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From: lamaster@pioneer.arpa (Hugh LaMaster)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: ETA
Message-ID: <1693@ames.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Jun-87 11:38:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: ames.1693
Posted: Fri Jun  5 11:38:50 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Jun-87 07:01:49 EDT
References: <3643@spool.WISC.EDU>
Sender: usenet@ames.UUCP
Reply-To: lamaster@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (Hugh LaMaster)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Lines: 31

In article <3643@spool.WISC.EDU> lm@cottage.WISC.EDU (Larry McVoy) writes:
>Hi.  Does anyone out there know about the ETA machine?  It's supposed

The ETA instruction set architecture is a superset of the Cyber 205.  The ETA
machine has added instructions to handle block transfers from a large (~256MW)
shared memory, and to handle multiple processors, and multi-tasking (like Cray
X-MP).  As far as a single user is concerned, the difference is multi-tasking
and shared memory.  The shared memory is like the Cray SSD.  Since the basic
instruction set is the same as the Cyber 205, that would be the place to start
to learn about the ETA.  (Another non-architectural difference is a faster
clock than the 205).  

There is supposed to be a new operating system for the Cyber 205 which
provides Un*x and Posix kernel services.  Unfortunately, the first machine, at
Florida state, doesn't have the new software yet.  When it does, both Cray
(with Unicos) and CDC/ETA will have unix systems on their supercomputers.  The
old CDC operating system for the 205 is VSOS, which is based on LTSS; users of
CTSS on Crays will find it similar [that may be good or bad depending on your
point of view :-)   ]


  Hugh LaMaster, m/s 233-9,  UUCP {seismo,topaz,lll-crg,ucbvax}!
  NASA Ames Research Center                ames!pioneer!lamaster
  Moffett Field, CA 94035    ARPA lamaster@ames-pioneer.arpa
  Phone:  (415)694-6117      ARPA lamaster@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov

"In order to promise genuine progress, the acronym RISC should stand 
for REGULAR (not reduced) instruction set computer." - Wirth

("Any opinions expressed herein are solely the responsibility of the
author and do not represent the opinions of NASA or the U.S. Government")