 in principle1 unlimited number of users1 each with unique priority4 ,unlimited means that there is no arbitrary restriction on the number of users2 the nth user can always get access if the facilities his particular job requires are not already in use4 ,two types of user are recognized by the system3 ,the basic unit of execution is the logical user1 or task4 ,each logical user has a unique priority level4 ,switching between users is carried out as a response to ,i_/,o1 timer1 or external interrupts1 at which time the highest priority user in a position to execute gains control of the central processor4 ,the basic unit of memory protection is the physical user1 composed of one or more logical users engaged in a common cause4 ,physical users correspond to real people doing independent work simultaneously4 ,by dividing his work up among a group of logical users1 a person may take advantage of the parallel processing capabilities of the system in a natural way4 ,since logical users within a physical user are not memory-protected against each other1 they may communicate rapidly1 at full machine speed4 ,communication between different physical users is also possible1 via real or simulated ,i_/,o devices4 ,while this system by no means guarantees execution time to any but the highest priority user1 it is adequate in a single-experiment environment4 ,the assumption is that the experimenter1 who has actual control of the computer at all times1 loads his logical users in the order in which he requires their priorities4 ,following this1 other users load their jobs1 getting whatever memory and ,i_/,o facilities remain4 ,the amount of processor time available to the other users varies inversely with the experimenter's counting rate and the amount of processing he does on his data4 ,in most experiments1 the experimenter uses significantly less than #ej percent of the processor time simply because those experiments requiring the sophistication of the computer also have rather low counting rates4 ,a priori1 it is estimated that the simple priority algorithm described above is not only adequate but pays a dividend in terms of reduced system overhead time as compared to a more elaborate algorithm4 ,it also guarantees that no data will be lost due to the lower priority users being in the machine4 ,in general the new system will provide all the facilities of #dd,,ps within the multiprogramming framework1 including execution of the ,fortran compiler simultaneously with data acquisition4 ,,table #d ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,the ,basic ,system ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,,cpu3 with #abhk-byte memory1 #a-sec registers1 external interrupts1 floating point1 one high-speed multiplex channel1 one low-speed multiplex channel1 and one single-disk storage drive #bia1bhj4jj ----------- ,standard ,i_/,o gear3 one #bdjc-,v tape drive and control1 #bgja data adapter for front end1 #addb card reader_/punch1 #addc printer1 #ahbg data control unit1 four disk cartridges #afd1bei4jj ---------- ,data-acquisition and display subsystem,c3 ,display system 7,,rpq on #ahbg7 with function keyboard and light pen #ai1jjj4jj #bigb-,,vii ,scientific ,interface and ,control ,unit 7front end7 #dj1jjj4jj #f ,le,croy model #aeg,m general-purpose registers and ,,adc interface to #bigb1 as designed for ,maryland #e1iej4jj #b ,le,croy model #aej;,b scaler banks 7each contains eight #ae-;bit scalers with separate inhibit1 strobe1 and reset1 as modified for ,maryland7 #c1ijj4jj #b ,le,croy interfaces to connect model #aej;,b to #bigb #b1jjj4jj #d ,northern ,scientific #djif-;channel ,,adc's #h1hjj4jj ---------- ,data-acquisition and display subtotal #gi1fej4jj ,,total #ece1ahi4jj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,c ,as previously stated1 the data-acquisition and display subsystem intalled at ,yale is the laboratory prototype of the ,,ibm equipment1 for which ,yale paid only a nominal sum4 ,,table #e ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,additional ,items ,needed to ,make a ,system ,identical to the ,yale ,system ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,,cpu and peripherals3 additional high-speed multiplex channel with extra subchannel1 high-speed 7#a_/d sec7 general registers1 additional single-disk storage drive1 memory protect1 additional tape drive 7#bdj;,,iv71,d #afbg 7,calcomp7 plotter and adapter1 keypunch1 six additional disk cartridges #aad1caf4jj ,data-acquisition subsystem #b additional ,northern ,scientific #dk ,,adc's #d1djj4jj #b additional ,le,croy #aeg,m registers #a1djj4jj ---------- ,costs of extras #abj1aaf4jj ,grand total for basic system #ece1ahi4jj ---------- ,cost to copy the ,yale system ,,total #fee1cje4jj ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,d ,about #bj1jjj can be saved on tape drives by using the slowest ones 7#cjk bytes_/sec7 rather than the #abjk bytes_/sec units shown here4 #d4 ,costs ,to the laboratory interested in developing a system of the magnitude of the ,yale system1 but not a copy1 it must be reiterated that neither ,yale's out-of-pocket costs nor the cost of copying the system represents the total cost of development4 ,,ibm's development costs are not known1 but they may be assumed to be very large4 ,from ,,ibm's viewpoint1 the ,,adc and scaler project is the least successful part of the whole project4 ,although those instruments are technically excellent1 ,,ibm is either unwilling or unable to sell them at a price competitive with the costs of front-end and interface equipment available from the traditional nuclear instrument manufacturers4 ,however1 ,,adc's and scalers available from the traditional sources can easily be interfaced to the front end 7whose price is in keeping with its power and versatility74 ,the ,university of ,maryland has followed this procedure4 ,we therefore present the cost of copying the ,yale system by some other laboratory4 ,in ,tables #d and #e following the example of ,maryland1 we have not selected ,,ibm ,,adc's and scalers but rather less expensive components from traditional manufacturers1 together with suitable adapters available commercially4 ,the prices shown are to be considered strictly reference numbers and in no way constitute price quotations4 #e4 ,general ,comments on ,experience with the ,system ,starting by producing an operational data-acquisition software system running within the standard batch programming system for the #cfj_/dd enabled the system to become operational within three months of the delivery of the computer4 ,this not only enabled it to do useful work almost immediately but also enabled important experience to be gained which is being applied to the development of the multiprogrammed version4 ,one of the main lessons so far is that a batch-oriented system barely begins to tap the real-time potentials of a computer such as the #cfj_/dd4 ,in a batch system1 whatever analysis is needed during data acquisition must be somehow tied to the processing of events4 ,if this is not possible1 it is necessary to stop data acquisition in order to do analysis even though1 on a millisecond time scale1 plenty of ,,cpu time is available during acquisition4 ,multiprogramming software is necessary in order to utilize this available time4 ,this means that multiprogramming not only makes the machine available to several people at a time1 but1 more important1 it makes large amounts of parallel processing power available to the experimenter4 ,it has also been shown quite conclusively that the ability of the physicist to program his own experiment 7in ,fortran7 gives him enormous power1 power which simply would not be available on a suitable time scale if he has to queue up for the services of a system programmer4 ,while the generalized event structure gives the experimenter considerable ability to deal with complex experimental situations1 it has an overhead associated with it which limits it to about #ejjj events per second4 ,this is1 of course1 adequate for all experiments that demand such an event structure4 ,for simple pulse-height analysis1 it is unnecessary overhead1 but it can be turned off in a trivial way1 by simply defining the completion of filling of the buffer as an event and calling a special pulse-height-analysis program to process the entire buffer1 bypassing the event sorting4 ,this allows for close to #ajj1jjj pulse-height analyses per second4 ,there are1 however1 few situations that justify using a computer as powerful as the #cfj_/dd in a manner just described 7i4e41 doing nothing but simple addition #ajj1jjj times per second74 ,therefore1 such simple experiments will shortly be handled by means of a link between an existing multichannel analyzer and the computer4 ,the system does not suffer from having the front end directly connected to the #cfj_/dd4 ,the data channel on the #cfj_/dd is sufficiently sophisticated so that it performs all the functions that one might relegate to a small ,,cpu placed between the front end and the #cfj_/dd1 without any interference with the program currently running in the ,,cpu4 ,the one application described above1 which does warrant a separate processor1 is handled best by attaching the processor to a separate input port rather than by placing it between the front end and the computer4 ,this enables it to do its intended job without acting as a bottleneck in jobs requiring the power of the front end4 ,it also1 incidentally1 will function as a completely separate data input terminal if two simultaneous terminals should ever be required4 ,the particular display system employed has worked very well4 ,because the display list is in the main memory of the computer1 programming of light-pen and other manipulative actions is extremely easy1 but at the price of large amounts of memory being tied up4 ,it is clear that the system cannot support two such terminals if they are to be truly independent of each other4 ,it is equally clear that the display is as useful in data analysis as it is in data acquisition4 ,a second display terminal is therefore being added4 ,the selected unit 7built by ,computer ,displays1 ,inc47 is oriented around the ,tektronix #faa storage oscilloscope4 ,it provides both alphameric and graphic display1 as well as an interactive device 7a cursor moved by means of a joystick7 for a price of #hjjj to #ab1jjj plus the cost of interfacing to the computer4 ,f4 ,,multiple-,,computer ,,systems #a4 ,introduction ,at the ,rutgers-,bell 7,,rb7 nuclear physics laboratory1 work has been done with two different two-,,cpu systems4 ,the first of these represented essentially two duplicate processors 7,figure #h71 and the second1 now in the process of implementation1 two processors of different size and capability 7,figure #i74 ,while full data are not yet available on the actual performance of the second system1 an outline of the experience to date will be given4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #h ,the two-central-processor system of ,rutgers-,bell4 #b4 ,two ,equivalent ,processors ,the initial success of the original ,,rb ,,sds #iaj data-acquisition system was soon tempered by a result of its popularity3 during most experiments the computer was unavailable for program development or data analysis4 ,since most experiments required the use of displays and light pens in at least one stage of data analysis1 the computer center could not handle the work4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #i ,the new ,rutgers-,bell ,sigma #b-,sigma #e system4 ,the solution adopted was to acquire another computer with the same instruction set 7an ,,sds #ibe7 and to provide switches such that the line printer1 card reader1 and plotter could be run from either computer4 ,no provision was made for direct transfer of data from one computer to the other4 #c4 ,lessons from ,operating ,experience ,in practice this system worked out quite well4 ,there was complete interchangeability of programs from the #iaj to the #ibe1 which differed only in being five times faster4 ,normally the switchable peripherals were run from the #ibe2 when the group taking data wished to print or plot current spectra1 they consulted with the #ibe users1 then used the peripherals with little more difficulty than permanently attached units would have involved4 ,a further advantage of the switchable peripherals1 in addition to the cost saving1 was that the experiments associated with the #iaj could proceed while the peripherals were being serviced4 ,the #iaj is exceedingly reliable1 averaging less that one main frame failure per year1 and the #ibe is nearly as reliable4 ,the vast majority of service calls have been occasioned by the peripherals and have competed with data analysis but not with accelerator utilization4 ,in addition to the switched peripherals1 both computers were equipped with two magnetic tape transports1 electric typewriter1 and high-speed paper-tape reader and punch4 ,while these units were also subject to downtime1 the paper-tape system and the typewriter could be exchanged between the #iaj and #ibe4 ,only the magnetic-tape transports required the use of the #iaj ,,cpu during servicing1 and the presence of two transports has usually meant that the second one could carry the load until the weekly accelerator maintenance period4 ,while the reliability record of the central processors has been excellent1 that of many of the peripherals has not4 ,here is an excellent justification for renting computing equipment3 if units do not work well1 they can be returned4 ,for a time1 a low-cost card reader 7#ajj cards per minute7 built by ,,ncr for ,,sds was used4 ,it was unacceptable in reliability and was replaced by the ,univac reader which came with the #ibe4 ,another unit returned was a cartridge magnetic-tape system built by ,,sds4 ,the ,ampex ,,tm-#d magnetic-tape transports on both the #iaj and #ibe have been consistently poor in reliability1 but no other unit has been available to replace them4 ,a manufacturer's name does not seem to be a guarantee of good or bad quality--the line printer1 also made by ,,ncr1 has been excellent both in reliability and print quality4 #d4 ,limitations