16 Aug
2004
16 Aug
'04
5:20 p.m.
From: "Tony Duell" <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
It is, of course, possible to make a processor where
the microcode can be
changed by the user. Many early graphics workstations (the PERQ, many of
the Xerox machines, etc) had microcode that was loaded from disk when the
machine booted. WCS (Writeable Control Store) options were available for
a few models of PDP11 to allow the user to write microcode.
My first encounter with 8" floppies was with a S/370, IIRC.
There was a vertical floppy drive near the top of the system.
What was that used for ? Microcode, diagnostics, .... ?
Nico
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