211:, to provide 64-bit registers for double-precision floating-point operations. Base registers B and R provide access to local variables and record storage respectively. Several other special-purpose registers are provided such as the program counter (P), link or subroutine return address (L), top-of-stack (TOS), plus registers related to trap handling, processor status, and process characteristics. Of the 50 documented registers in the ND-500, several are reserved for use by the processor's microprogram.
171:
supported. Physical memory was shared between the ND-100 and ND-500 systems, exposed in a "multiport" arrangement, with the ND-500 having two paths to this RAM, the ND-100 having one path, and the direct memory access hardware having its own path. A prefetch processor was used to decode instructions fetched from memory, to populate the execution pipeline, and to initiate memory accesses for referenced addresses. This processor operated concurrently with the
184:
up to 256 in number. Operands could be from one to nine bytes in length, and thus the documentation for the ND-500 notes, "The shortest instructions are one byte long, the longest may be several thousand bytes long." This contrasted strongly with the design of the CPU in its predecessor, the Nord-50, which featured 32-bit instructions in only three formats and the availability of 64 general-purpose registers.
36:
379:
model featuring two, three or four CPUs. Performance varied between the models, with the ND-5700 delivering half the performance of the ND-5800, and with the ND-5900 models respectively delivering two, three and four times the performance of the ND-5800. Pricing for the models started at $ 400,000 for the ND-5700, reaching $ 1.53 million for the four-CPU ND-5900.
238:, just as the Nord-50 had been. The floating-point processor featured in the ND-500 reportedly consisted of 579 integrated circuits and used a combinatorial approach to support the execution of 64-bit multiplication operations in 480 nanoseconds. Norsk Data claimed a Whetstone benchmark rating of 1.4 to 1.8 million single-precision
128:
183:
The instruction set of the ND-500, featuring "184 basic instruction codes" specialised by several data types and addressing modes, along with "few and specialized" registers, lent itself to an instruction encoding of only one or two bytes, albeit with the potential for several accompanying operands,
170:
The ND-500 processor employed split data and instruction caches, running with a 110 nanosecond cycle time, along with similarly separated memory management units, thus permitting access to a full 32-bit address space for both program instructions and data. A total 32 MB of physical memory was
1110:
Note that Norsk Data uses the term "Mips" in its description of the
Compact series, not explicitly referencing any industry-defined performance metric, leaving such figures open to interpretation. However, the 1986 annual report, published in 1987, indicates "26 Whetstone MIPS" for the cumulative
214:
Thus, in its selection of registers, the ND-500 processor more strongly resembles the ND-100 which, at each priority level, provides a single accumulator (A), index register (X), base register (B), extension register (D), program counter (P), link register (L), along with a temporary register (T)
406:
The
Compact series generally offered a reported 0.5 to 3.5 million Whetstone instructions per second across the different models. Norsk Data claimed that this was "the world's largest compatible range" of computers, or perhaps the industry's range with broadest performance characteristics across
378:
The ND-5700, ND-5800 and ND-5900 were introduced in 1987 as high-end models, employing "state-of-the-art CMOS gate array technology" to reduce the footprint of the CPU implementation, replacing the 24 circuit boards required in the previous ND-500 architecture models. The ND-5900 was a multi-CPU
222:
instruction set, permitting the use of all addressing modes with all instruction types and with all data types, providing memory-to-memory instructions able to retrieve operands, perform computational operations, and store results. Such materials claimed a higher code density than most 16-bit
166:
The ND-500 combined a 32-bit system based on one or more Nord-500 or ND-500 processors with a ND-100 minicomputer responsible for input/output handling, job scheduling, management of the ND-500 system, and providing a multi-user environment based on the SINTRAN III/VS operating system. This
386:
series, aimed at small and medium-size companies and featuring a cabinet size with "modest dimensions", "occupying less than a square metre of floor space", and designed for a conventional office environment, as opposed to a dedicated machine room. Offered as the
167:
arrangement largely preserved the general architecture of systems based on the preceding Nord-5 and Nord-50 models, and in keeping with those models, the 32-bit component of the ND-500 was aimed at "simulation, numerical analysis and scientific" workloads.
