29 Dec
2007
29 Dec
'07
3:50 p.m.
I was dismantling some old stuff that I got as a lot and came across
this beastie.
It's a National Semiconductor Microcomputer Systems BLC 80/10.
Clone of an Intel iSBC 80/10.
Single board 8080A computer with sockets for PROMs and 1K of RAM
onboard, several parallel ports, one serial port, and Multibus
interface for expansion. As used in this case, it was standalone with
only the power pins on the Multibus connected (and the I/O at the top).
As the only Multibus backplane I have is an IRIS 3000 series
(double-deep), it's available.
29 Dec
29 Dec
7:18 p.m.
New subject: Multibus, was Re: new find: NS BLC80/10
On Saturday 29 December 2007 18:50, Scott Quinn wrote:
I was dismantling some old stuff that I got as a lot
and came across
this beastie.
It's a National Semiconductor Microcomputer Systems BLC 80/10.
Clone of an Intel iSBC 80/10.
Single board 8080A computer with sockets for PROMs and 1K of RAM
onboard, several parallel ports, one serial port, and Multibus
interface for expansion. As used in this case, it was standalone with
only the power pins on the Multibus connected (and the I/O at the top).
As the only Multibus backplane I have is an IRIS 3000 series
(double-deep), it's available.
I remember vaguely running into some literature that mentioned multibus some
years back, but I never encountered any of the actual equipment. Heck, the
literature didn't even mention prices, though I got the impression that it
was kinda spendy compared to some of the other choices that were around at
the time.
Is there much of this stuff out there?
Any pointers to technical descriptions and such? I really don't know much
about it and I'd like to rectify that...
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin
7:27 p.m.
New subject: Multibus, was Re: new find: NS BLC80/10
Roy J. Tellason said the following on 12/29/2007 10:18 PM:
I remember vaguely running into some literature that
mentioned multibus some
years back, but I never encountered any of the actual equipment. Heck, the
literature didn't even mention prices, though I got the impression that it
was kinda spendy compared to some of the other choices that were around at
the time.
Is there much of this stuff out there?
Any pointers to technical descriptions and such? I really don't know much
about it and I'd like to rectify that..
The Multibus was an Intel invention and has its roots in the bus
structure that was used in the Intel MDS-800. As I was told by Intel
reps, the Intel MDS-800, the development system, was so well received
that end users in industry wanted the pieces that made it up to use in
turnkey systems. Recognizing the market Intel developed an entire
family of boards, starting with the SBC 80/10, around it, at some time
naming it "Multibus". Over the years it was enhanced to handle 16- and
even some 32-bit processors.
The 80/10 was based on the 8080 cpu and had ram, EPROM, I/O, all on one
board. The bus was used in subsequent development systems such as the
MDS Series II, Series III, and several systems based on the RMX and
Xenix operating systems.
I'm sure others here will elaborate further, but that's kind of a
nutshell version.
Dave Mabry
8:01 p.m.
New subject: Multibus, was Re: new find: NS BLC80/10
Dave Mabry wrote:
The 80/10 was based on the 8080 cpu and had ram,
EPROM, I/O, all on one
board. The bus was used in subsequent development systems such as the
MDS Series II, Series III, and several systems based on the RMX and
Xenix operating systems.
ISTR it's what my NCR Tower uses for the I/O bus (although system memory
access is via a separate bus).
I'm sure others here will elaborate further, but
that's kind of a
nutshell version.
Google led me to:
http://www.techfest.com/hardware/bus/multibus_sokos.htm
... which seems pretty comprehensive.
cheers
J.
9:05 p.m.
New subject: Multibus, was Re: new find: NS BLC80/10
Hey, I am feeling twisted... anyone out there have MS Xenix 286? And the
development kit? I have been missing my tandy 6000 and since I have some
old 386 boards, I thought I'd see if I can get my hands on Xenix/286 disks
and build a xenix box...
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Jules Richardson
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2007 8:02 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Multibus, was Re: new find: NS BLC80/10
Dave Mabry wrote:
The 80/10 was based on the 8080 cpu and had ram,
EPROM, I/O, all on one
board. The bus was used in subsequent development systems such as the
MDS Series II, Series III, and several systems based on the RMX and
Xenix operating systems.
ISTR it's what my NCR Tower uses for the I/O bus (although system memory
access is via a separate bus).
I'm sure others here will elaborate further, but
that's kind of a
nutshell version.
Google led me to:
http://www.techfest.com/hardware/bus/multibus_sokos.htm
... which seems pretty comprehensive.
cheers
J.
10:56 p.m.
New subject: Multibus, was Re: new find: NS BLC80/10
From: rtellason at verizon.net
On Saturday 29 December 2007 18:50, Scott Quinn wrote:
> I was dismantling some old stuff that I got as a lot and came across
> this beastie.
>
> It's a National Semiconductor Microcomputer Systems BLC 80/10.
>
> Clone of an Intel iSBC 80/10.
>
> Single board 8080A computer with sockets for PROMs and 1K of RAM
> onboard, several parallel ports, one serial port, and Multibus
> interface for expansion. As used in this case, it was standalone with
> only the power pins on the Multibus connected (and the I/O at the top).
>
> As the only Multibus backplane I have is an IRIS 3000 series
> (double-deep), it's available.
Hi
I think there may be something on Al's site. Even so, the
80/10's were not too complicated.
One doesn't need to connect it to a multibus. It is intended to
work as a stand alone SBC if one so desires.
It has RAM/ROM and serial. As I recall, there was some
parallel ports as well.
If one wanted to do more with it, one could find a multibus back plane
and add some memory or such
-snip-
Is there much of this stuff out there?
They're not real common but there are quite a few out there.
I've got at least two or three 80/10's in my basement someplace.
Most are missing parts but who knows, maybe I'll do something
with them. Intel made a series of these, 80/10, 80/20 and 80/30.
These all had different RAM sizes and supported newer and larger
EPROMs. I think that 80/30 was the last in the series because
they came out with a 8086 board about then.
Dwight
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