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From: news@udenva.cair.du.edu (netnews)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,comp.org.decus
Subject: More RSX questions
Message-ID: <9780@udenva.cair.du.edu>
Date: 11 Feb 88 14:18:36 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Univ. of Denver, CO, USA
Lines: 63
Keywords: RSX, C, multiprocessors

Well, I have received an encouraging response to my inquiry into whether
there is sufficient interest in PDPs to have a special newsgroup. In addition
some DEC people are asking for this as evidence to their management to prove
that DEC needs to get agressive again in the PDP market. Therefore I am asking
that anyone who wishes to see a PDP newsgroup send me email stating that fact.

While you are thinking about that, on the 24th Feb. we are having a meeting with
some of DEC's upper management in both the PDP and realtime areas (for example 
the manager of all PDP software development). We want to ask sharp questions,
raise serious issues and give praise where praise is due. Therefore please
consider sending me your thoughts on the following questions and anything else
that you would like to see asked.

	1> Would a PDP Ada be of interest? Of what type - a run-time only
Micropower Pascal type system, a layered product, a straight cross-compiler?

	2> Would you like to see development tools for VAXELN ported to the
Ultrix environment?

	3> Should DEC resume its multiprocessor PDP project? We where told that 
the J-11 chip has 4 (?) pins that where implemented purposely for 
multiprocessing and that it would be relatively easy to put several J-11s on
one board. RSX already has multiprocessing hooks built in (for M-Plus at least).
Imagine a parallel F77 on the PDP!!!!!

	4> DEC informed us that the KXJ-11 coprocessor board will be released
in 4-6 months. This board will contain a J-11, 512 kb local memory, 128 kb
shared memory, 2 serial ports configurable as asyn. or sync., one 20 bit
parallel port and 3 counter-timers. The board has no bus master capability.
What else do you the user want? We suggested a 4 channel 12-bit A/D. Remember
that the I/O devices on the KXJ are local, involving no bus traffic and that
the KXJ will need to go through the host CPU, either a MVII or a bus master PDP,
to use off-board devices. How about 1 Mb as an option? What about software 
support? Currently RT-11 and RSX will be supported. Do we want any extensions,
drivers, etc. to allow near multiprocessor operation? A CSR and interrupt lines
to get the host's attension?

	5> Is there interest in making a KXJ-11 clone that is a bus master? 
The board would be something like this:
			J-11 CPU with optional FPU
			2 serial ports
			1 parallel port
			512 kb, 1Mb, 2 Mb memory options
			4 channel 12-bit A/D
			2 channel 12-bit D/A
This would be a full stand-alone SBC.

	This a chance to funnel user wants back to Maynard, so please send
me email with your thoughts. I will try to post a summation of DEC's responses
but remember that some of the items may be covered by non-disclosure agreements.

The PDP is alive and well, so let's keeping pushing DEC in the right direction!
Remember that I need your responses no later then 23 Feb. AM to use them.

			rneitzel@udenva

			Richard Neitzel
			Rockwell International
			Computer Aided Manufacturing and Control
			Box 464 M/S T881A
			Golden, CO 80402

			303-966-7203