on a ,twin-,computer ,system ,while the two-computer system generally rated high in user satisfaction1 considerations of performance have led to the design of a larger and more powerful system with totally new components4 ,the #ibe1 without wired multiplication or floating-point operations1 was too slow for theoretical computation or for many types of data analysis such as those using ,monte ,carlo methods4 ,interactive methods of analysis1 using a display and light pen1 have been found very effective in the cases where the #ibe could accommodate them but have not been available through either the ,bell ,laboratories or ,rutgers computer centers4 ,a further limitation on the earlier system was that only one person could use the #ibe at a time4 ,the generation of a display involved the full time of the ,,cpu1 and while multiprogramming might have been able to divert some ,,cpu time1 the #hk memory size did not permit it4 ,data acquisition on the #iaj was limited in array size to the capacity of the core memory4 ,for multiparameter experiments1 three1 six1 or even twelve #djif-;channel arrays have been stored in core1 but the advantages of live display available with core storage have discouraged anyone from handling large arrays by logging raw data on magnetic tape for analysis later4 ,memory expansion would have been desirable1 but the necessity of making the expansion on both the #iaj and the #ibe effectively doubled the cost4 ,limited flexibility1 then1 is a major drawback of this type of system4 ,as long as only two users needed to be accommodated1 and each could adapt to exactly half of the total core storage1 it was satisfactory and provided redundant facilities to guard against experiment downtime due to computer failures4 #e4 ,new ,directions ,in ordering a new computer powerful enough to handle most of the nuclear physics laboratory's data analysis and theoretical computing tasks1 cost ruled out the acquisition of a pair of program-compatible computers4 ,it was recognized that desirable features of the original system would have to be obtained in new ways4 ,accessibility of the system for programming could be improved by running a simple time-sharing monitor on it4 ,reliability could be enhanced by avoiding bargain peripherals and using only items of demonstrated high quality and by the capability of running the peripherals on either computer4 ,the use of a separate ,,cpu for data collection still seemed particularly desirable1 however4 ,a combination of a large 7by present standards7 computer with a powerful small computer as a front end was designed4 ,it includes a display disk for refreshing displays without ,,cpu attention1 as well as for storing data arrays too large to be kept in core4 ,the computers selected were a #cbk1 #cb-;bit ,,sds ,sigma #e and a #abk1 #af-;bit ,sigma #b4 ,the new system1 with separate and nonequivalent computers1 will have advantages over the old system in data analysis and general computation1 because these will be done on the larger computer1 either in time sharing or batch mode4 ,time sharing should enhance the flexibility of the system by making it easier to generate and debug new programs1 in addition to improving the accessibility4 ,for the data-collection computer1 ,,rb will lose the advantage of a separate computer on which complete debugging of programs may be done4 ,this loss can be tolerated since the fraction of the load carried by the ,sigma #b will be less than that carried by the #iaj in the old system4 ,in the old system1 very few distinct data input or display programs were written4 ,a few subroutines and their calling parameters sufficed for all needs for six years2 the logic and ,i_/,o operations unique to each experiment were written in ,fortran by the experimenters4 ,in the new system1 the ,sigma #b will be concerned with the operations used in the data acquisition and formating of displays2 most of the rest can be left in the ,sigma #e1 with routines sent over to the ,sigma #b under the time-sharing system4 ,if the user should prefer1 he can operate the ,sigma #b directly and make use of the ,sigma #e only for data storage4 ,until very recently1 program development on the ,sigma #b has been slow because it lacked means of getting program listings quickly4 ,we have now developed an assembler for the ,sigma #b which runs on the ,sigma #e4 ,the availability of card reader input and line printer output has greatly speeded ,sigma #b software development4 ,the loading of ,sigma #b programs is also much more convenient1 since they can be stored on the ,sigma #e disk and loaded exactly as ,sigma #e programs4 ,it seems highly desirable to have an assembler for any small data-acquisition computer capable of running on another machine2 the means of transporting the object code to the small computer is of less importance4 ,the reliability of the new equipment has been excellent4 ,only the card reader has had any downtime of consequence1 and modifications seem to have resolved its problems4 ,the ,sigma #e main frame has had no failures in #ab months1 and the ,sigma #b has had only one in the past year4 ,if this record continues1 the loss of the redundancy inherent in the old #iaj_/ibe system will not have any serious effects4 #f4 ,computer-,independent ,data ,bus ,system ,one component of the new system is taking on an increasingly important role1 although it had not been a part of the original planning4 ,that is the computer-independent data bus consisting of system controller1 bin controller1 and register units4 ,only the system controller is specific to a particular computer2 moreover the same system controller design could be used on both the ,sigma #b and ,sigma #e by restricting the data path to #af bits4 ,the register units are used to interface external devices to the computer quite cheaply2 a typical register used here to interface an existing ,calcomp plotter to the new computers costs about #cjj in parts and labor4 ,similar units are used to interface the ,sigma #e to the ,sigma #b and to the #iaj1 to drive a temporary core-resident display on the ,sigma #e1 to read pushbutton inputs1 and to read ,,adc's4 ,the display disk controller now under construction uses these registers to furnish control information1 although the data go directly to and from the core4 ,at the present time1 the registers are read and written under program interrupt control1 but the design is not limited to program-controlled operation4 ,by substituting a controller designed to operate automatically 7directly to core or to the ,i_/,o processor7 speeds approaching #a or #b sec per word transferred could be obtained4 ,such interfaces have been built for various computers using the ,european ,,camac bus system1 which is conceptually similar4 ,the system is highly modular and is built into ,,nim bins with modified back connectors4 ,exchange of modular units has been very helpful in debugging the system1 and presumably it will also be helpful in case of failures in operation4 ,this is a much more satisfactory situation than that which was obtained with the ,,adc interface on which ,,rb collaborated with ,brookhaven4 ,the latter unit was built with computer-type construction3 commercial logic cards and wire-wrapped back panel4 ,debugging of that unit was exceedingly laborious because of the lack of modularity in its components4 ,the computer-independent bus system has not been expensive in manpower4 ,it has required about #i man-months in design and debugging and somewhat less time in construction4 ,the registers cost about #cjj1 as mentioned1 and the controllers #aejj to #bjjj depending on the need for cable drivers4 #g4 ,costs ,the costs of the ,,rb multiple-computer system are given in ,table #f4 ,the figures are approximate and not the result of detailed accounting4 ,,table #f ,systems ,costs of ,rutgers-,bell ,multiple-,computer ,system ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- a4 ,original #iaj_/ibe system ,systems_/programming #a man-year ,interface design #iaj #f man-months #ibe #c man-months ,interface construction #iaj #ae1jjj including display #ibe #aa1jjj ,computer costs #iaj #c1ejj_/month2 bought with rental allowance for #eh1jjj #ibe #d1hjj_/month2 including line printer and card reader ,maintenance and updating #iaj #a man-year1 over #f years b4 ,new system 7including some components not yet acquired7 ,planning and expediting #a - #a_/b man-years ,systems programming #c man-years to date1 #b more expected ,,adc interface ,engineering design #bj1jjj ,construction and test #i1jjj spent outside ,parts #aa1jjj ,time spent locally #i man-months ,data bus system ,parts #e1jjj ,design and debug #i man-months ,construction #f man-months ,display disk system ,disk with #fd heads and amplifiers #bd1jjj ,interface to ,sigma #e1 ,sigma #b1 and displays #aj1jjj 7estimated1 since design is not complete7 #d #ad-;in4 displays with analog rotators and light pens #ab1jjj ,three teletypes #e1jjj ,miscellaneous technical work #a man-year ,computer costs ,sigma #b #ej1jjj ,sigma #e #ddj1jjj purchase equivalent1 but part is leased ,,totals ,,for ,,new ,,system ,,cash ,,costs #ehf1jjj ,,time #h man-years professional #c man-years technician ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,g4 ,a ,,process-,,control ,,system3 ,,the ,,brookhaven ,,multiple ,,spectrometer ,,control ,,system 7,,mscs7 #a4 ,introduction ,in #aife1 a system based on an ,,sds #ibj computer was put into operation at the ,brookhaven ,national ,laboratory to control data-acquisition processes involving eight neutron spectrometers and one x-ray spectrometer4 ,the neutron spectrometers are located on the floor surrounding the ,high ,flux ,beam ,reactor 7,,hfbr72 the x-ray spectrometer was placed in the same building in order to facilitate linking it to the computer4 ,the system can control the execution of experiments on all nine sets of apparatus simultaneously1 yet each experimenter feels that he is working essentially independently of all other users4 ,the system controls all angular rotations of crystals and counters1 all detector counting1 the data displays1 the input and output operations1 and automatic error responses4 ,it can also perform most of the calculations necessary for real-time guidance of the course of the experiments4 ,for example1 the experimenter can mount a crystal on a goniometer at approximately the correct angular orientation1 then he can specify to the computer where several peaks should be found1 whereupon the computer will direct the execution of a trial experiment to find where the peaks do1 in fact1 occur1 executing least-squares calculations in the process1 after which the error in crystal orientation is known and the angular scales are automatically corrected4 ,in another example1 the computer is given as input information the crystal constants 7unit cell7 and the zone orientation of the crystal on the goniometer and is asked to produce a scanning of a given part of reciprocal space4 ,the computer then calculates where to look1 turns to a correct angle to check the intensity of a central peak1 and performs the other necessary steps1 making many decisions as it controls the execution of the entire experiment4 #b4 ,description of ,system ,when it was first assembled1 the system included only two teletypes1 both located near the computer4 ,early in #aifi1 a communications network was added to permit the installation of a local1 assigned typewriter at each of the nine spectrometer stations1 as well as three assignable remote teletypes located in the ,chemistry and ,physics buildings4 ,this network incorporates a ,varian #fbj;i computer4 ,it permits any ordinary operation to be carried out from any of the #ab remote stations1 except program loading1 which still must be done via the high-speed paper-tape reader at the computer4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #aj ,the multiple-spectrometer control system at ,brookhaven ,national ,laboratory4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #aa ,block diagram of a single-spectrometer control station of the ,,mscs shown in ,figure #aj4 ,from ,d4 ,r4 ,beaucage1 ,m4 ,a4 ,kelley1 ,d4 ,ophir1 ,s4 ,rankowitz1 ,r4 ,j4 ,spinrad1 and ,r4 ,van ,norton1 ,nucl4 ,instrum4 ,methods #dj1 #bf 7#aiff74 ,the major parts of the system 7,figure #aj7 are the ,,sds #ibj computer with a #afk1 #bd-;bit memory1 a bulk storage memory section comprising two magnetic tapes units and one #cb1jaj-word drum1 the communication network1 and the nine local control stations 7,,scs7 at the spectrometers4 ,each ,,scs 7,figure #aa7 contains the stepping motors required for computer control of angular rotations of crystals and counters1 together with shaft rotation encoders 7optional1 incremental type7 to feed information back to the computer4 ,each ,,scs also includes manual controls1 the electronic counters associated with the radiation detectors1 counter displays1 a decoding and control section1 and other related equipment4 #c4 ,lessons from ,operating ,experience a4 ,the system now does all things imagined to be necessary4 b4 ,the computer has proved to be remarkably reliable1 with a record of about #dj1jjj hours of use without a breakdown4 c4 ,a reasonable amount of preventive maintenance is done1 mostly during the one week of four that the reactor is shut down4 d4 ,one person serves as operator and programmer 7for simple jobs74 ,he also transports magnetic tapes to the computing center for off-line data processing and performs smaller tasks4 ,the average user does not need to do any programming4 e4 ,fortunately1 the people who have written most of the programs have remained in attendance and have updated the programs frequently4 ,machine-language programming has not proved to be a bad chore because the system is a fixed-hardware setup4 f4 ,modes of data collection can easily be changed4 g4 ,the overall performance is excellent4 ,the only problem is an occasional wiping out of a program due to the fact that there is no hardware memory-protection feature in the computer4 ,these accidents are estimated to cost at most a loss of a few percent of the running time4 #d4 ,costs ,the costs in manpower