RHansen: layout fix

2026-07-22T11:54:10Z

layout fix

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:54, 22 July 2026
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	~~{{Infobox~~		; Full Name
	~~\|label1=~~Full Name		: Multiport Memory 5
	~~\|data1=~~Multiport Memory 5		; Abbreviation
	~~\|label2=~~Abbreviation		: MPM-5
	~~\|data2=~~MPM-5		; Introduced
	~~\|label3=~~Introduced		: June 1984 (technical description published)
	~~\|data3=~~June 1984 (technical description published)		; Purpose
	~~\|label4=~~Purpose		: Multi-processor shared memory system
	~~\|data4=~~Multi-processor shared memory system		; Used In
	~~\|label5=~~Used In		: ND-100, ND-500, ND-500-II systems
	~~\|data5=~~ND-100, ND-500, ND-500-II systems
	}}

	'''MPM-5''' ('''Multiport Memory 5''') was Norsk Data's shared memory system that enabled multiple processors ([[ND-100]], [[ND-500]], [[ND-500-II]]) to access a common pool of memory simultaneously.<ref name="technical"/> It was the foundation for multi-processor configurations before the [[ND-5000]] era introduced [[OCTOBUS]] and [[MFbus]].		'''MPM-5''' ('''Multiport Memory 5''') was Norsk Data's shared memory system that enabled multiple processors ([[ND-100]], [[ND-500]], [[ND-500-II]]) to access a common pool of memory simultaneously.<ref name="technical"/> It was the foundation for multi-processor configurations before the [[ND-5000]] era introduced [[OCTOBUS]] and [[MFbus]].

RHansen: New article describing MPM5 memory

2026-07-22T11:47:19Z

New article describing MPM5 memory

New page

{{Infobox
|label1=Full Name
|data1=Multiport Memory 5
|label2=Abbreviation
|data2=MPM-5
|label3=Introduced
|data3=June 1984 (technical description published)
|label4=Purpose
|data4=Multi-processor shared memory system
|label5=Used In
|data5=ND-100, ND-500, ND-500-II systems
}}

'''MPM-5''' ('''Multiport Memory 5''') was Norsk Data's shared memory system that enabled multiple processors ([[ND-100]], [[ND-500]], [[ND-500-II]]) to access a common pool of memory simultaneously.<ref name="technical"/> It was the foundation for multi-processor configurations before the [[ND-5000]] era introduced [[OCTOBUS]] and [[MFbus]].

== Overview ==

MPM-5 provided a [[multiport memory]] architecture that allowed:
* Multiple processors to read/write shared data structures
* DMA controllers to access memory independently
* Real-time coordination between CPUs via shared memory synchronization
* System configurations from 1 to 4 processors

The system consisted of three main hardware modules:
* '''Twin 16-Bit Port Module''' — Entry point for each CPU into the memory bank
* '''Dynamic RAM Module''' — Physical storage (up to 16MW per bank)
* '''Line Driver Module''' — Inter-bank signal distribution for global memory access

== Architecture ==

=== Memory Organization ===

; Bank Structure
: Each MPM-5 bank = 64KW (128KB) addressable by 16-bit register
: Maximum 256 banks = 16MW (32MB) total addressing

; Addressing
: '''Local access''' — Within single bank (64KW per port)
: '''Global access''' — Through line driver to other banks
: Address decoding via dual RAMs (LOCAL and GLOBAL paths)

=== Modules ===

; Twin 16-Bit Port (PCB 5152 or 5155)
: 2 × 16-bit width (compatible with 16-bit and 32-bit channels)
: Accepts up to 29 address bits (32-bit word addressing)
: Port control registers for configuration
: Master/slave control for arbitration

; Dynamic RAM (PCB)
: Variable capacity configurations
: Error correction and detection
: Error logging and suppression registers
: Memory test and diagnostic support

; Line Driver (PCB 5166 or variant)
: Differential signaling between banks
: Address and data distribution
: Control signal buffering
: Global memory coordination

=== Addressing Modes ===

; Interleave Types
: 16-bit interleave (ND-100 mode)
: 32-bit interleave (ND-500 mode for 64-bit cache systems)
: 32-bit non-interleave
: Configurable via port control register

; Address Windows
: Define memory regions accessible per port
: Separate decoding for LOCAL (within-bank) vs GLOBAL (cross-bank)
: Address conversion tables (5152/5155 specific)
: ALLOW bit on 5155 for cache-width selection

== Integration with Computers ==

=== ND-100 Systems ===

ND-100 CPUs could be extended with MPM-5 for:<ref name="nd100"/>
* Multi-processor real-time coordination
* I/O processor + compute processor configurations
* Shared program/data memory access

Integration described in [[ND-06.015]] (ND-100 Functional Description)

=== ND-500 Systems ===

ND-500 coprocessors used MPM-5 for:<ref name="nd500"/>
* Communication with [[ND-100]] I/O processor
* Shared memory for message passing (pre-[[NUCLEUS]])
* Multiport access from up to 4 ND-500 CPUs
* DMA controller data transfer coordination

Integration described in ND-05.011 (ND-500 Hardware Description)

