March 2026 - cctalk - classiccmp.org

Re: IBM MPX OS info c. 1970

by brian＠quarterbyte.com

The 1800 used the 1130's instruction set but from what I heard the CPU was faster. (Integer multiply and divide in particular). And it had some other differences, e.g. index registers were real registers, not the first three locations of core. Also it had a couple more instructions, and the ability to make sections of core readonly once initialized -- I believe this was done with toggle switches rather than under software control. It's been a while. From what I wrote on ibm1130.org/today, apparently at one time I believed Mike Ross and Bob Rosenbloom have 1800's I have never found a copy of MPX either as a distribution card set or disk image. Would LOVE to have it so we can try it out on the ibm1130 simulator in simh Brian

2 months

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IBM MPX OS info c. 1970

by Steve Lewis

Hey all, I came across an OS called MPX for the IBM 1800 system. bitsavers has some documentation, but again I was hoping to get some sense (or photo) of what it "looked like" - process control list, disk/memory resource, or how one might interact or "run" FORTRAN on it. My understanding is the 1800 was basically an upright (fridge-style) version of the 1130? MPX is described as supporting both real-time and background processing. A main use case seems to be in factory automation (power plants, oil refineries, steel mills). Per this article, it looks like there was an effort to make a PC (x86) port of this MPX around 1989. https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/65294.71219 (to me, making it a comtemporary to MINIX) Searching for IBM MPX info is confused since it looks like CDC had an MPX OS in the 1980s, and Microsoft more recently had some components called MPX (along with Intel once upon a time having MPX instructions). So it's a fairly overloaded term. Around the year 2000, there was an interview with Ray Gwinn (developer of high performance SIO drivers for OS/2) - in there, he describes using MPX on an 1800, as early as 1968. bitsavers main MPX archive doc is a 5th adition from 1970. Not urgent, was just a curiosity. I didn't see MPX mentioned in this epic IBM OS discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip0cQiQjd18 Maybe IBM MPX got overshadowed by the RSX-11 systems - but there are claim that IBM 1800's being in use as recently as 2010. -Steve

2 months, 1 week

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Need Heathkit H8 floppy data recovered

by Steven Stengel

Hello, Is there anyone here who has a working H8 or maybe H89 who can recover data from floppies? Thanks- Steve.

2 months, 1 week

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[OT] Tandy Assembly

by me＠scifidan.com

Tandy Assembly is Oct 2-4. Anyone planning to attend this year? I am going to get a hall pass from the old battleaxe. The airline prices are really good right now, for me at least. I am going to be a sponsor. Daniel sysop | Air & Wave BBS finger | calcmandan(a)bbs.erb.pw

2 months, 1 week

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VCF East - April 17-19 - Wall, NJ - Tickets

by Jeffrey Brace

Vintage Computer Festival East 2026 April 17-19 InfoAge Science & History Center in Wall, NJ Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/vcfeast2026?c=cctalk Discount Ticket Code: VCFEAST2026 Event Information: https://whova.com/web/d5dQ0Jxz4kVT1adFqNXwtZwcEf9ga1Zmqu4NwOb0oV0=/ Jeff Brace VCF East Showrunner

2 months, 1 week

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Re: Seeking information on the CSTS Timesharing service

by Greg Ward

I worked on CSTS for about 25 years... starting in 1970

2 months, 2 weeks

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Reminded: Glen Ellyn CCC meeting - March 28th

by Mike Katz

*Just a reminder* The next Glen Ellyn CCC chat and repair meeting will be held on March 28th, 2026. Anytime after 2PM until we all get to tired to solder and talk. We will order Pizza around 5:30pm. As usual Beer and Pop will be provided. I look forward to seeing you all there. 385 Saint Charles Rd Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 +1 (773) 414-1044 (Cell)

2 months, 2 weeks

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Reminded: Glen Ellyn CCC meeting - March 28th

by Mike Katz

*Just a reminder* The next Glen Ellyn CCC chat and repair meeting will be held on March 28th, 2026. Anytime after 2PM until we all get to tired to solder and talk. We will order Pizza around 5:30pm. As usual Beer and Pop will be provided. I look forward to seeing you all there. 385 Saint Charles Rd Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 +1 (773) 414-1044 (Cell)

2 months, 2 weeks

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Need to fix networking on a dos computer that runs a cnc machine

by Devin D'Amico

Hello all, I am at a bit of a loss. Looking to repair a dos computer that runs a big cnc machine. I need to load some kind of packet driver, so that the pc tcp software from the company "ftp software" can be loaded. Another supporting machine passes data to this machine to drive the machine. Attached are some screenshots. Original card was a pci etherexpress 100. The packet driver used is in the screenshots attached. I no longer have a intel card, is there a way to just drop in any old pci card and make it work with the tcp ip software? I am trying to better understand, as i have not done much work with packet drivers. I will post back with some more info. Any help much appriciated. --Devin D.

2 months, 2 weeks

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HOTEL BLOCKS EXPIRING Mar. 16 for VCF East 2026 in Wall, NJ

by Jeffrey Brace

HOTEL BLOCKS EXPIRING Mar. 16 for VCF East 2026. VCF East takes place at InfoAge Science and History Museums in Wall, NJ, April 17-19. Hotel blocks: https://vcfed.org/vcf-east-hotel-blocks/ Event information: https://bit.ly/vcfe2026site Jeff Brace VCF East Showrunner

2 months, 2 weeks

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