and dollars of the ,,mscs are given in ,table #g4 ,,table #g ,cost in ,manpower and ,dollars of ,,mscs ---------------------------------------- --------------------- a4 ,engineering ,design and ,costs 7,professional ,only7 over #ab ,calendar ,months ,man-,months ,cost ---------- -------- ,electronic equipment ,development1 design1 construction1 and startup #ae #bh1jjj ,mechanical development and liaison #d #g1jjj ,system coordination1 development1 design1 coding1 etc4 #cj #ef1jjj ,parameter generating1 data analysis1 and programming #ae #bh1jjj ---- -------- ,,total #fd #aai1jjj b4 ,construction ,time and ,costs 7,technical7 over #af ,calendar ,months ,man-,months ,cost ---------- -------- ,system construction and interconnection #ae #ag1jjj ,debugging and startup #f #g1jjj ,documentation and drafting #ab #ad1jjj ---- -------- ,,total #cc #ch1jjj c4 ,major ,components ,cost ---------- ,original cost ,,sds #ibj 7#afk mem41 #if interrupts7 #adg1jjj #ae-kc mag4 tape and controller #bj1jjj #a add'l4 #ae-kc tape #ae1jjj ,magnetic drum memory #cf1jjj #i ,spectrometer control stations #hf1jjj ,off-line paper-tape pre4 unit #e1jjj ---------- ,,total #cji1jjj ,replacement3 ,the major components of the ,,mscs cannot be replaced by new line units as they are no longer in production4 d4 ,operating ,costs ,normal use ,per ,year --------- ,computer operator_/programmer #aa1jjj ,computer maintenance #ab1jjj ,materials #d1jjj ,misc4 7minor system improvements7 #aj1jjj ,overhead #e1gjj --------- ,,total #db1gjj ,manpower required ,computer operator_/programmer #a ,systems programmer 7as required7 #a ,maintenance personnel 7part-time7 #b ,note3 ,all manpower with the exception of the on-call systems programmer has been costed in a above4 e4 ,,mscs ,communications ,network ,the ,communications ,network adjunct to the ,,mscs was started ,october #aifg1 and it became operational early in #aifi4 ,man- ,calendar ,cost ,months ,months ------- ------ -------- #a4 ,engineering design and programming #be1jjj #aj #ab #b4 ,components 7commercially available7 #ej1jjj - - #c4 ,construction #f1jjj #d4b #g ------------------------ ,,totals #ha1jjj #ad4b #ai ---------------------------------------- --------------------- ,h4 ,,relationship ,,to ,a ,,remote ,,computing ,,center #a4 ,the ,small ,computer with a ,fast ,data ,link to a ,remote ,general ,computing ,facility ,although the use of a small data-acquisition and experiment-control computer on-line to a remote computing center machine is not uncommon in high-energy particle physics applications1 we know of few such systems presently operating in low-energy nuclear physics4 ,for the purposes of this discussion1 we define general computing facility to be a relatively large-scale centralized installation charged with the responsibility of servicing a wide range of computing needs4 ,the typical university computing center is our model for such a facility4 ,in light of the fact that only a few years back the remote computer on-line to a general computing facility was considered to be the wave of the future1 with plans for such systems under vigorous discussion at many low-energy physics installations1 it is at first sight surprising that there is so little progress to report at this time4 ,the ,van de ,graaff accelerator laboratory at the ,state ,university of ,new ,york at ,stony ,brook was one such facility planning to couple a ,,pdp-#i on hand to an ,,ibm ,system #cfj_/fg available at the university computing center4 ,it is instructive to examine what happened there4 ,in #aifg1 with the completion of the new accelerator scheduled within a year1 it was decided that the best way to acquire the desired power and flexibility in computing support was through a coupled system of the kind under discussion4 ,plans were formulated for a high-speed transmission line to a control unit on a selector channel at the computer center4 ,since true time-sharing of the ,system #cfj_/fg was not in the offing1 a #abhk-byte partition of high-speed core storage was to be permanently dedicated to the needs of experimental physics 7including the particle-physics group71 and a high-speed program-swapping drum and at least one tape drive were to be assigned to the physics users as well4 ,what actually happened was that as funds became available to the low-energy physics group to implement its share of the remote link to the computer center1 sentiment shifted to the point of view that the funds could more usefully be invested in a second ,,pdp-#i installed at the accelerator1 and the second small-to-intermediate class computer was in fact purchased4 ,the two ,,pdp-#i's are coupled only by a switchable tape drive1 with no plans at present for direct channel-to-channel communication4 ,plans for a remote link to the computing center have been completely dropped2 any further funds for computing will be invested in larger high-speed core stores for the ,,pdp-#i's1 at least in the foreseeable future4 ,conversations with the principals involved in the operation of the ,stony ,brook low-energy physics facility fail to yield a clear and uniform explanation of the change in computing outlook4 ,one cannot escape the impression that the group was not wildly enthusiastic about the proposed remote linkup in the first place1 and that the evident immediate benefits to the group of a second ,,pdp-#i on hand for program debugging and experiment setup while the second machine was running an experiment were irresistible when compared to the future promise of a remote link to the ,,ibm #cfj_/fg4 ,the physicists were not anxious to undertake what was expected to be a substantial systems program development task for the coupled system1 being unconvinced that the result would be worth the effort4 ,while they still wish to increase the computing power available to them on-site1 they have elected to achieve that end by expanding high-speed core storage on their machines1 at least until true time-sharing becomes available at the central computing facility4 ,the coupled system at the ,university of ,manitoba cyclotron is representative of what was intended at ,stony ,brook4 ,at that installation1 the ,,pdp-#i is linked to the computing center's ,,ibm #cfj_/fe by a control unit commercially available from ,,dec for about #ae1jjj4 ,the unit connects the ,,pdp-#i 7or its successor1 the ,,pdp-#ae7 directly to a ,system #cfj selector channel1 without requiring an additional control unit4 ,the maximum data-transfer rate at ,manitoba over a #bjjj-;foot twisted pair cable is #ejk bytes_/sec4 ,a relatively unsophisticated set of system programs has been written to control communication and transfer of data between the two computers4 ,the only experiment to which the coupled system 7as distinct from the stand-alone use of the ,,pdp-#i7 has been applied is a p-p bremsstrahlung measurement1 where the data are developed in wire spark chambers and plastic scintillation counters4 ,information from the wire chambers defines proton trajectories1 and pulse heights from the counters determine their energies4 ,the ,,pdp-#i first tries to reconstruct a vertex from the proton trajectories4 ,if a point of origin can be determined for the protons to the required accuracy1 the relevant coordinates for the proton trajectories and the pulse heights are sent to the ,,ibm #cfj_/fe for full kinematic and statistical analysis of the individual event2 otherwise1 the event is rejected4 ,the large computer also prepares displays and plots of physical interest that are returned to the ,,pdp-#i for display on the local ,,crt or output on the local x-y plotter4 ,the remote computer operates in a multiprogramming rather than in a time-shared environment1 with an assigned partition of #fek bytes4 ,because of the well-designed program overlay feature of the #cfj_/fe operating system1 the ,manitoba group does not find itself restricted by this relatively small partition4 ,because of other demands on the computing center1 however1 they are restricted in the use of this partition to #af hours_/day and #e days_/week4 ,the operation of the coupled system is controlled almost entirely from the ,,pdp-#i teletype1 with #cfj_/fe operator intervention required only for initial loading of the partition1 off-line printout1 and1 of course1 mounting magnetic tapes at the computing center4 ,users of the ,manitoba system are pleased with the cooperation and service they have received from the computing center thus far1 and they are anticipating no difficulties developing as their demands on the central computing facility increase4 ,but while use of the coupled system for experiments other than that described is clearly possible and desirable1 no information was available on plans for the future4 ,the ,brookhaven on-line remote network 7,brooknet71 where a pair of ,,cdc #ffjj machines sharing a common one million word extended core storage unit may be interfaced over a high-speed channel to as many as #fd remote data-acquisition computers1 can be considered an extreme example of a coupled system4 ,although the software for ,brooknet is reported to be complete and debugged1 the system has not yet begun routine operation1 and the first remote computer intended for low-energy physics application 7a ,,pdp-#ae7 has not yet been delivered4 7,the only ,brooknet user at present is the ,chemistry ,department1 which has a remote batch terminal3 teletype1 card reader1 and printer47 #b4 ,reasons for ,lack of ,popularity ,why has linking data-acquisition computers directly to computing centers not proved as popular as the obvious advantage of having access to an extremely powerful computer would lead one to expect8 ,there are a number of contributing factors3 #a4 ,since the remote computer can be used only if it is in operating condition and if the necessary personnel are present1 the physicist stands to lose some of his independence and flexibility of operation 7often not four-shift operation74 #b4 ,most remote computers operate on a multiprogramming basis1 hence prompt interrupts are not available4 ,the waiting time for attention might typically be several tenths of a second1 therefore the computer in the physics laboratory should be fairly powerful in order to handle the preliminary processing and buffering4 ,with such a computer at work the necessity for fairly rapid access to the large remote machine may entirely disappear1 or else the experimenter may be able to store partly processed data on magnetic tape for subsequent further reduction off-line at the computing center4 #c4 ,the total amount of time available to one user of a shared-time system per day is always limited4 ,the amount of access time guaranteed by the computing center may not be sufficient4 #d4 ,in some cases there is a question of charges1 and the total expense of involvement with the computing center may be comparable over a period of several years with the extra cost of buying a sufficiently large local computer for the laboratory to be able to handle all the essential on-line calculations4 ,even though the calculations may take longer in terms of machine time1 they may not require as much lapsed real time if there are stringent limitations on computer center access time4 ,chapter #c ,a ,,review ,,and ,,analysis ,,of ,,expenditures ,in this chapter we present a review and an analysis of total expenditures for on-line computing in a large number of laboratories supported by the ,atomic ,energy ,commission and the ,national ,science ,foundation through #aifh4 7,appendix ,b gives the background for this economic survey47 ,a4 ,,the ,,nature ,,of ,,the ,,data ,laboratory directors were requested to supply a separate report covering each data-acquisition system currently in use or under construction and1 in addition1 to supply an estimate of anticipated future requirements for the period #aigj-aigd4 ,the high-energy field was excluded4 ,information was also requested on process-control applications1 e4g41 systems to control accelerator operation or to monitor progress and to execute control functions during the course of an experiment4 ,in every case details were to be supplied regarding the nature and capability of the system and its cost in dollars and manpower during the design1 construction1 and operation phases4 ,in all1 #df different systems were reported by #bb different institutions 7listed in ,appendix ,b74 ,berkeley1 ,brookhaven1 and ,oak ,ridge together reported #ba4 ,the various systems range in total cost 7including manpower7 from about #dj1jjj to about #a1jjj1jjj4 ,most are in operation1 but a few are under construction1 and a few others are in the advanced proposal or design stage4 ,plans for #af substantial expansions and proposed expansions of existing systems were also reported4 ,there was a wide range of thoroughness of compliance with the request2 for example1 cost estimates ranged from the most meticulous analyses down to one case where no cost information whatever was supplied4 ,in assessing the reliability and completeness of the data the reviewer concluded that in general the costs of manufactured hardware items such as central processors 7,,cpu's71 line printers1 card readers1 rotating memory devices1 etc4 should be regarded as reasonably accurate1 while estimates of the amount of manpower used1 and its cost1 seemed much less reliable2 in fact1 the manpower item was frequently not covered1 especially in connection with the preparation of systems software4 ,whenever a report was more or less complete1 and there seemed to be a reasonable good basis for doing so1 the reviewer estimated appropriate values for missing items by making use of figures given in more complete reports on similar systems constructed or operated under similar circumstances4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #ab ,breakdown of system for analysis4 ,with regard to labor costs1 government laboratory people seem to be in a much better position to supply figures than are university people4 ,the reviewer got the impression that the university respondents have1 on the average1 a much less clear idea of the dollar value of people's time and a much less clear idea of how to estimate realistically