442:
product were unveiled: the low-end Model S as an "affordable supermini in micro format", and the more powerful Model C as a departmental server based on the ND-5800 SE processor, yielding an almost two-fold performance improvement over earlier products.
215:
mostly used for floating-point operations, and a status register (STS). Unlike the ND-500, the ND-100 preserves the fixed-size, 16-bit instruction format of the earlier Nord-10 series, but like the ND-500, the ND-100 processor is microprogrammed.
323:
in a range of different product variants, including the compact model III for the lower-end products. Advertised performance figures were given as 0.6, 1.3, 2.1 and 3.3 million
Whetstone instructions per second for the respective products.
566:-compliant Unix system running concurrently with Sintran on the main ND-5000 processor, as opposed to running within Sintran, persisting with the use of Sintran on the front-end ND-100 series processor. These models also incorporated the
542:
in
Northern Sweden was used. The goal was to port Unix BSD to the ND-500 and use the ND-100 running Sintran-III as the front end. Thus, all I/O had to go through the ND-100 which proved very inefficient. For example, running
371:. The ND-120 CPU line, which constituted the ND-100 side of most ND-5000 computers, was named Delilah. As the 5000 line progressed in speed, the dual-arch ND-100/500 configuration increasingly became bottlenecked by all
588:
465:
From 1990, upgrades were offered for ND-5000 models having the
Uniline or ND-5000 ES designation to deliver an upgraded system with Uniline 88/20C specifications, thus becoming a system based on the
462:
range, consisting of three models based on the Intel 80386 having the
Uniline 10, 20 and 40 designations, alongside the Uniline 35, 45 and 55 models based on the ND-5000.
559:. But the ND-500 was unable to meet CERN's goals. Although the ND-500 processor was very fast for its time, it couldn't compete with the superior VAX I/O architecture.
403:, supporting smaller amounts of memory than the earlier ND-5000 models, performance of the high-end ND-5700 Compact was around that of the conventional ND-5700 model.
708:
547:
on the ND-500 brought the ND-100 to its knees. The purpose of the effort was so that ND could sell the 500 to the
European Organization for Nuclear Research (
1203:
46:
1428:
534:(BSD) 4.2 to the ND-500/CX, this being described as Logica's first attempt to port BSD 4.2 despite "extensive experience with Microsoft's Xenix". A
458:, offered in 14 different configurations. This inconsistent branding persisted with the incorporation of the ND-5000 technology into Norsk Data's
438:
In 1988, with the introduction of Norsk Data's
Extended System Architecture, this being the company's open systems strategy, two models of the
245:
The ND-500 architecture lived through four distinct implementations. Each implementation was sold under a variety of different model numbers.
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735:
232:
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61:
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compatible models, with the top-end ND-5900 Model 4 delivering a claimed 26 million
Whetstone instructions per second.
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104:
219:
76:
883:
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187:
The ND-500 processor provides only four 32-bit registers for use as integer accumulators or index registers, I
83:
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239:
172:
90:
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With the launch of the ND-5000 Compact models in 1987, Norsk Data promised the later availability of a
1300:
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system. Despite adherence to the existing naming convention, this was actually a system based on the
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158:. A configuration could feature up to four ND-500 CPUs in a shared-memory configuration.
567:
466:
336:, removing its status as a superminicomputer, allowing it to legally pass through the
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Alongside these newer ND-5000-based models, the company also introduced the
382:
Later models were introduced at the low end of the range in the form of the
333:
307:
The ND-500/CX series upgraded the ND-500 range during 1984, introducing the
218:
Promotional materials for the ND-500 emphasised the "highly symmetric" or
1290:
1254:
1218:
509:
151:
1330:
1264:
1244:
650:"Supermini goes multiprocessor route to put it up front in performance"
516:. Several copies exist, and it is installed on the NODAF public access
470:
340:
17:
1239:
1234:
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represented the number of CPUs in a given configuration, 2, 3, or 4.
