Aucbvax.2445
fa.works
utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!works
Sun Jul 26 10:41:17 1981
INFORMATION RE INTERLISP DOLPHINS
>From GEOFF@SRI-CSL Sun Jul 26 08:08:44 1981
Ed Feigenbaum received the following message from Mr. R.E. Bomeisler,
Marketing Manager for Xerox EOS, in response to repeated requests for
more information about Dolphins necessary for planning acquisitions.
Since others may be in the same situation, Ed wants to pass the
information along to other computer scientists.  You may forward
it if you wish.

Tom R.

          *********************************************

7/16/81

   "In our telephone discussion, Ed, you indicated that Xerox
was not providing you and potential users with enough information
to assist you in designing your networks and planning for future
growth.  I would like to apprise you of the steps we have taken
at XEOS to fill the information gap.

    Marcel Pahlavan is the program manager and is the focal
point for responding to customer inquiries on interface and other
technical matters.  On August 1, Terry Haney will join the staff
to provide hardware expertise.  An Interlisp software expert is
being actively recruited.  In addition, Pahlavan can call on other
system experts within XEOS to solve specific customer problems.

    With regard to 3M bps Ethernet networks, the 1100 system
includes the hardware necessary for connection.  In addition,
XEOS will make available the hardware necessary to connect the
DEC Unibus. This includes the DEC Unibus Ethernet Interface
Board, Transceiver, Terminator and Connector.  This hardware
enables connection to 3M bps Ethernet on the DEC PDP-11 family
aswell as the DEC 2020 and the VAX family.  To connect the
DEC 2040, 2050, and 2060 to 3M bps Ethernet will require either
development of a Massbus Ethernet Interface Board or a PDP-11
front end interface. When either of these is developed within
the ARPA-sponsored research community, XEOS will facilitate
distribution.

    XEOS is a systems organization with the skills to develop
special hardware or software.  It is expected that we will be
called upon to modify the 1100 hardware or software to meet
special customer requirements.

    With regard to DEC hardware/software, there exists within
the ARPA research community a number of special systems.  Many
of these exist on your own campus.  As we become familiar with
thesesystems, XEOS will serve as a facilitator and will make
certain that potential 1100 users are familiar with interface
software that exists or is under development.  To the best of
our knowledge, the following systems have been or are being
connected to the 3M bps Ethernet: KI-10/TENEX, KL-10/TENEX,
2020/TOPS-20, 2050/2060/TOPS-20, and VAX/UNIX.  XEOS will
facilitate distribution of the Stanford-modified PUP software.
As you know, this software runs under TENEX and TOPS-20 and
enables DEC KA-10, KI-10, KL-10, and DEC 2020 to act as file
server to the 1100.

    The dissemination and distribution of information would
be greatly enhanced by formation of an 1100 users group.  XEOS
is prepared to assist in the organization of such a group.

    XEOS plans to make available the necessary hardware and
software to connect the 1100 system to the 10 M bps Ethernet,
thus providing access to the Xerox 8000 Network System.  We
are also investigating the feasibility of an internet gateway.

    With regard to 1100/Interlisp performance, continual
improvements are being made in the code.  The system is five
times faster than it was a year ago and significant further
improvement is expected.

    Since the 1100 is a powerful, flexible machine, it can
be expanded in a number of ways: physical memory from 576K
words (1.15 M Bytes) to 768K words (1.54 M Bytes), virtual
address space from 4M to 16M words, and increased local disk
storage capacity.  Furthermore, there is sufficient cabinet
space to add special functions that might be needed by certain
customers: floating point arithmetic, color display interface,
image processing, and other special logic, etc.  XEOS is inves-
tigating the feasibility of adding to the 1100 system: color
display, low cost bit map display, large capacity file server,
and 5700 electronic printing system.  The architecture, I/O
structure, and bandwidth of the 1100 make it the ideal machine
for dedicated applications in the research and scientific
environment.

    In addition to Interlisp, XEOS is planning to implement
Smalltalk on the 1100.  The schedule is yet to be determined.

    As a key ingredient of the overall 1100 program, it is
planned to release a version of Interlisp on the Star processor
after January 1, 1983.  This will provide Interlisp to future
users on a very cost-effective basis.

    I trust, Ed, that this information will enable you and
others to plan system expansion."

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