Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!rutgers!ames!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!pyramid!csg From: csg@pyramid.pyramid.com (Carl S. Gutekunst) Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards Subject: Re: Information on BSD 4.[23] on two/multiple processor systems Message-ID: <4514@pyramid.pyramid.com> Date: Fri, 7-Aug-87 19:50:09 EDT Article-I.D.: pyramid.4514 Posted: Fri Aug 7 19:50:09 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 9-Aug-87 07:23:21 EDT References: <1112@elrond.CalComp.COM> Reply-To: csg@pyramid.UUCP (Carl S. Gutekunst) Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA Lines: 57 Keywords: BSD 4.[23] Multiple Processor Systems Summary: Commercially Available Multiprocessor UNIX Systems. > o Which systems DO have a dual (or multiple) CPU UN*X? All commercially available UNIX ports that run on multiprocessor systems are proprietary -- they only support the vendors own hardware. The UNIX multi- processor implementations that I am familiar with include, alphabetically: _______________________________________________________________________________ AT&T has a twin-processor version of the 3B20, but I believe it runs a special real-time version of UNIX. Someone from AT&T will certainly elucidate.... Celerity 1260D: a pair of proprietary RISC processors, very roughly 4 VAX MIPS each but with exceptional floating point for the price. Master/Slave, 4.3BSD. Computer Consoles Inc. Power 6/32MP: a pair of proprietary CPUs, 7 MIPS or so each, master/slave. Choice of 4.3BSD or System VR2. Counterpoint: 16Mhz 68020 workstation, up to four CPUs. Symmetric, I think, but this was never was clear to me. System VR3 with Berkeley networking. DEC: I don't have the numbers handy, but DEC has a least one dual processor system that is supported by ULTRIX, master/slave. And of course there are a number of university BSD multiprocessor ports for VAXen. Encore Multimax: up to ten 32332 microprocessors, symmetric, choice of 4.2BSD or System VR3. This machine seems to currently be popular with universities, an honor that changes annually. :-) Elxsi 6400: Up to 10 monster ECL processors, an honest 10 VAX 780 MIPS each. Symmetric. Very usable proprietary operating system called EMBOS, with a dual port UNIX implementated on top. This is not a multiprocessor UNIX p_e_r_ s_e_, but a very interesting solution to the problem. Gould NPL series: up to 10 12-MIPS proprietary ECL processors, Symmetric, dual port UNIX. I don't know if these are shipping yet. Pyramid 98x and 9000 series: up to two 3.2 MIPS or four 7 MIPS proprietary processors, symmetric, dual port UNIX (System Vr3/4.2BSD + some 4.3BSD). Sequent Balance 8000, Balance 21000, and Symmetry: up to 12 or 30 NSC 32032 microprocessors, and up to 30 Intel 80386 microprocessors, respectively. Fully symmetric, obviously. Partial dual port UNIX (4.2BSD + some System V). The Symmetry has been announced; volume shipments are expected in April '88. _______________________________________________________________________________ An interesting observation is the dominance of *BIG* boxes in the UNIX multi- processor arena; only the Celerity and the Counterpoint would even remotely qualify as "personal" or "workstation" systems. The others are marketed as multiuser systems for a large user base (from 48 to 512 users), where the main purpose of the multiple processors is to support a large number of different tasks, as opposed to subdividing single large tasks. (I don't mean the sub- division of large tasks isn't possible, just that none of these are marketed that way.) My apologies for any omissions or errors; I'm sure the approriate people will flame me appropriately. :-) You can contact the vendors for more info.