195:, and four 32-bit registers for use as floating-point accumulators, A
1320:
563:
481:
455:
337:
127:
126:
618:"16- and 32-Bit Computers Adapt Readily to Changing Requirements"
484:, the Uniline 88 range was developed by the Norsk Data spin-off,
332:
A 28-bit version of the ND-500 machine. Pins were snipped on the
548:
528:
424:
1145:
248:
ND also sold multiprocessor configurations, naming them ND-580/
552:
29:
1141:
223:
computers despite the 32-bit nature of the ND-500 processor.
612:
610:
473:. Apart from the low-end Uniline 88/17Jr model based on the
1085:"Norsk Data Promises Posix, Fleshes out ND5000 Mini Line".
824:"The ND-500/CX Series – a new profile for high-end systems"
967:
965:
792:
Introduction to
Arithmetic for Digital Systems Designers
27:
32-bit superminicomputer delivered in 1981 by Norsk Data
1402:
512:
environment. It was sold as an advanced alternative to
469:
architecture running a Unix implementation provided by
150:
priced from £75,000 for the base model. It relied on a
57:
907:
905:
504:. It featured automatic indenting, pretty-printing of
500:
by Norsk Data running on the ND-500 computers running
53:
231:
In its first incarnation, the ND-500 was built using
203:, each extended by one of four extension registers, E
1344:
1273:
1227:
1179:
914:"Powerful Computers Now also for Smaller Companies"
854:"The ND-5000 Series: Removing Hardware Limitations"
1004:Uniline: En komplett UNIX-løsning fra Norsk Data
884:"Norsk adds high-end system to ND-5000 series"
1422:
1157:
676:
674:
643:
641:
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423:. The Rallar processor consisted of two main
8:
62:introducing citations to additional sources
589:"Norsk launches first European 32-bit mini"
1429:
1415:
1164:
1150:
1142:
852:Bakke, Henrik; Moini, Zaira (March 1987).
1111:performance rating of the four-CPU model.
789:Waser, Shlomo; Flynn, Michael J. (1982).
154:to do housekeeping tasks and run the OS,
242:instructions per second for the ND-500.
52:Relevant discussion may be found on the
1103:
795:. CBS College Publishing. p. 211.
579:
375:(I/O) having to go through the ND-100.
131:A typical large ND-500 configuration.
7:
1390:
1388:
882:Connolly, James (23 February 1987).
1401:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
972:Jensen, Jan Roald (October 1988).
950:. Norsk Data. May 1987. p. 34
25:
912:Hasting, Arvid (September 1987).
624:. September 1979. pp. 64–65
45:relies largely or entirely on a
34:
648:Knudsen, Per (11 August 1982).
527:to undertake a project to port
523:In 1984, Norsk Data contracted
764:ND-500 Central Processing Unit
716:. Norsk Data AS. February 1976
587:Cahill, Kevin (9 April 1981).
532:Berkeley Software Distribution
1:
1037:. Norsk Data AS. October 1990
743:. Norsk Data AS. January 1982
570:as input/output controllers.
557:Digital Equipment Corporation
1089:. 22 August 1987. p. 3.
440:ND-5000 ES (Extended Server)
1066:. November 1984. p. 33
1031:Price Catalogue Autumn 1990
833:. November 1984. p. 30
770:. Norsk Data AS. April 1981
517:
508:, and integration with the
1474:
1387:
689:. Norsk Data AS. June 1987
1296:Nord Programming Language
1199:Dolphin Server Technology
1010:. Norsk Data AS. May 1989
486:Dolphin Server Technology
1448:Norsk Data minicomputers
710:NORD-50 Reference Manual
540:Luleå University College
227:Hardware implementations
1137:. 1987. ND-05.009.3 EN.
