NDIX: Difference between revisions

From NDWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Initial page)
 
(Add Software requirement.)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:NDIX-C beta tape.jpg | thumb | Tape with a beta version of NDIX version C. Unknown if it is source code or a binary copy.]]
[[Image:NDIX-C beta tape.jpg | thumb | Tape with a beta version of NDIX version C. Unknown if it is source code or a binary copy.]]
'''NDIX''' is a UNIX clone running on [[ND-500 family|ND-500]] or [[ND-5000 family|ND-5000]] hardware. The OS runs on the ND-5000 CPU and uses the ND-100 part of the machine as an I/O processor. NDIX is based on the Berkeley 4.2 BSD vesion of UNIX. It also implements most of the SysV interface definitions by AT&T.<br>
'''NDIX''' is the name of the Norsk Data port of BSD unix to the [[ND-500 family|ND-500]] and [[ND-5000 family|ND-5000]] hardware. The OS runs on the ND-500(0) CPU and uses the ND-100 part of the machine as an I/O processor.<br>
The ND-100 CPU runs [[SINTRAN III]] and communicates via [[XMSG]] with NDIX. Seen from the ND-100, the ND-5000 is a slave CPU and NDIX is implemented as a separate ND-5000 process. It is possible to run other processes on the ND-5000 CPU beside the NDIX process. The internal priority of which process to run in NDIX is handled by the ND-5000, a number of interrupt levels are simulated by communication in shared memory.
The ND-100 CPU runs [[SINTRAN III]] and communicates via [[XMSG]] with NDIX, but compared to how the interaction between the ND-100 and ND-500(0) works when running Sintran it  is quite different for NDIX.<br>
In the Sintran world the ND-100 launches different processes on the ND-500(0) and mage them from the ND-100.  In the NDIX world it works in the opposite way; all process management is on the ND-500(0) (NDIX "owns" the ND-500(0)) and the ND-100 is only used as an I/O processor. This is achieved by using a special NDIX microcode on the ND-500(0) and a specially generated Sintran for the ND-100.


NDIX was an effort to gain market shares on the emerging UNIX market for servers. The development came late in Norsk Data's history and with declining sales and cut-backs the NDIX project was abandoned.
NDIX was an effort to gain market shares on the emerging UNIX market for servers. The last version of the BSD-based version of NDIX (NDIX-C) was released in 1989, and since the  development of the ND line of hardware ended so did NDIX.<br>
Note that there was a software called NDIX-V that did run on the 88k machines ND sold.  This was just System-V for 88k and nothing ND-specific about it.


== Hardware requirement ==
== Hardware requirement ==
; NDIX-A and NDIX-B (4.2BSD-based) only run on ND-500. :
* ND-500/CX (second generation, MPM 5 and 500/2)
* ND-500/CX (second generation, MPM 5 and 500/2)
* 2-6 MByte private memory for the ND-100 CPU
* 2-6 MByte private memory for the ND-100 CPU
* Up to 32 MByte shared memory
* Up to 32 MByte shared memory


== NDIX development centers ==
There were at least one center working on the NDIX system.
* Norsk Data LTD, Benham Valence, Newbury, Berkshire, England.
* Rumored that there was a center in Luleå Tekniska Högskola, Luleå, Sweden.


== Software included ==
; NDIX-C (4.3BSD-based) only runs on ND-5000. :
* Bourne Shell
* ND-5400, ND-5500, ND-5700 or ND-5800.
* C-Shell
* 32-bit ND-120 CPU.
* C
* 2-6 MByte private memory for the ND-100 CPU
* F77
* Up to 32 MByte shared memory
* PASCAL
 
== History ==
The beginning of NDIX started at at Luleå Tekniska Högskola (LuTH)  (now Luleå University, www.ltu.se) were a C compiler (LCC, the Lulea C Compiler) was written for ND-500.
This did draw quite some interest from ND, so people from ND Service Team were stationed at LuTH working with porting 4.2BSD to ND-500.
The resulting operating system were called NDIX-A.  It was used only internally and at LuTH.
 
ND Service Team continued development of NDIX, mostly focusing on modifying Sintran and the ND-500 microcode to better work together with NDIX. Also a better compiler were added to the system, a port of the Portable C Compiler for the system.  This version was released as NDIX-B.
 
The last version of NDIX, the NDIX-C version, was a port of 4.3BSD and was released not long after NDIX-B.  It was ported by Norsk Data LTD, Benham Valence, Newbury, Berkshire, England and did only run on the ND-5000 machines.  NDIX-C became widely used, mostly at universities and research facilities.
 
== Software requirement ==
Besides the software for NDIX itself, there were a need for a special version of Sintran itself.
* NDIX-B needs Sintran K/VSX Workmode 300.
* NDIX-C needs Sintran K/VSX Workmode 600 (or later). Latest release was Workmode 602.
 
Also, a special microcode for the ND-500(0) adapted for NDIX was needed.