the man-hours consumed by various projects4 ,b4 ,,breakdown ,,of ,,data ,,for ,,analysis ,because of the nature of the data the reviewer separated each system into three parts for the purpose of analysis3 7#a7 the data-acquisition central processor 7,,cpu72 7#b7 the standard computer input-output 7,i_/,o7 devices such as magnetic tapes1 disks1 card readers1 printers2 7#c7 the complete data-acquisition subsystem 7,,das74 7,see ,figure #ab47 ,this breakdown has the advantage that the costs of the first two parts of the system are usually fairly accurately known4 ,the cost of the ,,das includes the price of all manufactured units closely involved in its assembly1 including scalers1 ,,adc's1 pulse-height analyzers1 and the like 7but not detection equipment71 together with the expenses associated with all special construction1 including engineering1 fabrication1 and parts4 ,all engineering and fabrication costs associated with the entire system can logically be charged against the ,,das1 because the ,,cpu and ,i_/,o parts1 being assembled from standard manufactured items1 generally are installed by the manufacturer without much effort or expense on the part of the laboratory personnel4 ,questions occasionally arose in connection with the assignment of the cost of interfacing the ,,das to the ,,cpu4 ,such costs were assigned to the ,,das when the units involved were of a custom-built nature and to the ,,cpu when they were manufacturer's items incorporated in the computer frame4 ,the very wide range of types of data-acquisition equipment in use necessarily contributes to the spread in ,,das costs4 ,although a number of items of uncertain costs are lumped together in this definition of the ,,das1 the procedure adopted is believed to have led to a valuable overall picture of the pattern of expenditures4 ,,table #h ,types of ,computers ,used in the ,systems ,reported ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,type ,number ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,asi #baj #a ,,asi #bajj #b 7#c7 ,,cdc #afj;,a #b ,,cdc #cajj #a 7#c7 ,,ddp #aaf #a ,,ddp #abd #a 7#b7 ,,emr #fjej #a ,,emr #facj #a 7#b7 ,,ibm #ahjj #b ,,ibm #cfj_/dd #b ,,ibm #gjid #a 7#e7 ,,pdp-#d #b ,,pdp-#e #a ,,pdp-#f #a ,,pdp-#g1 #g;,a #f ,,pdp-#h1 #h;,i #h 7#bd7 ,,pdp-#i #f ,,scc #ffj #a 7#a7 ,,sds ,,sigma #b #a ,,sds ,,sigma #e #a ,,sds ,,sigma #g #b ,,sds #iaj #a 7#h7 ,,sds #ibj #a ,,sds #ibe #a ,,sds #icj #a ,,sel #haj;,b #b ,,sel #hdj;,a #a 7#c7 ,varian #fbj;,i #b 7#b7 --- ,,total #ec ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,a fourth item of importance in the analysis is the cost of system software programming4 ,this is almost entirely a manpower item1 assuming that program testing and debugging can be carried out without charge for the computer time involved4 ,here there is considerable uncertainty in the estimates1 especially with respect to university installations as well as systems which have been in operation for a long time1 e4g41 the large system at ,argonne4 ,the total cost of a system is taken to be the sum of the four items listed above1 namely1 the ,,cpu1 the standard ,i_/,o system1 the ,,das1 and the system software expenditures4 ,in all likelihood the total costs tend to be too small rather than too large because of incomplete assignments of charges of various sorts1 especially manpower4 ,in many cases the totals seem reliable to #aj or #bj percent1 while in a few others an error of #cj or even #dj percent would not be surprising4 ,c4 ,,types ,,of ,,computers ,table #h gives a listing of the #bg different types of computers incorporated in the systems reported1 together with the number of units of each type mentioned4 ,of the #bg types1 #bd are machines designed with this general sort of application in mind2 the exceptional three are the ,,cdc #afj;,a1 the ,,cdc #cajj1 and the ,,ibm #gjid4 ,evidently1 the ,,pdp machines are the most popular 7#bd units71 followed by ,,sds types 7#h units71 and ,,ibm types 7#e units74 ,d4 ,,some ,,total ,,costs ,of the #df system reports1 #ce were sufficiently complete to be useful in a detailed analysis4 ,a histogram showing the distribution of these in total cost is given in ,figure #ac4 ,one immediately sees that few systems cost less than #ajj1jjj2 in fact only four were reported in this range4 ,however1 it must be pointed out that information was solicited regarding only those systems which had cost approximately #ej1jjj or more4 ,the most common range is #ajj1jjj to #bjj1jjj1 with #ab examples4 ,the total cost of the system at the ,yale ,van de ,graaff laboratory was not known when the histogram was prepared1 but the hardware is reported to cost about #gej1jjj to duplicate and about #fee1jjj to copy1 so if allowance is made for the cost of developing the software and for other manpower uses the cost would rise substantially4 7,this system is not one of the #ce4 ,the conditions under which the ,yale-,,ibm development are being carried out are so special that manpower costs cannot be assigned on the basis used in other cases4 ,see ,chapter #b1 ,section ,e47 ,illustration3 ,,figure #ac ,histogram showing the distribution of #ce data-acquisition systems in total cost4 ,a breakdown of total costs for the #ce systems is given in ,table #i1 showing separately the total amounts involved in each of the four categories defined above4 ,evidently1 about #fj percent of the cost goes for standard computer hardware1 while about #dj percent goes for special hardware and software required for data acquisition4 ,table #aj shows separately the hardware and labor costs in the ,,das item4 ,evidently1 hardware is twice as expensive as labor in this case1 on the average4 ,,table #i ,summary from #ce ,complete ,reports ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,percentage ,subsystem ,cost of ,total ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,,cpu's with memory and ,,tty #c1icc1jjj #ch4e ,standard peripherals #b1bic1jjj #bb4d ,data-acquisition subsystem #c1jch1jjj #cj4j ,systems software #ica1jjj #i4a ----------- ----- ,,total #aj1aie1jjj #ajj4j ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,,table #aj ,data-,acquisition ,subsystem ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,hardware #b1jbb1jjj ,labor #a1jaf1jjj ---------- ,,total #c1jch1jjj ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,illustration3 ,,figure #ad ,cost of standard peripheral equipment plotted against central processor costs for #cf systems4 ,illustration3 ,,figure #ae ,cost of data-acquisition subsystem plotted against central processor costs for #cf systems4 ,e4 ,,breakdown ,,of ,,costs ,,by ,,systems ,in ,figure #ad the cost of the standard ,i_/,o equipment is shown plotted against the cost of the ,,cpu for #cf different systems4 ,the high point labeled ,t represents a system having many high-speed magnetic tape drives4 ,the low point labeled ,r represents the ,rochester system1 which must be considered unbalanced1 because its only standard ,i_/,o equipment is four ,dectapes1 which should1 perhaps1 have been defined as ,,cpu items1 since they cannot be used for communication with most computing centers4 ,if a line printer and two ,,ibm-compatible tape units were added1 the ,rochester point would have to be raised at least as high as the position ,r'4 ,the straight line shown in ,figure #ad was drawn with a slope of one half4 ,it may perhaps be taken to represent a rough statistical reflection of the collective experience accumulated over the past six years or so regarding the relative costs of ,i_/,o and ,,cpu equipment4 ,in ,figure #ae ,,das costs are plotted against ,,cpu costs for the same #cf systems4 ,here the spread of the points is worse than in the previous case1 as expected for the reasons mentioned earlier4 ,the exceptionally high point labeled ,,pha represents a system with three large pulse-height analyzers1 two of them #bj1jjj-;channel units1 in the ,,das4 ,the straight line shown has the equation y #h4j #j4gx4 ,the overall ,,das cost is #gg percent of the total ,,cpu cost4 ,f4 ,,rotating ,,memory ,,devices ,one magnetic drum unit and #aa disks were reported to be in service 7in eight different laboratories74 ,plans were reported for the installation of six more disk units and one drum 7in five different laboratories74 ,recognition of the importance of rotating memory devices in display applications is evident in the reports4 ,g4 ,,systems ,,on-,,line ,,with ,,computing ,,centers ,two systems were clearly stated to be in successful on-line operation with external computing centers4 7,at least one more example1 at the ,university of ,manitoba1 is known3 there a ,,pdp-#i system is linked to an ,,ibm #cfj_/fe47 ,there are plans in various stages of development to connect nine different data-acquisition systems on-line with computing center machines1 in most cases to operate on a delayed-access basis4 ,h4 ,,anticipated ,,future ,,expenditures ,in cases where updating or enlarging of existing systems was said to be in progress1 the costs reported were usually assigned by the reviewer to the present system1 especially when money for the expansion seemed already available or very likely to become available4 ,in many cases plans were in a less advanced state1 but a fairly definite idea of the amount of money to be requested for expansion or for completely new systems was expressed4 ,table #aa summarizes these anticipated costs4 ,,table #aa ,anticipated ,future ,expenditures ---------------------------------------- -- ,for expansion of systems #c1bhj1jjj ,for additional systems #a1dee1jjj ---------- ,,total #d1gce1jjj ---------------------------------------- -- ,i4 ,,investment ,,in ,,accelerators1 ,,computer ,,systems1 ,,and ,,laboratory ,,budgets ,c4 ,v4 ,smith and ,george ,rogosa have kindly made available approximate ,,aec budget figures for nine typical university laboratories chosen from those which had returned information in response to ,dr4 ,mc,daniels' request4 7,the laboratories are ,colorado1 ,kansas1 ,maryland1 ,minnesota1 ,texas1 ,wisconsin1 ,washington1 ,yale ,linac1 and ,yale ,van de ,graaff47 ,after adding similar information for ,rochester1 it was possible to get a rough idea of the relative capital investments in accelerators and in computer systems and to compare those figures with the annual operating budgets 7for #aifi74 total annual budget ------------------------ #j4cc cost of bare accelerator total computer cost #j4bb #j4jf by averaging ------------------------ #j4bc - separate ratios for each cost of bare accelerator system total computer cost ------------------------ #j4gj total annual budget ,if the ratio of the total computer cost to the annual budget is calculated for each of the ten cases1 and then the results are averaged1 one gets #j4f #j4c4 ,if one quite unusual set of data 7from a laboratory with a small ,,aec budget7 is eliminated the last result becomes #j4ef #j4ba1 while the earlier results remain essentially unaltered4 ,for the same nine examples we find that the average of the ratios of total computer system costs to bare accelerator costs is #j4bb #j4jfb1 thus this ratio is significantly more consistent4 ,it is emphasized that the results given in this paragraph refer only to experience at universities4 ,j4 ,,process-,,control ,,application ,tables #ab and #ac give a summary of present and anticipated process-control applications disclosed by the survey4 ,,table #ab ,current ,process-,control ,applications ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,laboratory ,systems ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,,anl ,van de ,graaff accelerator2 large scattering chamber setup2 x-ray and neutron diffractometers2 automatic plate scanner ,,bnl ,neutron spectrometers2 x-ray and neutron spectrometers1 nine in all ,michigan ,state ,cyclotron shim coils ,,ornl ,slow neutron time-of-flight to measure capture and fission cross sections ,yale ,electron linac and beam optics2 experiments with the linac ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,,table #ac ,future ,process-,control ,applications ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,laboratory ,systems ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,michigan ,state ,control of entire accelerator system ,minnesota ,tandem ,van de ,graaff accelerator and beam transport system ,stanford ,nuclear reaction experiments ,,ucla ,limited control of cyclotron ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,chapter #d ,,summary ,,and ,,recommendations ,,on ,,system ,,planning ,a4 ,,the ,,need ,,for ,,on-,,line ,,computer ,,systems ,the ultimate justification for assembling and using on-line data-acquisition systems must be made in terms of research output4 ,the same considerations underlying judgments on the support of experimental research in other ways must therefore apply to computer systems4 ,some reasons often given for the use of on-line computer systems are these3 #a4 ,modern experiments produce vast quantities of data which can be handled efficiently only by automatic calculating machinery4 ,the experimenter gains greatly in effectiveness when the data are immediately converted into machine language1 reduced by the computer1 and presented to the experimenter in a convenient form4 ,comment3 ,undoubtedly true4 ,fortunately a small system can satisfy this requirement in many cases4 #b4 ,some experiments cannot be done by other means4 ,comment3 ,more likely true in practice than in principle4 #c4 ,investment in a computer system is sometimes sound because it leads to a net reduction in the overall cost of performing experiments1 either by eliminating some of the labor cost1 by reducing the consumption of accelerator time1 or in some other way4 ,comment3 ,true in many cases4 ,making estimates of projected savings is easier in ad hoc cases than in general4 #d4 ,having facilities immediately accessible for calculating nuclear-reaction kinematics1 magnetic analyzer field strengths1 and other phenomena during the course of experiments saves time and promotes efficiency4 ,comment3 ,true1 however1 much of this work can be done ahead of time1 and much of it requires only a relatively short1 simple