ND-5000 family

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The ND-5000 family is the third generations system based on the ND-500 architecture. It is a totally new construction both in hardware and physical layout. The ND-5000 CPU uses the same instructions as the ND-500 CPU but adds 25 new instructions[1] called '87 extensions', also found in the ND-500/1 and ND-500/2 CPUs.

The new ND-5000 CPU replaces 24 cards in the old ND-500 arcitecture. The single processor ND-5700 system have the same computational power as a ND-570 system.

The ND-5000 series of computers is able to run both SINTRAN III and NDIX, Norsk Data's version of UNIX.

Hardware implementation

The ND-5000 family systems uses a ND-100/ND-110/ND-120 CPU as I/O processor.

Samson

Sold as the ND-5200, ND-5400, ND-5500, ND-5700, and ND-5800. The ND-120 CPU line, which constituted the ND-100 side of most ND-5000 computers, was named Delilah. As the 5000 line progressed in speed, the dual-arch ND-100/500 configuration increasingly became bottlenecked by all I/O having to go through the ND-100.

Rallar

Sold as the ND-5830 and ND-5850. The Rallar processor consisted of two main VLSI gate arrays, KUSK and GAMP - meaning "Jockey" and "Horse", respectively.

CPU types

The ND-5000 CPUs came in 3 types. Type 1 had two layers of cards, type 2 had three layers of cards, and type 3 had four layers of cards. Type 1 and type 2 used similar mother boards/baby modules, the difference was that a layer with instruction/data cache and the AAP (Additional Arithmetic Processor) was missing in the type 1 CPUs. The missing AAP meant that on type 1 CPUs floating point operations were performed by the microprogram[2].

System performance

The difference in performance between models was mainly done by 3 methods:

  • Select a CPU (Type 1 / Type 2 / Type 3).
  • Jumper the master clock speed to Slow (156 ns) or Normal (70 ns).
  • Disable or enable a number or performance enhancing caching features.

Different combinations of the above resulted in the different ND-5000 models. The table below illustrates this[3].

ND-5000 model differences and list of enabled functions
System CPU type Instruction cache Data cache Address cache Smart IfGo cache WICO (Write in Cache only) Master clock speed
ND-5200 1 - - - - - 70 ns
ND-5400 2 Yes - - Yes - 156 ns
ND-5500 2 Yes Yes - Yes - 156 ns
ND-5700 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes - 70 ns
ND-5800 3 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 70 ns

Models

The original series of ND-5000 computers came in three different models, ND-5700, ND-5800 and ND-5900. The ND-5900 models are the same as the ND-5800, but with multiple CPUs (2, 3 or 4). Later additions to the family were Compact models, ND-5200 Compact and ND-5700 Compact[4].

ND-5000 system comparision chart
System Relative CPU performance Memory shared (MB) Memory local (MB) Data cache (KB) Instruction cache (KB) Max disk capacity (GB)
ND-5200 Compact
ND-5400 Compact
ND-5500 Compact
ND-5700 8 - 512 2 64 320 29
ND-5700 Compact
ND-5800 2 16 - 512 4 64 320 29
ND-5900 model 2 4 16 - 512 4 2x64 2x320 29
ND-5900 model 3 6 16 - 512 4 3x64 3x320 29
ND-5900 model 4 8 16 - 512 4 4x64 4x320 29

The ND-5000 Compact series

The ND-5000 Compact series is equipped with:

  • ND-110/CX I/O Processor (ND-110 in ND-5200 Compact system)
  • Internal disks or a controller for external disks
  • One Streamer, 125 MB (Option on systems with external disks)
  • One floppy-disk drive (1.2 MB capacity)
  • 4 to 6 MB memory
  • SINTRAN and utilities

All ND-5000 Compact systems are available in two models: A model with internal disks and B model with external disk option. A models include from one to four internal disks of 125 MB capacity each (called models A1 to A4). ND-5200 Compact system includes an extra model with one 60 MB internal disk (called model A0). Model B versions are delivered with a controller for external disks and can be configured with external disks and magtape.

Hardware Upgrades

The following upgrades are possible

ND-5200 to ND-5400 system

  • Exchange the ND-5000 CPU from CPU type 1 to CPU type 2.
  • Exchange the ND-110 CPU with ND-120 CPU with 4Mb memory.
  • Use the updating tool to set the CPU model to 4.
  • Exchange the ND-5000 microprogram with version 144xx. (Remember to change switch settings for MPM port and local 100 memory)

ND-5400 to ND-5500 system

  • Use the updating tool to set the CPU model to 5.
  • Exchange the ND-5000 microprogram with version 145xx.

ND-5500 to ND-5700 system

  • Use the updating tool to set the CPU model to 7.
  • Exchange the ND-5000 microprogram with version 147xx.
  • Exchange the ND-110/CX CPU with ND-120/CX-4MB. (Remember to change switch settings for memory 1imits for MPM port and loca1 100 memory).

ND-5700 to ND-5800 system

  • Exchange the ND-5000 CPU from CPU type 2 to CPU type 3.
  • Exchange the ND-120/CX-2MB CPU with ND-120/CX-4MB CPU. (Remember to change switch settings for memory 1imits for MPM port and 1oca1 100 memory)
  • Use the updating tool to set the CPU model to 8.
  • Exchange the ND-5000 microprogram with version 148xx.

ND-5800 to ND-5900 system

  • Insert extra ND-5000 CPU type 3 [1,2 or 3 extra CPU's).
  • Insert "Samson console print" behind each extra ND-5000 CPU.
  • Use the updating tool (*) to configurate and set the CPU model to 8 for the extra ND-5000 CPU's:
    • ND-5000 CPU 1, octobus station no. 708
    • ND-5000 CPU 2, octobus station no. 718
    • ND-5000 CPU 3, octobus station no. 728
    • ND-5000 CPU 4, octobus station no. 738

Updating tool to be used on ND-5000 Compact systems: Part no: 350156 Double Bus Contr. updating tool.

Updating tool to be used on ND-5000, large cabinet version: Part no: 350157 MF Bus Controller updating tool.

Note: The updating tool will be available in limited volume and will normally only be needed when upgrading the ND-5000 CPU.

Setting of the ND-5000 CPU model

Setting of the CPU model has to be done when the ND-5000 CPU has to be upgraded or when the content of the EEPROM in the MF backplain is cleared or lost.

Remaining systems

Reference

  1. Norsk Data Document ND–05.009.3 NORD-500 REFERENCE MANUAL
  2. ND-5000 Hardware Description ND-05.020.1
  3. ND-5000 Hardware Description ND-05.020.1
  4. PRODUCT NEWS November 1987
  • Norsk Data Document ND–05.017.01 ND-5000 Hardware Maintenance
  • NEWS March 1987, pg. 52-53, "The ND-5000 Series: Removing Hardware Limitations".
  • Norsk Data Document ND–20.060.1 [[Documentation list#Unknown|]]