== Releases ==
== Releases ==
This section lists the releases of NDIX.
This section lists the releases of NDIX.
; A-version :
; A-version : Not delivered outside of Norsk Data.
; B-version : 1987-10-26, sources are available on tape.
; B-version : 1987-10-26, sources are available on tape.
; C-version : At least in beta version, sources available on tape
; C-version : At least in beta version, sources available on tape
NDIX Release C product number [[ND 211308]]
== ND Product numbers ==
* [[ND-210746]] NDIX for 16 users<ref>[http://sintran.com/library/libhw/libhw.html sintran.com Norsk Data Library, Software Description Catalogue]</ref>
* [[ND-210903]] NDIX for 32 users
* [[ND-210904]] NDIX for 64 users
* [[ND-210905]] NDIX for over 64 users


==References==
==References==
Line 32: Line 53:
* [http://sintran.com/sintran/library/libpdpi/ND-210905-A1-EN.pdf ND-210905]  
* [http://sintran.com/sintran/library/libpdpi/ND-210905-A1-EN.pdf ND-210905]  
* NORSK DATA UNIX (NDIX) - ND-5000/ND-100 Interface Specification
* NORSK DATA UNIX (NDIX) - ND-5000/ND-100 Interface Specification
* NDIX Memory Layout
* List of special commands for communicating with SINTRAN III
* {{ND-doc|30.055}}
* {{ND-doc|30.055}}
* {{ND-doc|60.244}}
* {{ND-doc|60.244}}
Line 38: Line 61:
* {{ND-doc|60.247}}
* {{ND-doc|60.247}}
* {{ND-doc|70.003}}
* {{ND-doc|70.003}}
=== NDIX Release C ===
* {{ND-doc|60.327.1 EN}}
* {{ND-doc|60.328.1 EN}}
* {{ND-doc|60.329.1 EN}}
* {{ND-doc|60.330.1 EN}}
* {{ND-doc|60.331.1 EN}}


[[Category:Norsk Data software]]
[[Category:Norsk Data software]]
[[Category:Operating Systems]]
[[Category:Operating Systems]]
[[Category:NDIX]]
[[Category:NDIX]]

Latest revision as of 12:27, 28 October 2025

Tape with a beta version of NDIX version C. Unknown if it is source code or a binary copy.

NDIX is the name of the Norsk Data port of BSD unix to the ND-500 and ND-5000 hardware. The OS runs on the ND-500(0) CPU and uses the ND-100 part of the machine as an I/O processor.
The ND-100 CPU runs SINTRAN III and communicates via XMSG with NDIX, but compared to how the interaction between the ND-100 and ND-500(0) works when running Sintran it is quite different for NDIX.
In the Sintran world the ND-100 launches different processes on the ND-500(0) and mage them from the ND-100. In the NDIX world it works in the opposite way; all process management is on the ND-500(0) (NDIX "owns" the ND-500(0)) and the ND-100 is only used as an I/O processor. This is achieved by using a special NDIX microcode on the ND-500(0) and a specially generated Sintran for the ND-100.

NDIX was an effort to gain market shares on the emerging UNIX market for servers. The last version of the BSD-based version of NDIX (NDIX-C) was released in 1989, and since the development of the ND line of hardware ended so did NDIX.
Note that there was a software called NDIX-V that did run on the 88k machines ND sold. This was just System-V for 88k and nothing ND-specific about it.

Hardware requirement

NDIX-A and NDIX-B (4.2BSD-based) only run on ND-500.
  • ND-500/CX (second generation, MPM 5 and 500/2)
  • 2-6 MByte private memory for the ND-100 CPU
  • Up to 32 MByte shared memory


NDIX-C (4.3BSD-based) only runs on ND-5000.
  • ND-5400, ND-5500, ND-5700 or ND-5800.
  • 32-bit ND-120 CPU.
  • 2-6 MByte private memory for the ND-100 CPU
  • Up to 32 MByte shared memory

History

The beginning of NDIX started at at Luleå Tekniska Högskola (LuTH) (now Luleå University, www.ltu.se) were a C compiler (LCC, the Lulea C Compiler) was written for ND-500. This did draw quite some interest from ND, so people from ND Service Team were stationed at LuTH working with porting 4.2BSD to ND-500. The resulting operating system were called NDIX-A. It was used only internally and at LuTH.

ND Service Team continued development of NDIX, mostly focusing on modifying Sintran and the ND-500 microcode to better work together with NDIX. Also a better compiler were added to the system, a port of the Portable C Compiler for the system. This version was released as NDIX-B.

The last version of NDIX, the NDIX-C version, was a port of 4.3BSD and was released not long after NDIX-B. It was ported by Norsk Data LTD, Benham Valence, Newbury, Berkshire, England and did only run on the ND-5000 machines. NDIX-C became widely used, mostly at universities and research facilities.

Software requirement

Besides the software for NDIX itself, there were a need for a special version of Sintran itself.

  • NDIX-B needs Sintran K/VSX Workmode 300.
  • NDIX-C needs Sintran K/VSX Workmode 600 (or later). Latest release was Workmode 602.

Also, a special microcode for the ND-500(0) adapted for NDIX was needed.

Releases

This section lists the releases of NDIX.

A-version
Not delivered outside of Norsk Data.
B-version
1987-10-26, sources are available on tape.
C-version
At least in beta version, sources available on tape

NDIX Release C product number ND 211308

ND Product numbers

References

  1. ↑ sintran.com Norsk Data Library, Software Description Catalogue

NDIX Release C

  • Norsk Data Document ND–60.327.1 EN [[Documentation list#Unknown|]]
  • Norsk Data Document ND–60.328.1 EN [[Documentation list#Unknown|]]
  • Norsk Data Document ND–60.329.1 EN [[Documentation list#Unknown|]]
  • Norsk Data Document ND–60.330.1 EN [[Documentation list#Unknown|]]
  • Norsk Data Document ND–60.331.1 EN [[Documentation list#Unknown|]]
Retrieved from "https://www.ndwiki.org/index.php?title=NDIX&oldid=7783"