calculation which can be executed on a medium-sized computer1 sometimes on a small one4 #e4 ,given a sufficiently large computer system in the laboratory1 its use for complicated data reduction and for theoretical calculations may produce an important saving of funds which might otherwise have been spent at the computing center4 ,comment3 ,this point may sometimes be valid1 depending on a number of conditions1 but the installation of a large computer as part of the data-acquisition system essentially on the basis of this argument is questionable1 in view of the excellent facilities offered by modern computing centers4 #f4 ,some expense for the development of computer systems and computer systems methods is justifiable as an investment in methodology4 ,comment3 ,true1 although there is some question about the choice of places where such work should be done and about the correct source of funds to support it4 ,b4 ,,where ,,should ,,large-,,scale ,,calculations ,,be ,,done8 ,at the very outset of planning one should examine very closely the question of the large-scale calculating required in the overall execution of the research program of the laboratory2 then1 if1 as usual1 it turns out that a substantial amount of complex calculating is anticipated1 one should consider carefully the feasibility of planning to do that part of the work at the most readily accessible computer center in the vicinity1 so as to be able to concentrate one's own energies and resources1 especially capital investment1 on the data-acquisition system4 ,the use of a modern computer center offers enormous advantages1 and most computing centers would welcome support4 ,if this course of action is chosen1 provisions must be planned from the start for computer-language communication between the computer center and the nuclear research laboratory via a medium such as magnetic tape4 7,direct wire transmission will often not prove feasible47 ,some key questions are3 #a4 ,how much large-scale computing is anticipated8 #b4 ,how much waiting time for results is tolerable8 #c4 ,can the local computing center handle the needs1 and at what cost8 #d4 ,if the local computing center can handle all the needs1 but only after acquiring certain additional support for equipment or manpower1 might not the better course of action be to provide that support rather than to set up separate facilities8 #e4 ,can setting up a large system truly be justified8 ,have all the extra costs and complexities of the large system been taken into account1 including those associated with input and output devices1 operation1 maintenance1 programming1 management1 and space8 ,c4 ,,exercising ,,economic ,,judgment ,,in ,,planning ,since the ultimate criterion is research output1 the role assigned to a computer system must depend on the nature of the work being planned4 ,in some cases where a very specific use is intended1 for example1 in the case of a process-control application such as the ,argonne plate scanner or an accelerator controller1 the conditions are simple enough to make economic judgment relatively easy to apply4 ,in the case encountered in setting up an accelerator laboratory where a wide variety of experiments is to be performed1 conditions are much more complex4 ,it is now widely accepted that any such laboratory should have a computer system1 but what is not so clear is how extensive and expensive it should be4 ,in other words1 points #a-d in ,b are accepted1 and point #e is conceded possibly to be applicable4 ,if sufficient funds are available1 one sensible way to proceed is to use the accumulated collective experience outlined above4 ,for example1 one can say that experience has shown that the total investment in the computer system will be in reasonable balance with the capital investment in the bare accelerator if the ratio of costs is about one to five4 ,departures from the rule may then be made to adjust to special circumstances4 ,following this procedure means extrapolating from past experience1 which may not prove a good guide1 but this approach is similar to that often used in other matters bearing on the support of research4 ,probability is involved4 ,it should be noted that the actual expenditures for on-line equipment for nuclear research have far exceeded those projected at the ,grossinger ,conference on the ,utilization of ,multiparameter ,analyzers in ,nuclear ,physics in #aifb4 ,in times of economic stringency it may be necessary to take a hard look at points #c-e in ,b above before deciding how large a computer can be justified4 ,a medium-sized computer is sufficient for most data-acquisition demands but not for large-scale calculations of a theoretical nature or for an occasional complicated piece of data reduction4 ,often it will be advisable to plan on carrying out all large calculations at the computing center1 in which case a medium-sized computer will probably suffice for data acquisition1 and a saving of about half in capital investment and operating expenses can be achieved4 ,d4 ,,on ,,the ,,utility ,,of ,,small ,,and ,,medium-,,sized ,,computers ,if economic realities and good judgment should dictate the choice of a smaller system1 the laboratory will still be well off4 ,there is a tendency not to recognize the full capabilities of modern medium-sized and small computers1 which1 given intelligent programming1 are very powerful4 ,although programming is in general expensive1 the return for a modest amount of it in terms of data-acquisition performance may be very impressive4 ,for example1 the use of tables calculated ahead of time1 stored on magnetic tape at the computing center1 and read into the data-acquisition machine along with its control program offers a way to bypass the need for various sorts of calculations which might have been done on-line on a larger system4 ,increased efficiency of data acquisition often comes from the use of such methods1 reflected in increased data-handling rates4 ,e4 ,,growth ,,considerations ,the system planner should try to anticipate a possible future expansion4 ,in the case of a cut-and-dried process-control application it will often be safe to assume that the system will not have to grow1 but recent history shows that in the case of general-purpose systems growth is the rule4 ,in fact1 systems have sometimes had to be replaced by entirely new ones4 ,the system planner must beware of pitfalls4 ,if1 in anticipation of a greater future need1 a much larger ,,cpu is ordered than current use demands1 the anticipated need may not develop4 ,or1 if it happens that the money initially available for capital investment is so limited that it is all exhausted in buying the ,,cpu1 leaving the system badly short of conventional ,i_/,o equipment1 then the system will remain painfully unbalanced until substantial additional funds appear4 ,if those funds do not appear1 the capability of the system will remain far less than the presence of the large ,,cpu would suggest4 7,this is what happened at ,rochester1 where three years after the system was installed there is still no card reader1 line printer1 or conventional magnetic tape drive system2 in fact1 there is no computer-language medium for communication with the ,university of ,rochester ,computing ,center47 ,illustration3 ,,figure #af ,a data-acquisition system based on a medium-sized computer4 ,prices are actual costs for equipment supplied by a well-known manufacturer4 ,this system is powerful enough to satisfy most data-acquisition needs at a typical low-energy accelerator laboratory4 ,the correct strategy to employ in every case should be consistent with the size of the laboratory and with the capabilities of its staff4 ,a laboratory with a small engineering staff and with modest computing needs for the immediate future should certainly not plan to set up a large system4 ,instead it could sensibly begin with a manufacturer-assembled1 trimmed-down version of the ,comparison ,system 7,figure #af71 which could be enlarged later as occasion demanded and funds permitted4 ,f4 ,,short ,,summary ,,of ,,conclusions ,,regarding ,,system ,,planning #a4 ,planning and ,procuring a ,data-,acquisition ,system ,today ,it is no longer necessary to develop one's own system4 ,times have changed greatly4 ,many systems now exist which work well and are worth copying4 ,manufacturers and suppliers are prepared to deliver entire systems assembled and ready to operate1 complete with all the necessary system software and varying amounts of utility software4 ,although it may at first sight seem more economical to assemble a system within the laboratory1 by use of laboratory personnel1 in most cases it is now better to buy the system from a single supplier1 completely installed and operable1 saving one's own resources for matters more directly concerned with research4 ,the costs in time and effort to develop a new computer system have been much larger than predicted1 in almost every case known to the authors4 ,large laboratories having strong engineering staffs are an exception2 outside of industrial plants they are the places where new system development and assembly makes the most sense4 #b4 ,large-,scale ,computations and ,computing ,centers ,in general it is best to plan to do all very large-scale computing jobs 7e4g41 shell model and scattering theory calculations7 at a large computing center and to set up in the laboratory a system which is just large enough to handle comfortably the data-acquisition jobs4 ,usually a medium-sized or small system will suffice4 ,however1 in some circumstances this will not be true4 #c4 ,remote ,large ,computing ,center ,on-,line for ,data ,acquisition ,direct transmission-line coupling to a large1 remote computing center may prove practical for handling occasional low-priority bursts of data processing1 for example1 when one can be satisfied with guaranteed access within about #ajj sec1 say1 and a maximum guaranteed total access duration of no more than a few percent of any day4 ,such a hookup may also be valuable for the handling of data input and output in the remote batch mode of operation1 especially if a card reader 7or high-speed paper tape or storage device7 and a line printer are available for this use1 in the laboratory4 ,however1 there are few if any examples of successful high-priority prompt-interrupt operation4 ,one should be extremely skeptical about the feasibility of relying on this last mode of operation4 #d4 ,buying versus ,renting ,rental rates have typically been set so that if the anticipated use period exceeds about three years1 economic prudence suggests purchasing a computer rather than renting1 providing that the necessary funds for capital investment are available4 ,this can only be true1 of course1 because the life expectancy of modern computers is quite long1 certainly over five years4 7,also1 one hesitates to trade in an old computer for which an excellent software collection exists67 ,the argument against renting standard peripherals is weaker1 because they are electromechanical in nature and therefore have shorter lifetimes2 furthermore1 they tend to become outmoded4 ,renting can be especially attractive in special circumstances4 ,for example1 a line printer can be rented for the early period of operation of a system1 while extensive program development work is in progress1 and returned later1 when the work has been finished4 #e4 ,new ,computer or ,current ,model8 ,computers are rapidly getting better and cheaper4 ,this month's machine is much more powerful than last month's1 dollar for dollar4 ,new machines will always be appealing1 but the prospective purchaser must balance their appeal against considerations of probable delivery date1 software availability1 completeness of documentation for both software and hardware1 and in general the manufacturer's support capability4 ,unfortunately1 these factors usually weigh against a new machine4 ,as a rule1 even a medium-sized system based on a new model machine will not be in full operation for approximately one year after delivery1 unless both the hardware and the software have been tried and proven in a previous installation4 ,on the other hand1 in the case of an older model the same factors may all be favorable1 but now the machine probably gives less computing per dollar1 and the advantage of an early return on the investment must be weighed carefully against the likelihood of somewhat earlier obsolescence4 ,at some time during the life of a computer the manufacturer will very likely cease to support its software and1 usually later1 its hardware4 #f4 ,importance of ,software ,software is all-important1 and it is very expensive to develop1 both in time and money2 hence a system planner should favor a central processor for which a large amount of software is supplied by the manufacturer1 especially system software4 ,in general1 when a particular type of machine has already been delivered to many customers the manufacturer may be relied upon to supply the essential software needed to run a system3 an assembler1 ,i_/,o routines for standard devices1 and usually a ,fortran compiler4 ,the larger machines will be supplied with some sort of operating system 7monitor71 either for batch or time-shared operation4 ,however1 the specialized software needed for data acquisition will usually not be available unless it has already been developed by another user4 ,a laboratory with limited programming resources should therefore give great weight to obtaining a system already provided with all essential software and should direct its own programming efforts to specific data-acquisition problems4 ,contracting with an outside company for development of the specialized software is also possible1 although the cost will probably exceed the salaries of in-house personnel hired to do the same job1 and communication with an outside group is inconvenient4 #g4 ,utility of ,modern ,small ,computers ,many small1 powerful computers are now on the market4 ,they are inexpensive but very reliable4 ,for many data-taking purposes they are quite sufficient1 when equipped with appropriate peripheral devices and an adequate program library4 #h4 ,utility of ,disks and ,drums ,magnetic disk and drum bulk storage devices have also undergone much development recently4 ,many good1 small versions are now on the market at rather low prices4 ,the capabilities of these units must not be overlooked4 ,attaching a modern disk unit to a modern1 small or medium-sized computer produces a powerful but economical combination4 #i4 ,need for ,adequate ,peripheral ,devices ,unless an appropriate set of standard input-output devices is provided1 the computer will not be used efficiently4 ,a balanced system with a small computer is likely to prove much more useful than an unbalanced system with a medium-sized computer4 ,what is necessary will1 of course1 depend upon the uses of the system4 ,for example1 if a large amount of program development is anticipated1 the inclusion of a line printer should certainly be considered1 because universal experience has shown that line printers are immensely valuable during program development2 on the other hand1 as a rule they are not so important in most data-taking operations4 #aj4 ,peripherals 7,brand ,x7 ,it is often cheaper initially to use peripheral devices from a separate manufacturer1 with interfacing provided either by the user or by an outside commercial firm4 ,in this case difficulties lie in guessing the reliability of the devices and in achieving software compatibility4 ,software developed by a computer manufacturer usually takes advantage of the peculiarities of his own peripherals4 ,if an outside device is purchased1 the additional cost for programming during the lifetime of the system should be considered4 ,if competent engineering effort is available1 an interface compatible with the computer manufacturer's software may be built1 with a possible saving in programming cost4 #aa4 ,input-,output ,bus ,structures ,standardized input-output bus structures designed to simplify interfacing to computers have recently been developed4 ,conspicuous among them is the ,,camac system already accepted as standard in many ,european laboratories4 ,it is now being introduced into a few ,american laboratories4 ,before it can be accepted as a standard system here1 a number of questions must be answered4 ,for example1 what types of external devices should be interfaced in this way1 just ,,adc's data registers1 counters1 and the like1 or should line printers1 card readers1 and related devices be included8 ,also1 how much trouble will be encountered with manufacturers' ,i_/,o software1 and how much will any necessary rewriting cost8 ,also will all computer ,i_/,o structures lend themselves to such a system2 specifically1 are multiport systems suitable8 ,a national committee is now studying the ,,camac system to see if it1 or something similar1 should be recommended as standard in the ,united ,states4 ,even after being recommended as standard1 however1 any such system cannot be considered successful unless manufacturers accept it and market a wide variety of compatible devices4 ,from the manufacturer's point of view the risks here may seem considerably greater than they were in the case of the ,,nim bins4 ,it seems wise to keep watching for the outcome of this interesting development4 #ab4 ,necessity for ,competence in ,machine-,language ,programming ,whenever a new type of device is interfaced to a system1 some form of machine-language programming must almost always be done in order to permit the handling of input-output operations involving the new device4 ,this is true even in places such as ,yale1 where the design emphasizes a maximum use of ,fortran4 ,for this and other reasons1 there should be at least one person on call who is skilled in machine-language programming and who understands the system4 #ac4 ,manpower for ,programming and ,maintenance ,the manpower required to maintain the hardware and software of any system naturally depends on the size of the installation and the uses to which it is put4 ,typically1 a continuing effort must be expended on the improvement of system software and the writing of new data-acquisition programs4 ,the existing hardware must be given preventive maintenance and repairs4 ,furthermore from time to time a hardware change must be made4 ,also1 there are administrative matters2 even the smallest system should have within the laboratory at least one person who will devote a large part of his time to administration1 to the education of users1 and to related matters4 ,in many cases the laboratory has a contract with an outside firm1 often the computer manufacturer1 for maintenance of the computer1 and sometimes the rest of the system as well4 ,in other cases all or part of this work is done by laboratory personnel4 ,sometimes several laboratory people are competent both in machine-language programming and in diagnosing and repairing hardware ills4 ,such people are very valuable1 especially if they are also competent to do interfacing of new devices4 ,in some cases the experimenters do much of their own data-acquisition programming1 in others essentially all programming is done by professionals4 ,in some university laboratories much use is made of part-time student programmers1 of whom there is now a considerable supply because of the growth of education in programming1 both in high schools and at colleges4 ,students are sometimes remarkably good at this work and stand to profit later from the experience1 but they are transients1 and effort expended in training them is lost when they leave4 ,very roughly speaking1 a small system will require a good fraction of the time of a technician-programmer1 a medium system will require at least one full-time technician-programmer1 and a full-time programmer1 or some equivalent combination1 assuming an active research program4 ,appendix ,a ,,tables ,,of ,,properties ,,of ,,small ,,and ,,medium-,,sized ,,computers ,the comprehensive tables of properties of small and medium-sized computers appearing on the next #f pages are from ,d4 ,j4 ,theis and ,l4 ,c4 ,hobbs1 ,mini-,computers for ,real-,time ,applications1 ,datamation1 ,vol4 #ae1 ,no4 #c1 p4 #ci 7,march #aifi7 and are reprinted here by permission of the publisher1 ,f4 ,d4 ,thompson ,publications1 ,inc41 #ce ,mason ,street1 ,greenwich1 ,conn4 #jfhcj4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,digital ,digital ,data ,mate ,decade ,electronic ,equipment ,equipment ,computer ,control ,data ,data ,computer ,computer ,assoc4 ,corp4 ,corp4 ,automation ,corporation ,general ,systems1 ,inc4 ,corp4 ,inc4 ,,emr ,hewlett-,packard ,hewlett-,packard ,hewlett-,packard ,honeywell ,,manufacturer_/,,model ,,number ,,pdp-#i ,,pdp-#i_/,l ,,pdc-#haf #agjj ,nova ,data ,mate-#af #gj_/b #fdj #facj #baad;,a #baae;,a #baaf;,b ,,ddp-#daf ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,memory ,memory cycle time 7s7 #a4j #a4e #h #a4a #b4f #a4j 4#hfj #a4fe #j4gge #b4j #b4j #a4f #j4if ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory word length 7bits7 #ah #ah #af #ah #af #af #ah #af #ah #af #af #af #af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,minimum memory size 7words7 #h,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #a,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #h,k #d,k #d,k #h,k #d,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory increment size 7words7 #h,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #a,k1 #b,k1 #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #h,k #d,k #d,k #h,k #d,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum memory size 7words7 #cb,k #af,k #af,k #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #af,k #cb,k #cb,k #h,k #h,k #cb,k #af,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,parity check 7std41 opt41 no7 opt4 opt4 no std4 no opt4 std4 no std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory protect 7std41 opt41 no7 opt4 opt4 no std4 no std4 std4 std4 std4 no opt4 opt4 opt4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,cpu ,,features ,instruction word length 7s7 #ah #ah #af #af_/cb #af #af #af_/cb #af_/cb #af_/cb #af #af #af #af_/cb ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of accumulators 7or #a std4 #a std4 #a #b #d #b #a #b #b #b #b #b #a general purpose registers that #a opt4 #a opt4 can be used as accumulators7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of hardware registers #a std4 #a std4 #f #h #aj #f #e #i #d #g #g #g #d 7not including index registers7 #a opt4 #a opt4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of index registers #g 7auto4 #g 7auto4 #a hardware #a hardware #b hardware #a hardware #a memory #a hardware #c hardware none none none none 7indicate whether they are index mem4 index mem4 #a memory #af memory hardware1 memory or other reg47 reg47 techniques7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for operation code #d #d #e #d #e #e #f #d #e #d #d #d #f ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for address modes #a #a #c #d #c #c #c #c #c #b #b #b #a ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of addressing modes #b #b #h #g #h #h #e #c-h #g #d #d #d #b ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for address #ac #ac #h #h_/ae #h #h #g_/ad #i_/ae #h_/ae #aj #aj #aj #i_/ad ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,in this machine one can directly address words in #h1aib #d1jif #gfh #bef #a1jbd #bef #af1chd #eab #cb1gfh #b1jdh #b4jdh #b1jdh #a1jbd s and indirectly #b4j #c4j #af4j #a4a #e4b #b4j #a4i #a4fe #a4i #b4j #b4j #a4f #j4if address words in #cb,k #af,k #af,k #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #af,k #cb,k #cb,k #h,k #h,k #cb,k #af,k s #c4j #d4e #bd4j #c4c #g4h #c4j #a4i #c4c #b4i #d4j #d4j #c4b #a4ib ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,indirect addressing ,single- ,single- ,multi- ,multi- ,multi- ,multi- ,single- ,multi- ,multi- ,multi- ,multi- ,multi- ,multi- 7multi-level1 single-level1 no7 level level level level level level level level level level level level level ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,arithmetic ,,operations ,store time for full word 7s7 #b4j #c4j #af4j #b4b #e4e #b4j #a4i #c4c #a4i #d4j #d4j #c4b #a4ib ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,add time for full word 7s7 #b4j #c4j #af4j #b4b #e4i #b4j #a4i #c4c #a4i #d4j #d4j #c4b #a4ib ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,fixed-point hardware mult_/divide opt4 opt4 no std4 no std4 opt4 std4 std4 no opt4 opt4 no 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,multiply time hardware 7s7 #c4j to #aa4j #d4e to #af4e -- #g -- #f4j #f4e #ah4ae #d4e to #h4c #bd4j #ai4b ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,divide time hardware 7s7 #c4j to #ab4j #d4e to #ah4j -- #i -- #g4j #ab4e #ah4ige #g4i to #aa4d #bf4j #bj4h ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,multiply time software 7s7 #bha max4 #dba max4 #ajb -- #cbi4c to #ccd4a ,n_/,a #ahg #ahg #aej #aed4f ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,divide time software 7s7 #ceb max4 #ebh max4 #agh -- #dbd4h to #eai4b ,n_/,a #chg #chg #caj #bbj4h ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,i_/,o ,,capability ,data path width 7bits7 #ah #ah #h_/af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,direct memory access 7,,dma7 std4 no std4 opt4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 no opt4 opt4 opt4 channel 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum ,,dma word transfer rate #a ,,mhz -- #abe ,,khz #ijj ,,khz #cab ,,khz #a ,,mhz #a4a ,,mhz #fjj ,,khz #a4bf ,,mhz -- #ejj ,,khz #fbe ,,khz #a ,,mhz ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of external priority #a #a #c #af #af #h #a #g none #h #h #af #b interrupt levels provided in basic system ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum number of external #bef #bef #bef #af #fb #fd #cb #fd #abf #ef #dj #dh #dh interrupts ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,response time 7s7 including #d4j #f4j #dh4j #ej4j #ch4f #e4j #h4j #e4h #ac4b #aj4j #aj4j #h4j #d4h time to save registers of interrupted program and initiate new program execution ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,other ,,features ,power failure protect opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 std4 opt4 std4 std4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,automatic restart after power opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 failure 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,real-time clock or internal timer std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,software ,assembler 7#a pass1 #b pass1 both7 #b pass #b pass #b pass #b pass #b pass #b pass #a pass #b pass both #b pass #b #b pass #b pass both ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,relocatable assembler 7yes1 no7 yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,minimum core size necessary to use #h,k #d,k #d,k #d,k -- #d,k #d,k #h,k #h,k #d,k #d,k #d,k -- this relocatable assembler ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,macro assembler capability yes yes no yes no yes no no yes no no no no ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,compilers available 7specify ,fortran ,fortran none ,,asa ,basic none none ,fortran ,fortran ,,asa ,basic ,algol1 ,,asa ,algol1 ,,asa ,algol1 ,,asa none explicitly1 e4g41 ,fortran ,,ii1 ,,iv ,,iv ,fortran ,,iv ,,iv ,fortran ,basic ,fortran ,basic ,fortran ,basic ,fortran ,,iv1 ,,asa ,basic ,fortran1 etc47 ,fortran ,,iv ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,conversational compilers 7e4g41 ,,focal none none none none none ,,chat ,,doi none ,,basic ,,basic ,,basic none ,,focal1 ,,basic1 ,,cal1 etc47 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,real-time executive monitor yes yes no yes no no no no yes no no yes no available 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,disc operating system available yes yes no yes no no no yes yes no yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,basic ,,mainframe ,,costs ,basic system price with #d,k words ,n_/,a #ai1jjj #aa1ijj #bi1jjj #g1fjj #ac1ijj #ab1hjj #bf1ejj ,n_/,a #i1iej #ad1ejj ,n_/,a #ae1gjj including power supplies ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,price of ,,asr-#cc ,teletype 