=== ND-500-II Systems ===

[[ND-500-II]] retained MPM-5 for:
* [[NUCLEUS]] kernel data structures
* Port and message queues (shared with [[ND-100]])
* OCTOBUS coordination via line driver
* Backward compatibility with ND-500 code

=== ND-5000 Transition ===

[[ND-5000]] systems replaced MPM-5 with:
* [[MFbus]] (Multifunction Bus) — successor technology
* [[OCTOBUS]] — native serial signaling (not via line drivers)
* Improved performance and integrated architecture

== Control and Test Registers ==

MPM-5 ports featured extensive register sets:

; Master Control Register
: System-wide configuration and control
: Interleave type selection
: Cache width settings (32-bit vs 64-bit)

; Port Control Register
: Per-port configuration
: Address window setup
: Base address and limit configuration

; Master/Port Status Registers
: Status flags and error indicators
: Memory test results
: Port state monitoring

; Test/Debug Support
: Test request registers
: Test data and address registers
: Memory display/dump capability
: Error memory access

== Programming Guide ==

=== Common Operations ===

CONFIGURATE-SLOT: Set up memory slots and window boundaries
LIST-CONFIGURATION: Display current memory configuration
MEMORY-TEST: Run diagnostic memory tests
MEMORY-DUMP: Examine memory contents
INVESTIGATE-BANK: Analyze bank status and limits
AUTOINITIATE-BANK: Auto-initialize new banks

=== Error Handling ===

* Error logging to memory with address/data capture
* Error table suppression for known failures
* Interrupt-driven error notification
* Error investigator diagnostics

=== System Startup ===

'''Cold Start''': Full initialization of all banks
'''Warm Start''': Re-initialization after restart
'''System Expansion''': Adding banks or ports dynamically
'''Termination''': Graceful shutdown procedures

== Multiport Memory Evolution ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Generation !! Memory Unit !! Used In !! Status
|-
| MPM-3 || 16KW per module || Early ND-100 || Obsolete
|-
| MPM-4 || 32KW per module || Mid ND-100 era || Obsolete
|-
| '''MPM-5''' || '''64KW banks, 256 banks max''' || '''ND-100, ND-500, ND-500-II''' || '''Last of the classic generation'''
|-
| MFbus || (successor) || ND-5000 || Modern replacement
|}

Introduction to multiport concepts documented in [[ND-10.006]]<ref name="channel"/> (Multiport Memory Channel Specifications)

Internal bus architecture documented in ND-10.005<ref name="bus"/> (Multiport Memory 5 Bus Description)

== Synchronization Primitives ==

MPM-5 provided low-level synchronization for multi-processor systems:

* '''Atomic test-and-set operations''' for semaphores
* '''Mailbox mechanisms''' for inter-CPU messages
* '''Interrupt signaling''' via shared flags
* '''TSET instructions''' for mutual exclusion (ND-500/ND-100)

Before [[NUCLEUS]] formalized message passing, MPM-5 was the foundation for all [[ND-500]] / [[ND-100]] inter-processor communication.

== See Also ==

* [[ND-100]] — Primary processor using MPM-5
* [[ND-500]] — 32-bit coprocessor for MPM-5
* [[ND-500-II]] — ND-500 with OCTOBUS using MPM-5
* [[NUCLEUS]] — Message-passing runtime built on MPM-5 (ND-500-II/ND-5000)
* [[MFbus]] — Modern successor to MPM-5 (ND-5000)
* [[OCTOBUS]] — Serial signaling complement to MPM-5
* [[Multiport Memory]] — General concept and alternatives

== Product Numbers ==

* Manual: '''ND-10.004.01''' (MPM-5 Technical Description, June 1984)
* Related specs: '''ND-10.005''' (Bus Description), '''ND-10.006''' (Channel Specifications)

== References ==

<references>
<ref name="technical">Norsk Data Document '''ND-10.004.01''' ''MPM 5 Technical Description'', June 1984</ref>
<ref name="nd100">Norsk Data Document '''ND-06.015''' ''ND-100 Functional Description'' — MPM-5 integration in ND-100 systems</ref>
<ref name="nd500">Norsk Data Document '''ND-05.011''' ''ND-500 Hardware Description'' — MPM-5 integration in ND-500 systems</ref>
<ref name="channel">Norsk Data Document '''ND-10.006''' ''Multiport Memory Channel Specifications'' — General multiport memory concepts</ref>
<ref name="bus">Norsk Data Document '''ND-10.005''' ''Multiport Memory 5 Bus Description'' — Controller module and internal bus</ref>
</references>

== External Links ==

* [[Documentation list-Memory Systems#ND-10.004_MPM-5_Technical_Description|ND-10.004.01 MPM-5 Technical Description]]
* [[Documentation list-Memory Systems#ND-10.005_MPM-5_Bus_Description|ND-10.005 Multiport Memory 5 Bus Description]]
* [[Documentation list-Memory Systems#ND-10.006_Multiport_Memory_Channel_Specifications|ND-10.006 Multiport Memory Channel Specifications]]

[[Category:Memory Systems]]
[[Category:ND-100]]
[[Category:ND-500]]
[[Category:Multi-processor Systems]]
[[Category:Hardware]]

MPM-5 - Revision history

RHansen: layout fix

RHansen: New article describing MPM5 memory