Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!pprg.unm.edu!swilson
From: swilson@pprg.unm.edu (Scott Wilson [CHTM])
Newsgroups: comp.periphs
Subject: Re: backplane-less computers
Keywords: SCSI, Ethernet
Message-ID: <23789@pprg.unm.edu>
Date: 31 Mar 89 06:15:09 GMT
References: <842@mplvax.EDU> <2908@spdcc.SPDCC.COM>
Reply-To: swilson@pprg.unm.edu (Scott Wilson [CHTM])
Distribution: usa
Organization: U. of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Lines: 31

In article <2908@spdcc.SPDCC.COM> dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer) writes:
>In article <842@mplvax.EDU> cdl@mplvax.ucsd.edu.UUCP (Carl Lowenstein) writes:
>>How can one connect real-world I/O devices to these boxes, when the
>>device does not happen to be a disk drive, 8mm or 4mm tape, or
>>terminal?  What about more conventional things such as 9-track
>>magtape, A:D converters, IEEE-488 bus, CAMAC, etc.?
>
      v--------
>You don't.  You buy the more expensive versions of their boxes which DO
>have a backplane.  I don't think you will find all machines sold without
>backplanes, but for those applications which DON'T require the extra
>expense and complexity of a backplane, it's nice to pass on the cost
>savings to customers.
>-- 
>Steve Dyer
>dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
>dyer@arktouros.mit.edu

Actually you can buy Ethernet Crate Controllers for CAMAC off the shelf
from Kinetic Systems. I know they have VMS drivers, not sure about
UNIX.  Since the controller is just an Ethernet device you should be
able to rig up something right quick with sockets() et. al.

Scott Wilson
Research Assistant
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505)277-0780

Disclaimer: I hereby do disclaim everything that ever was, is, will be,
won't be, and can't be. And if you ask me I'll deny it.