Changeset 876 in t29-www for en/computer/univac9200.php
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- Nov 13, 2015, 9:17:28 PM (8 years ago)
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en/computer/univac9200.php
r868 r876 105 105 106 106 <h3 id="blog">Restoration Blog (the first UNIVAC)</h3> 107 <p ><b>17.01.2010:</b> There were some mice in the power supply and printer; they107 <p class="small"><b>17.01.2010:</b> There were some mice in the power supply and printer; they 108 108 bit thorugh some small cables. 109 < p><b>16.02.2010:</b> After locating two defective resistors the power supply is109 <br><br><b>16.02.2010:</b> After locating two defective resistors the power supply is 110 110 running again. Now we can use punch card devices from the CPU. Actually 111 111 we cannot read nor punch data. … … 121 121 selected via switches.</p> 122 122 </div> 123 <p ><b>15.04.2010:</b> The boot process of the device is still crashing. There is123 <p class="small"><b>15.04.2010:</b> The boot process of the device is still crashing. There is 124 124 an error message from the printer without any reason. We are trying to 125 125 locate this error. 126 < p><b>02.05.2010:</b> A broken thyristor (hammer driver) raised the126 <br><br><b>02.05.2010:</b> A broken thyristor (hammer driver) raised the 127 127 "printer error" message. Data integrity was the most important consideration at the 128 128 time. If only one of the 140 printer columns is not working correctly, the whole 129 129 printer goes offline to avoid any wrong output. 130 < p><b>10.05.2010:</b> We managed to get the plated wire storage online. We130 <br>><br><b>10.05.2010:</b> We managed to get the plated wire storage online. We 131 131 can even start some small test programs via the input switches, but there are 132 132 bugs while running. This is perhaps the only device that still uses the old 133 133 plated wire storage. Anyway, we are planing a replacement. 134 < p><b>12.06.2010:</b> After calibrating the optical card reader, we could read in134 <br><br><b>12.06.2010:</b> After calibrating the optical card reader, we could read in 135 135 and execute small programs in the data memory. We will report about the high 136 136 security level of the card reading process later. Surprisingly the plated wire 137 storage still works. </p>138 < p><b>16.06.2010:</b> The card puncher doesn't work any more. 30 years of inactivity137 storage still works. 138 <br><br><b>16.06.2010:</b> The card puncher doesn't work any more. 30 years of inactivity 139 139 are a long time for computers, too. 140 140 <br>On the other side, we could execute a printer loop program. The huge printer 141 starts up, but doesn't print yet. After two minutes, a thermal fuse triggers.</p> 142 <p><b>25.06.2010:</b> The fuse is triggerd by a broken centrifugal switch from the 141 starts up, but doesn't print yet. After two minutes, a thermal fuse triggers. 142 143 <br><br><b>25.06.2010:</b> The fuse is triggerd by a broken centrifugal switch from the 143 144 printer engine start-up windings. Therefore the winding was always on and 144 145 constantly dissipated current. Now the engine is running, but print commands 145 146 are not yet executed. 146 147 <br>We also found a bug in the memory. Now all 8kB seem to run completely 147 error-free. </p>148 < p><b>30.06.2010:</b> We located another bug in the printer logic (faulty148 error-free. 149 <br><br><b>30.06.2010:</b> We located another bug in the printer logic (faulty 149 150 transistor). For the first time in 30 years, the bar printer works and is capable of 150 151 printing files from various punch cards. The type face looks good. 151 <br>Now we turn to the damaged printer.</p> 152 <p><b>05.08.2010:</b> After replacing a broken transistor and injecting some oil, 152 <br>Now we turn to the damaged printer. 153 <div class="desc-right"> 154 <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/univac/messen-am-memory.jpg" width="400" height="313" /> 155 <p class="bildtext" style="width: 400px;"><b>Backside of the UNIVAC 9300:</b> With a storage oscilloscope and a logic analyzer logic states are measured</p></div> 156 157 <p class="small"><b>05.08.2010:</b> After replacing a broken transistor and injecting some oil, 153 158 the puncher is up and running! Now we are able to dublicate punch cards. 154 159 Unfortunately we had to disable the error checking functions since the device 155 160 detected a non-existing error when punching. Locating this error is the next 156 problem.</p> 157 <p><b>26.08.2010:</b> Locating the bug in the device's internal error checking 161 problem. 162 163 <br><br><b>26.08.2010:</b> Locating the bug in the device's internal error checking 158 164 of punched data was hard work. The computer compares the data which should be 159 165 punched with the position of the hammers in the punch station in a very … … 165 171 After this repair, all duplicated punch cards are checked too. If there 166 172 is a wrong punch hole, the computer stops immediately (an event that occurs 167 extremely rarely now). </p>173 extremely rarely now). 168 174 169 <div class="desc-right"> 170 <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/univac/messen-am-memory.jpg" width="400" height="313" /> 171 <p class="bildtext" style="width: 400px;"><b>Backside of the UNIVAC 9300:</b> With a storage oscilloscope and a logic analyzer logic states are measured</p></div> 172 173 <p><b>19.10.2010:</b> After all test programs were run successfully, we can now declare 175 <br><br><b>19.10.2010:</b> After all test programs were run successfully, we can now declare 174 176 the machine as being fully operational. The next step will be constructing a 175 177 new memory system which is necessary since the original plated wire memory is 176 178 fragile and it is doubtful that it would survive the years to come without 177 errors. </p>179 errors. 178 180 179 180 <p><b>Feb. 2012:</b> Redesigning the memory using modern semiconductor circuits is more complicated 181 <br><br><b>Feb. 2012:</b> Redesigning the memory using modern semiconductor circuits is more complicated 181 182 than expected initially. Despite a lot of effort concerning the timing of 182 183 all signals involved in the RAM's logic the new RAM card is still not working. 183 184 Further tests and modifications will be necessary. Fortunately the original 184 wire memory is still working perfectly. </p>185 wire memory is still working perfectly. 185 186 186 <p><i>This blog will be irregulary continued.</i></p> 187 <br><br><i>This blog will be irregulary continued.</i> 188 <hr> 187 189 188 190 <p class="small">We would like to thank Dr. Frank Berger and Dr. Juergen Steen (both from the
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