1127:ND-500 Reference Manual
974:"Product announcements"
737:ND-100 Reference Manual
683:ND-500 Reference Manual
496:LED was a programmer's
1397:-related article is a
1194:Dietz Computer Systems
179:Processor architecture
132:
173:arithmetic logic unit
146:delivered in 1981 by
130:
1301:Norsk Data Assembler
58:improve this article
551:), who were buying
236:integrated circuits
162:System architecture
1458:Minicomputer stubs
944:Annual Report 1986
659:. pp. 112–117
498:source-code editor
456:SCO Xenix System V
133:
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1372:Lars Monrad-Krohn
1367:Kolbjørn Johansen
431:(En: Jockey) and
144:superminicomputer
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69:Find sources:
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47:single source
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
1403:expanding it
1395:minicomputer
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1068:. Retrieved
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890:. p. 48
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475:Data General
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1352:Tor Alfheim
1336:Sintran III
1189:Benham Park
1041:8 September
1014:8 September
774:7 September
747:4 September
657:Electronics
595:. p. 3
506:source code
502:Sintran III
452:Intel 80386
156:SINTRAN III
1442:Categories
1357:Per Bjørge
1173:Norsk Data
1135:Norsk Data
574:References
448:ND-5100/xi
302:ND-570/ACX
220:orthogonal
148:Norsk Data
84:newspapers
1377:Rolf Skår
1087:Unigram/X
720:26 August
693:28 August
334:backplane
321:ND-570/CX
317:ND-560/CX
313:ND-550/CX
309:ND-530/CX
298:ND-570/CX
240:Whetstone
207:through E
199:through A
191:through I
114:June 2024
54:talk page
1306:Nord-TSS
1274:Software
1255:Nord-100
1219:Tandberg
510:compiler
492:Software
454:running
288:ND-500/2
264:ND-500/1
256:, where
73:"ND-500"
1331:Sintran
1311:Nortext
1265:ND-5000
1250:Nord-50
1245:Nord-10
1181:History
1064:ND News
981:ND News
921:ND News
861:ND News
831:ND News
808:30 June
628:30 June
599:24 June
518:ND-5700
471:UniSoft
460:Uniline
421:ND-5850
417:ND-5830
369:ND-5800
365:ND-5700
361:ND-5500
357:ND-5400
353:ND-5200
341:embargo
98:scholar
18:ND-5000
1345:People
1260:ND-500
1240:Nord-5
1235:Nord-1
1070:6 July
987:6 July
954:7 July
927:6 July
894:9 July
867:6 July
837:6 July
799:
663:1 July
525:Logica
478:Aviion
411:Rallar
367:, and
347:Samson
328:ND-505
300:, and
294:ND-570
282:ND-560
280:, and
278:ND-540
274:ND-520
270:ND-500
152:ND-100
141:32-bit
139:was a
137:ND-500
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1393:This
1326:Sibas
1321:PLANC
1291:Notis
1131:(PDF)
1098:Notes
1060:(PDF)
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1008:(PDF)
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857:(PDF)
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768:(PDF)
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714:(PDF)
687:(PDF)
653:(PDF)
564:POSIX
555:from
553:VAXes
482:DG/UX
338:CoCom
105:JSTOR
91:books
1399:stub
1286:Ndix
1204:FUNN
1072:2024
1043:2024
1016:2024
989:2024
956:2024
929:2024
896:2024
869:2024
839:2024
810:2024
797:ISBN
776:2024
749:2024
722:2024
695:2024
665:2024
630:2024
601:2024
549:CERN
529:Unix
433:GAMP
429:KUSK
425:VLSI
419:and
399:and
319:and
135:The
77:news
1316:PED
1281:LED
1214:SAM
514:PED
233:TTL
60:by
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536:C
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