Last year we mainly took care of the CDC 960. It’s time to continue with the small Cray.
The Cray is running, I am very happy that there was no bigger problem. Now we can take care of the UNICOS and the network.
Cray YMP-EL start up after VCFe 2018
Author: Ralf Neumann
IBM 360-65 and 360-44 Operator Consoles
We got two IBM consoles.
From the IBM 360-65 and the 360-44, the special thing about the 44 is that it is labeled in German.
Thanks Wolfgang Kainz- Huber for the quick reaction and the organization.
In the future we will probably build a 360 emulation with a RaspberryPI to make the consoles “blink”.
Vintage Computer Festival Europe 20.0
Yes, it’s VCFe again! This time we are not represented with an exhibition. But there will be a lecture on Cray-Cyber on Saturday. Generally Saturday, Wolfgang Stief continues his lecture series on Cray with the Cray 3, unconditional recommendation.
Program VCFe 20.0: http://www.vcfe.org/D/VCF.html
Lecture Cray-Cyber: http://www.vcfe.org/D/Vortraege.html#11
Lecture Cray 3: http://www.vcfe.org/D/Vortraege.html#2
VCFe 20.0 http://www.vcfe.org/D
960 Foam removed
Our 960 covered the room with small pieces of sticky foam. Oli and I removed the acoustic foam from the hood. Now we still have to clean the 960 and our room.
Here are some impressions of the work.
Paul Allen
Paul Allen died very suddenly seven days ago.
That was very close to me, although I never met Him personally. I followed his projects like the “living computers museum + labs” with interest and respect.
Our member Gerard van der Grinten was personally on site in Seattle to help with the start-up and repair of the CDC 6500.
The world has lost a great man, he has moved so much.
My condolences to Paul Allen’s family and friends.
Cray-Cyber at the German magazine Chip.
We are proud to be represented with the Computermuseum München in the 40th anniversary issue of Chip. Over 6 pages you can learn more about us and our Cyber 960. We would like to thank the Chip for making this possible. More of the magazine chip under www.chip.de, at chip-kiosk.de you can buy it.
Anniversary edition of the chip magazine
Our Cyber 960
Some problems in communication IOU / main memory
We does some tests and find one stuck bit in communication between IOU and memory. Measured the communication channel with modern Lecroy scope.
Cyber 960 first run without any errors
All variable transformers had to be cleaned, now the power supply is stable again. We tested the currents through the transformers and diodes with the clamp ammeter.
A short video @youtube about the Cyber 960, you can hear the 400Hz and the fans.
Fan repair at the console CC545, we disassembled the engine and greased the bearings. Now we know that a second fan is installed, because the first one is now quiet.
CDC Cyber 960 starts after 8 years
The installation of the cables is completed, now we start troubleshooting.
Many thanks to Jerry, he sent us a new IOU to CPU cable.
Our Cyber CC545 console urgently needed thorough cleaning. The picture tube works at 17500V so we don’t take any risks. The housing has also been repaired.
The IOU transformer had contact problems, we disassembled it and cleaned all contacts and surfaces.
The CDC Cyber 960 is alive, we can access the IOU, but the dead start fails.
Stay tuned!
Working on the CDC960 and reading the backup tape for the CRAY Y-MP EL
A lot has happened in the last few weeks:
- For the operation of the CDC 960 almost all devices are installed in our computer room.
- The power distributor is rebuilt and equipped with new fuses, as well as the 400Hz cable from the generator and the 50Hz supply line within our room is laid and connected.
- The 400Hz generator has been successfully tested.
- Also from the Cray Y-MP EL there is something pleasing to report, we could read the urgently needed SCAN files from a defective original tape.
Here are some impressions:
CDC405, CDC960
