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ICF: Multi User Minis
GEC 4070 on the left and Prime 400 at the back
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Richard Hilken reading a manual, Len Ford leaning over and Dale Sutcliffe at the terminal
The Rosenbrock Report had recommended the purchase of two multi-user minis for evalution:
Two multi-user minis should be purchased for development purposes. The Rutherford Laboratory should be responsible for this development in conjunction with university groups. The aim of this work should be to assess accurately the future capability of such systems rather than to provide facilities in the short term.
Based on the benchmarking of various multi-user minis, two systems were purchased for evalution:
- Prime 400
- GEC 4070
The Prime 400 was delivered on 2 December 1976 and the GEC 4070 on 14 April 1977. Both had to pass a set of acceptance tests including the interactive benchmark.
The Prime passed its acceptance test on 4 March 1977.
Cliff Pavelin and David Thornley (Prime) hold up the FR80 output of the acceptance tests
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Left to right: Richard Hilken, Cliff Pavelin, Dale Sutcliffe, Rob Witty, Len Ford, Rex Blagg and David Thornley (Prime UK), Bob Hopgood and Eric Thomas
In the background (from the left) are Richard Hilken (Operations Manager for the two systems), Dale Sutcliffe (graphics software), Rob Witty (Software Tools), Len Ford (Systems Programmer), Rex Blagg (Prime), Bob Hopgood (Manager), Eric Thomas (graphics and other applications).
The GEC passed its acceptance test on 14 April 1977.
Paul Bryant and GEC Staff (Alan Tupman (centre) and Jim Nisbet (right)) examining benchmark results. David Duce at the terminal
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Paul Bryant and Dave Toll became the main support team for the GEC 4070.
The period between October 1978 and October 1980 was Phase 2 of ICF with the deployment of Prime and GEC systems throughout the UK University's Engineering Departments.