7if not -- #ijj #a1ijj #f1jjj #a1djj #b1jjj #a1bjj #a1bjj -- #b1jjj #b1jjj -- #a1bjj already included in ,basic ,system 7,,asr-#ce7 ,price7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total system price1 including -- #ai1ijj #ac1hjj #ce1jjj #i1jjj #ae1ijj #ad1jjj #bg1gjj -- #aa1iej #af1ejj -- #af1ijj ,,asr-#cc ,teletype and ,,cpu 7,,asr-#ce7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,basic system price with #h,k words #ce1jjj #be1jjj #ag1ijj #cg1jjj #aj1hhe #bj1djj #ah1fjj #ce1ejj #df1jjj #ac1iej #ai1ejj #bd1jjj #bc1gjj including adequate power supplies1 enclosure1 control panel ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,price of ,,asr-#cc ,teletype 7if not ,included #ijj #a1ijj #f1jjj #a1djj #b1jjj #a1bjj #a1bjj #c1ajj #b1jjj #b1jjj #b1jjj #a1bjj already included in ,basic ,system 7,,asr-#ce7 ,price7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total system price including #ce1jjj #be1ijj #ai1hjj #dc1jjj #ab1bhe #bb1djj #ai1hjj #cf1gjj #di1ajj #ae1iej #ba1ejj #bf1jjj #bd1ijj ,,asr-#cc ,teletype and ,,cpu 7,,asr-#ce7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,peripherals ,,available ,magnetic tape available 7yes1 no7 yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price for #bb1jjj #bb1jjj #e1gjj #bb1ejj #ab1jjj #ai1ejj #ab1jjj #cj1jjj #ce1bjj #ab1ejj #ae1ejj #ae1ejj #bc1cee operational unit 7including to to to to to to to to to controller1 computer options #bc1jjj #bc1jjj #aj1jjj #cb1jjj #fg1bjj #ae1jjj #ba1ejj #ba1ejj #ce1dcj necessary1 etc47 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,mass storage device available yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price of operational #i1gej #i1gej #f1ejj #bg1ejj #f1ejj #ah1jjj #ae1jjj #bd1ejj #bj1bjj -- #bf1ejj #bf1ejj #bb1cjj unit 7including controller1 to to to to to to to computer options necessary1 etc47 #i1iej #i1bej #de1jjj #ed1gjj #ca1ejj #ca1ejj #cf1jjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,high speed paper tape reader yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,speed 7char_/sec7 #cjj #cjj #cjj #cej #cjj_/aej #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,included ,combination #b1bjj #d1ejj #b1fej_/b1aej #b1jjj #b1ejj ,combination ,combination #b1ajj #b1ajj #b1ajj #c1hjj ,approximate price of operational unit #d1hjj #h1djj #aj1ajj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,high speed paper tape punch yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,speed 7char_/sec7 #ej #ej #fj #abj #fc4c #abj #abj #abj #fj #abj #abj #abj #aaj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,included ,combination #c1cjj #e1ajj #b1bjj #d1jjj #d1jjj ,combination ,combination #d1ajj #d1ajj #d1ajj #d1ejj ,approximate price of operational unit #d1hjj #h1djj #aj1ajj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,note3 ,n_/,a ,not ,announced--or ,not ,available ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,information ,scientific ,scientific ,systems ,systems ,technology1 ,inc4 ,lockheed ,control ,data ,engineering ,engineering ,honeywell ,,iti-#dijj ,interdata ,interdata ,,ibm ,,ibm ,electronics ,raytheon ,raytheon ,corp4 ,systems ,laboratories ,laboratories ,,manufacturer_/,,model ,,number ,,ddp-#eaf 7,model #bj7 ,model #c ,model #d #aacj #ahjj ,,mac-#af #gjc #gjf #dgjj ,sigma #b #haj;,a #haj;,b ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,memory ,memory cycle time 7s7 #j4if #j4ige_/a4ge 4#ihj_/a4e 4#ihj_/a4e #b4b_/c4f #b_/d #a #a4ge #j4i 4#ibj 4#i #a4ge 4#gej ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory word length 7bits7 #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af #af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,minimum memory size 7words7 #d,k #d,k #b,k #b,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #h,k #d,k #h,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory increment size 7words7 #d,k #d,k #b,k1 #d,k #b,k1 #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #h,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum memory size 7words7 #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #fe,k #cb,k #cb,k #fe,k #fe,k #cb,k #cb,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,parity check 7std41 opt41 no7 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 std4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory protect 7std41 opt41 no7 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 no std4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,cpu ,,features ,instruction word length7s7 #af_/cb #af_/cb #af_/cb #af_/cb #af_/cb #af_/cb #af #af #af #af_/cb #af #af #af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of accumulators 7or #b #h #af #af #b #b #a #a #a #c #b #b #b general purpose registers that can be used as accumulators7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of hardware registers #e #af #ah #cc #g #g #f #f #f #aj #f #b #b 7not including index registers7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of index registers #a #f #ae #ae #c #c #d #a #a #a #b #a #b 7indicate whether they are hardware hardware memory hardware memory hardware hardware hardware hardware hardware hardware hardware1 memory or other techniques7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for operation code #e #h #h #h #e #e #d #d #d #d_/i #d #d #d ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for address modes #b #b #b #b #b #b #c #a #a #c #d #b #b ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of addressing modes #d #d #c #c #c #c #h #b #b #e #af #d #d ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for address #i_/ad #f_/af #f_/af #f_/af #i_/af #i_/af #i #aa #aa #i_/af #h #aj #aj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,in this machine one can directly address words in #a1jbd #cb1gfh #cb1gfh #cb1gfh #cb1gfh #cb1gfh #eab #cb1gfh #cb1gfh #cb1gfh #a1jbd #a1jbd #a1jbd s and indirectly #j4if 4#ige_/a4ge #j4ih_/a4e #j4ih_/a4e #b4b #b4j #b4j #c4e #a4h 4#ib 4#i #a4ge 4#gej address words in #cb,k #cb,k -- -- #cb,k #cb,k #fe,k -- -- #fe,k #fe,k #cb,k #cb,k s #a4ib #a4ie_/c4e -- -- #b4b #b4j #c4j -- -- #a4hd #a4h #c4e #a4e ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,indirect addressing ,multi- ,multi-level no no ,single- ,single- ,multi-level no no ,single- ,single- ,multi-level ,multi-level 7multi-level1 single-level1 no7 level level level level level ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,arithmetic ,,operations ,store time for full word 7s7 #a4ib #a4ie_/c4e #f4j #f4j #d4fd #d4be #b4j #c4e #a4h #a4hd #b4b #c4e #a4ej ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,add time for full word 7s7 #a4ib #a4ie_/c4e #c4b #c4b #d4hh #d4be #b4j #c4e #a4h #a4hd #b4b #c4e #a4ej ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,fixed-point hardware mult_/divide opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,multiply time--hardware 7s7 #e4bh #aj #bc #bc #ae4fg #ae4be #i #ab4be-ag4e #f4c to #i4j #f4dd #aj4c #g #d4e ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,divide time--hardware 7s7 #aj4jj #be #ch #ch #df4cf #db4ge #ab #bd4j #i4j #f4ij #aj4h #aj4e #h4be ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,multiply time--software 7s7 #aed4f #ej #ijj #ijj -- -- #aej #adg #ge -- #ajc -- -- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,divide time--software 7s7 #bbj4h #ajj #a1jbj #a1jbj -- -- #cjj #bii4be #aed -- #big -- -- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,i_/,o ,,capability ,data path width 7bits7 #af #af #h #h #af #af #af #af #af #h_/af #h #af #af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,direct memory access 7,,dma7 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 opt4 channel 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum ,,dma word transfer rate #a ,,mhz #a ,,mhz #dej ,,khz #dej ,,khz #dfj ,,khz #ejj ,,khz #hjj ,,khz #ega ,,khz #a4a ,,mhz #a4a ,,mhz #bjj ,,khz #egb ,,khz #a4cc ,,mhz ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of external priority #b #h #b #b #f #ab #d #a #a #b #b #c #c interrupt levels provided in basic system ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum number of external #dh #bef #bee #bee #if #chd #fd #af #af #bef #acb #if #if interrupts ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,response time 7s7 including #i4f #e4j #i4j-af4j #i4j-af4j #ajj4j #ajj4j #f4j #e4be #b4g #g4cf #f4j #aj4e #f4ge time to save registers of interrupted program and initiate new program execution ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,other ,,features ,power failure protect std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 std4 std4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,automatic restart after power opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 std4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 failure 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,real time clock or internal timer opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 no std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,software ,assembler 7#a pass1 #b pass1 both7 both #a pass both both #b pass #b pass #b pass both both #b pass #b pass #b pass #b pass ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,relocatable assembler 7yes1 no7 yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,minimum core size necessary to use ,n_/,a #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #h,k #h,k #d,k #h,k #h,k #h,k this relocatable assembler ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,macro assembler capability no yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,compilers available 7specify ,fortran ,,iv ,fortran ,,iv none none ,,asa ,basic ,,asa ,basic ,,asa ,fortran ,,iv ,fortran ,,iv ,,asa ,basic ,fortran ,,iv ,fortran ,,iv ,fortran ,,iv explicitly e4g41 ,fortran ,,ii1 ,,iv1 ,extended ,extended ,standard ,fortran ,,asa ,basic ,fortran ,,asa ,basic ,,asa ,basic ,fortran1 etc47 ,fortran ,fortran ,fortran ,,iv ,,asa ,basic ,fortran ,fortran ,,iv ,fortran ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,conversational compilers 7e4g41 ,fortran ,,iv none ,fortran ,fortran ,,apl none none none none none none none none ,,focal1 ,,basic1 ,,cal1 etc47 ,,basic ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,real-time executive monitor yes yes no no no yes no yes yes yes yes no yes available 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,disc operating system available yes no no no yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,basic ,,mainframe ,,costs ,basic system price with #d,k words #bc1hjj #i1iej #aj1hjj #ac1hjj #be1hhj #dg1cjj #aa1iej #ae1jjj #ai1jjj #ad1hjj ,n_/,a #ah1jjj ,n_/,a including power supplies ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,price of ,,asr-#cc ,teletype 7if not #a1bjj #b1ejj #a1ijj #a1ijj ,included #b1icj ,included ,included ,included #a1gjj -- ,included -- already included in ,basic ,system ,price7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total system price1 including #be1jjj #ab1dej #ab1gjj #ae1gjj #be1hhj #ej1bcj #aa1iej #ae1jjj #ai1jjj #af1ejj -- #ah1jjj -- ,,asr-#cc ,teletype and ,,cpu ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,basic system price with #h,k words #ca1hjj #ae1iej #ag1gjj #bj1gjj #cd1jcj #ee1gjj #ae1ijj #bc1jjj #bd1fjj #bb1cjj #cd1jjj #bc1jjj #cj1jjj including adequate power supplies1 enclosure1 control panel ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,price of ,,asr-#cc ,teletype 7if not #a1bjj #b1ejj #a1ijj #a1ijj ,included #b1icj ,included ,included ,included #a1gjj #g1jjj ,included ,included already included in ,basic ,system 7,,asr-#ce7 ,price7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total system price including #cc1jjj #ah1dej #ai1fjj #bb1fjj #cd1jcj #eh1fcj #ae1ijj #bc1jjj #bd1fjj #bd1jjj #da1jjj #bc1jjj #cj1jjj ,,asr-#cc ,teletype and ,,cpu 7,,asr-#ce7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,peripherals ,,available ,magnetic tape available 7yes1 no7 yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price for #bc1cee #ah1jjj #i1ijj #i1ijj -- #ae1fbj ,n_/,a #aj1ejj #aj1ejj #bd1jjj #be1jjj #bd1jjj #bd1jjj operational unit 7including to to to controller1 computer options #ce1dcj #bh1jjj #bh1jjj necessary1 etc47 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,mass storage device available yes ,n_/,a yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price of operational #bb1cjj -- #ag1djj #ag1djj ,included #ac1ejj -- #ba1ejj #ba1ejj #ai1ejj #bf1jjj #cj1jjj #cj1jjj unit 7including controller1 to computer options necessary1 etc47 #cf1jjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,high speed paper tape reader yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,speed 7char_/sec7 #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #fj -- #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- #c1hjj #b1ejj #b1ejj #b1ejj #a1gbj -- ,n_/,a #c1cjj #c1jjj #c1jjj ,combination #d1jjj #d1jjj ,approximate price of operational unit #ab1jjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,high speed paper tape punch yes yes yes yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,speed 7char_/sec7 #aaj #ej #fj #fj -- -- #fj #aaj #aaj #abj #abj #ajj #ajj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- #d1ejj #c1jjj #c1hjj #c1hjj -- -- ,n_/,a #d1bjj #d1jjj #d1jjj ,combination #d1jjj #d1jjj ,approximate price of operational unit #ab1jjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,note3 ,n_/,a ,not ,announced--or ,not ,available ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,tempo ,digital ,digital ,digital ,spear ,business ,computers1 ,equipment ,equipment ,equipment ,general ,computers1 ,information ,computer ,data ,general ,inc4 ,varian ,corp4 ,corp4 ,corp4 ,automation ,motorola ,inc4 ,technology ,automation ,technology ,automation ,varian ,,manufacturer_/,,model ,,number ,tempo #a #fbj i ,,linc-#h ,,pdp #h_/a ,,pdp #h_/,l ,,spc-#ab ,,mdp-#ajjj ,micro ,linc #dhj_/dhb ,,pdc-#hjh ,,dt-#afjj ,,spc-#h #ebj i ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,memory ,memory cycle time 7s7 #j4i #a4h #a4e #a4e #a4f #b4j #b4af #a #c4j #h4j #h4j #b4j #a4e ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory word length 7bits7 #af #af_/ah #ab #ab #ab #h #h #ab #h #h #h #h #h ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,minimum memory size 7words7 #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #a,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory increment size 7words7 #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #a,k1 #b,k1 #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k #d,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum memory size 7words7 #fe,k #cb,k #cb,k #cb,k #h,k #af,k #af,k #cb,k #fe,k #af,k #af,k #h,k #cb,k ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,parity check 7std41 opt41 no7 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 no no opt4 opt4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,memory protect 7std41 opt41 no7 opt4 opt4 no std4 std4 no no no no no opt4 no std4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,cpu ,,features ,instruction word length7s7 #af_/cb #af_/cb #ab #ab_/bd #ab_/bd #h1ab1af #ab #ab #h_/af #h_/af #h_/af #h1ab1af #h_/af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of accumulators 7or #b #b #b #a #a #d #f #a #a #a #a #b #g general purpose registers that can be used as accumulators7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of hardware registers #g #f #aj #d #d #h #i #ab #h #h #h #f #g 7not including index registers7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of index registers #a hardware #b hardware #h memory #h memory #h memory #c hardware #c hardware #af memory none none none #a hardware #a hardware 7indicate whether they are hardware1 memory or other techniques7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for operation code #d #d #b1c1g #c #c #h #h #g #h #f #d #h1ab #c ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for address modes #c #c #c #a #a #c #c #e none #b #b #c #c ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of addressing modes #h #d #f #b #b #e #f #d #a #d #b #d #e ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,how many bits for address #i_/af #i_/aa #ab1 #aj1 #h1 #d #h_/ae #h_/ac #ab #ab #ab #h_/af #h #h #ab #ae ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,in this machine one can directly address words in #eab #b1jdh #a1jbd #bef #bef #d1jif #d1jif #a1jbd #bef #eab #eab #d1jif #d1jif s and indirectly #j4i #c4f #c4j #a4i #a4f #d4b #d4cb #b4j #c4j #bd4j #af4j #d4b #b4e address words in #fe,k #cb,k #d,k #cb,k #h,k #d,k #d,k #a,k #fe,k #af,k #af,k #d,k #cb,k s #a4h #e4d #d4e #c4j #c4b #f4c #aj4h #c4j #bc4be #dj4j #cb4j #f4c #e4be ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,indirect addressing ,multi-level ,multi-level ,single-level ,single-level ,single-level ,single-level ,single-level ,single-level ,single-level ,multi-level ,multi-level ,single-level ,multi-level 7multi-level1 single-level1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,arithmetic ,,operations ,store time for full word 7s7 #a4h #c4f #c4j #c4j #c4b #d4b #d4cb #b4j #ad4be #bd4j #bd4j #d4b #d4e ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,add time for full word 7s7 #a4h #c4f #c4j #c4j #c4b #d4b #d4cb #b4j #ad4be #bd4j #bd4j #d4b #d4e ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,fixed-point hardware mult_/divide opt4 opt4 mult4-std4 opt4 no no no mult4-std4 opt4 no no no no 7std41 opt41 no7 div4-opt4 div4-no ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,multiply time--hardware 7s7 #g #aj #cd ,n_/,a -- -- -- #ad ,n_/,a -- -- -- -- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,divide time--hardware 7s7 #i #aj-ad #cg ,n_/,a -- -- -- -- ,n_/,a -- -- -- -- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,multiply time--software 7s7 -- #bjj -- #cfj #cfj ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #cjj ,n_/,a #a1ajj #a1bjj #djj ,n_/,a ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,divide time--software 7s7 -- #bjj #dfj #dfj #dfj ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #agjj ,n_/,a #a1hhj #a1ejj #ejj ,n_/,a ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,i_/,o ,,capability ,data path width 7bits7 #h_/af #af_/ah #ab #ab #ab #h_/ab #ab #ab #h #h #h #h_/ab #h_/af ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,direct memory access 7,,dma7 opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 no no opt4 opt4 channel 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum ,,dma word transfer rate #hjj ,,khz #bjj ,,khz #fff ,,khz #fff ,,khz #fbe ,,khz #dcj ,,khz #dcj ,,khz #a ,,mhz #bej ,,khz -- -- #dcj ,,khz #ffj ,,khz ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,number of external priority #d none #a #a #a #b #a #a #a #c #c #b #c interrupt levels provided in basic system ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,maximum number of external #bef #fd #a #fd #fd #bef #fd #a #a #fd #cb #bef #aa interrupts ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,response time 7s7 including #c4f #ad4j #ad4j #ah4f #bj4j ,n_/,a #h4j #ej4j #hh4j #cb4j #bj4j #a4e time to save registers of interrupted program and initiate new program execution ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,other ,,features ,power failure protect std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,automatic restart after power opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 no opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 failure 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,real-time clock or internal timer opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 std4 opt4 opt4 opt4 opt4 std4 opt4 7std41 opt41 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,software ,assembler 7#a pass1 #b pass1 both7 both #bb pass both both both #a pass #b pass #b pass #c pass #b pass #b pass #a pass #b pass ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,relocatable assembler 7yes1 no7 yes no yes yes yes yes yes no no no yes yes yes ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,minimum core size necessary to use #d,k -- #h,k #h,k #h,k #d,k #d,k -- -- -- #d,k #d,k #d,k this relocatable assembler ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,macro assembler capability yes no yes yes yes no yes no no no no no no ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,compilers available 7specify ,,asa ,fortran ,,ii ,fortran ,,ii ,fortran ,,ii ,fortran ,,ii none none none ,,asa none none none none explicitly1 e4g41 ,fortran ,,ii1 ,basic ,algol ,algol ,algol ,basic ,,iv1 ,,asa ,basic ,fortran1 etc47 ,fortran ,fortran ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,conversational compilers 7e4g41 none none ,,basic ,,focal ,,focal no no no no no no no no ,,focal1 ,,basic1 ,,cal1 etc47 ,,focal ,,basic ,,basic ,,lap-#f ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,real-time executive monitor no no no no no yes yes yes yes no no yes no available 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,disc operating system available no no yes yes yes no no no no no yes no no 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,basic ,,mainframe ,,costs ,basic system price with #d,k words #ae1jjj #ab1ajj #ch1ejj #ab1hjj #h1ejj #f1djj #h1ejj #df1ejj;,a #i1caj #f1fjj #f1fjj #f1djj #g1ejj including power supplies ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,price of ,,asr-#cc ,teletype 7if not ,included #a1hjj ,included ,included ,included #a1ajj #a1bjj ,included ,included #a1ejj #a1ijj #a1ajj #a1djj already included in ,basic ,system ,price7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total system price1 including #ae1jjj #ac1ijj #ch1ejj #ab1hjj #h1ejj #g1ejj #i1gjj #df1ejj;,a #i1caj #h1ajj #h1ejj #g1ejj #h1ijj ,,asr-#cc ,teletype and ,,cpu ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,basic system price with #h,k words #ai1jjj #ah1ejj #dg1ejj #af1cjj #ac1bjj #i1fjj #aa1ejj #ef1ejj;,a #aa1bej #h1hjj #h1hjj #i1fjj #aj1jjj including adequate power supplies1 enclosure1 control panel ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,price of ,,asr-#cc ,teletype 7if not ,included #a1hjj ,included ,included ,included #a1ajj #a1bjj ,included ,included #a1ejj #a1ijj #a1ajj #a1djj already included in ,basic ,system ,price7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,total system price including #ai1jjj #bj1cjj #dg1ejj #af1cjj #ac1bjj #aj1gjj #ab1gjj #ef1ejj;,e #aa1bej #aj1cjj #aj1gjj #aj1gjj #aa1djj ,,asr-#cc ,teletype and ,,cpu ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,peripherals ,,available ,magnetic tape available 7yes1 no7 yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price for #ab1jjj ,n_/,a #bd1gjj #bd1gjj #bd1gjj #aa1jjj ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #ah1gjj #e1gjj #i1iej #i1hjj #i1jjj operational unit 7including to to controller1 computer options #bb1ejj #aj1jjj necessary1 etc47 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,mass storage device available yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price of operational ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #f1jjj #h1gjj #h1gjj #f1jjj ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #g1cij #i1iej #aj1jjj #f1jjj ,n_/,a unit 7including controller1 to to to to to computer options necessary1 etc47 #ae1gjj #ae1gjj #ae1jjj #af1ejj #ae1jjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,high speed paper tape reader yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,speed 7char_/sec7 #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj #cjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,approximate price of operational unit ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #b1ejj #b1jjj #b1jjj #c1jjj ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #b1cjj #b1bjj #c1cjj #c1jjj #b1ijj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,high speed paper tape punch yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes 7yes1 no7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,speed 7char_/sec7 #fj_/abj #fj_/abj #ej #ej #ej #abj #abj #abj #fj #fj #fj #fj_/abj #fj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #b1jjj #b1jjj #b1jjj #d1jjj ,n_/,a ,n_/,a #c1jjj #c1cjj #b1ijj #c1fjj- #c1cjj ,approximate price of operational unit #d1jjj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,note3 ,n_/,a ,not ,announced--or ,not ,available ,e ,price includes #b mag tapes and crt with keyboard ,appendix ,b ,,background ,,information ,,for ,,chapter #c1 ,a ,,review ,,and ,,analysis ,,of ,,expenditures ,at the ,november #aifb ,grossinger ,conference on the ,utilization of ,multiparameter ,analyzers in ,nuclear ,physics a paper by ,w4 ,f4 ,miller and ,h4 ,w4 ,fulbright was presented in which data-analysis systems then in use in ,,aec-sponsored laboratories in the fields of high-and low-energy nuclear physics were reviewed4 ,by that time many applications of computers had already been made in the high-energy field1 while there were only a few examples of computer systems to be found in low-energy laboratories1 and those were rather simple4 ,chapter #c gives a similar review1 but in this case the high-energy field is excluded2 the emphasis is concentrated on the economic aspects of data-acquisition systems used in low-and medium-energy physics4 ,in the earlier paper1 only ,,aec-sponsored laboratories were covered1 but in the present case some ,,nsf-supported laboratories are also included4 ,chapter #c is a condensed version of a paper presented by ,h4 ,w4 ,fulbright at the ,skytop ,conference on ,computer ,systems in ,experimental ,nuclear ,physics in ,march #aifi4 ,the first part of ,chapter #c presents a review and a simple analysis of the expenditures for on-line computing in a total of #cf different laboratories supported by the ,,aec and ,,nsf4 ,the second part presents a discussion of trends visible in1 or suggested by the analysis1 along with some other remarks about the support of on-line computing facilities in nuclear-physics research laboratories4 ,most of the information was supplied by the ,,aec4 ,it was requested by ,paul ,w4 ,mc,daniel in letters sent in ,december #aifh4 ,information was received from about #ij percent of those from whom it was requested4 ,it was then forwarded to the author ,c4 ,v4 ,smith1 arriving in the first two weeks of ,february #aifi4 ,the ,,nsf found that certain administrative regulations made the sending out of a questionnaire a complicated procedure1 so a different approach had to be adopted in their case4 ,letters requesting the information were sent by the reviewer himself directly to laboratory directors1 the appropriate names and addresses having been kindly supplied by ,william ,rodney of the ,,nsf4 ,here the response was less complete4 ,most of the returns arrived by ,february #ba1 #aifi4 ,a large amount of information was available for analysis4 ,in many cases the laboratory involved had done a thorough job1 and the numbers presented in those cases were especially valuable in providing a basis for estimating expenses for various items omitted in less complete reports from other laboratories1 particularly in the case of manpower4 ,in some ways1 the information necessarily remained incomplete because no practical means of obtaining it occurred to the reviewer2 the organization of the material in the analysis reflects this fact4 ,institutions ,reporting ,systems ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,place ,number of ,systems --------------------------------------- ----------------- ,brookhaven ,national ,laboratory #g ,university of ,california at ,los ,angeles #a ,university of ,kansas #a ,lawrence ,radiation ,laboratory #h ,university of ,maryland #a ,university of ,minnesota #a ,oak ,ridge ,national ,laboratory #f ,university of ,texas #a ,texas ,a ,m #a ,yale #b ,university of ,wisconsin #a ,university of ,colorado #a ,argonne ,national ,laboratory #b ,columbia ,university #c ,university of ,washington #a ,university of ,pennsylvania #a ,university of ,iowa #a ,ohio ,state ,university #a ,university of ,rochester #a ,michigan ,state ,university #a ,stanford ,university #a ,rutgers-,bell ,labs4 #b ,transcriber's ,note ,on page #fi1 item #f4 was written as #e4 in the original4 ,in this text version1 the caret character has been used to represent exponents1 e4g4 #ajf4 ,italic text has been enclosed in underscores4