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Networking -- Overview

This section gives some information on the networking related to the mainframe computers at the Rutherford Laboratory.

From quite early on, dedicated lines had been used to provide some remote access to both the ICL 1906A and the IBM 360/75 computers. They tended to use proprietary remote job entry stations and protocols provided by the manufacturers.

The arrival of the 360/195 in 1971 with 20% of the resource dedicated to the users of the Atlas Laboratory meant that, as well as a substantial increase in the computing power available, it also widened the potential users from just particle physicists to any of SRC's supported disciplines.

Channel Interfaces and Data Adaptors 3 x 2701; 1 x 2702 To System 360/195 Satellite Computers 1. DDP 224 2. DDP 516 3. DDP 516 4. IBM 1130 5. IBM 1130 Scanning Control Graphics HPD2 HPD1 CYCLOPS IDI 3 storage displays 2 Computeks Local Terminals 12 x typewriters 6 x IBM2741 typewriters Remote Terminals 6 x GPO lines on switched public network Remote Workstations Oxford University Nuclear Physics IBM 2780 Birmingham Univ Nuclear Physics IBM 360/44 Atlas Laboratory Chilton IBM 1130 Inst of Computer Science, London PDP 9 Local Workstation 7 track magnetic tape card reader line printer keyboard printer

Connections to the 360/91, 1971

This diagram from 1971 shows just 4 dedicated remote connections on the right. Two are in particle physics departments, the PDP9 is Peter Kirstein's experimental development system and the fourth is the Atlas Laboratory's IBM 1130.

Over the next four years, the external connections grew substantially.

Local Backing Stores Fixed Head File 11 Mbytes 16 x 3330 discs 2200 Mbytes 8 x 2314 discs 232 Mbytes 12 x 4320 magnetic tapes - 8 x 9tr 2 x DD, 2 x 7tr Block Multiplexor Channels 1 2 Selector Channels 1 2 3 360/195 CPU Storage Control Unit Fast Buffer 32 Kbytes Main Memory 3 Mbytes Multiplexor Channels Byte Multiplexor 1 Control Console VDU 2 Selector Sub-channels 3 Local Input-Output 2 Card Readers 1 Card Punch 4 Lineprinters 3 Display Consoles 2 Matrix Printers Channel Interfaces and Data Adaptors 2 x IBM 2701 Memorex 1270A Memorex 1270B Satellite Computers DDP 516 DDP 516 IBM 1130 IBM 1130 16 Film Scanning Machines 4 x Storage Tubes and Film Scanning Machines HPD2 HPD1 CYCLOPS IDI Local Terminals 1 x teletype 6 x Storage Tubes 7 x 2741 typewriters 10 x Thermal Printers 4 x VDU Dial Up Codex 4800 Inst of Ocean Sciences SAT 1 Durham Univ GEC 2050 Impreial College GEC 2050 Oxford Univ GEC 2050 PO 2400 Edinburgh RCC PDP11 Inst Marine Env PDP11/45 St Andrews Univ 6 PO 110 baud Autospeed 300 baud Remote Workstations Reading University GEC 2050 Birmingham Univ IBM 370/145 Glagow University IBM 370/145 Bristol University GEC 2050 CERN GEC 2050 Durham University GEC 2050 Imperial College GEC 2050 Oxford University GEC 2050 Queen Mary College GEC 2050 University College GEC 2050 Kings College Westfield College GEC 2050 Surrey University Mini Southampton Univ GEC 2050 Mullard Space Lab GEC 2050 Surrey University Appleton Laboratory GEC 2050 Inst Geological Sciences PDP11 Inst Computer Science PDP 9 ARPANET ACD-run Workstations ACD GEC 2050 ROE GEC 2050 Sheffield Univ GEC 2050 Sussex univ GEC 2050 Leicester Univ GEC 2050 Royal Holloway GEC 2050 Local Computers EPSS GEC 2050 RL K17 GEC 4080 Atlas IBM 1130 C and A GEC 2050 C and A GEC 4080 Interdata 70 Graphics Storage Display Thermal Printer VDU Local Workstation 7 track magnetic tape card reader line printer keyboard printer

Connections to the 360/195 in 1975

By 1975, there were over 35 workstations connected and the major type was the GEC 2050 workstation with code developed locally. By 1977, a front-end GEC 4080 processor allowed workstations to be connected to either the 360/195 or the ICL 1906A. Networking in a real sense had started. At the same time, the Post Office had introduced its Experimental Packet switching Network (EPSS) so that the ability to access all the SRC facilities from a single workstation was becoming possible.

Rutherford Laboratory IBM 360/195 RJE Stations and terminals GEC 4080 GEC 2050 ICL 1906A Daresbury Laboratory IBM 370/165 RJE Stations and terminals PDP 11s EPSS Network London Exchange Manchester Exchange Glasgow Exchange Other Subscribers

SERC Network with GEC 4080 Front-End and EPSS, 1977

By 1979, the number of workstations connected to the 360/195 complex was over 50 and this display board of the time shows the complexity of the connections and the variety of resources available at each.

Network Connections, 1979

Network Connections, 1979
Full image ⇗
© UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council

By 1984, the SRC/NERC Network was in operation as well as the Post Office Packet Switching Connection (PSS) providing network connections to most universities in the UK. The Joint Network team and later UKERNA became responsible for networking activities in the UK and RAL reverted to being a customer rather than supplier.

X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 Edinburgh Belfast Bidston Daresbury Manchester Swindon Bath RAL London Cambridge PSS = Packet Switching System

SERC/NERC Net and PSS, 1984
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