14 Jan
2008
14 Jan
'08
4:43 p.m.
I worked for the Gould Computer Systems Division in Urbana IL from '86 to '88,
fresh out of college, helping first with the BSD based Un*x operating system
kernel for the Concept/Powernode line of processors and then a bit on the NP1
processor before I left to work for BBN Advanced Computers Inc. in Cambridge MA.
Gould CSD had the certified secure Un*x as well as the real time extensions. The
Concept/Powernode line of processors sold primarily into the real time defense
and factory automation markets running their proprietary real time operating
system, which I cannot recall the name of after all these years.
The machines were very fast and cost effective for the time vs. other minis
which ran Un*x. They were ECL based, so very power hungry and utilized an IBM
like memory/address architecture.
Shortly after I left there, they sold off the company. I have a t-shirt
somewhere with the Gould logo and the words "Gould lost $300M and all I
got was this lousy t-shirt".
Dan Roganti wrote:
That's really nice to hear about this. I'll have to tell my old friends
about this. Whereabouts is this located ?
There's still a complete facility in operation that's 4 acres large at
Vandeberg AFB with 22 machines using 32/55 and 32/75 series along with 2
CDC Cyber 840 machines. This is still reliable after 30yrs and used for
missile launch control in the TIPS system. One of my friends runs a
maintenance company that provides support to this operation.
I just heard from Al Kossow that there's also a 810 machine at the
Houston Computer museum.
Keys wrote:
We have complete SEL 810 with doc's, programs on paper tape, test
equipment, spare parts and other items. It was turned off for the last
time in July of 2006. We hope to set it all and have it running later
this year. They had another complete system but we had to pass on it.
John