kmc

[utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!unix-wizards]

>From menlo70!nsc!bill at Berkeley Tue Oct 27 18:16:40 1981
I nominate this device for the catagory of unbeleivable pains in the ass.

After spending the better part of a year trying to make lpa's function
specially with UNIX, I gave it up (LPA's have TWO wonderous KMC's). We
left the thing functioning with std DEC microcode (GROT and horrible typos
included) because it was too easy to break. When it breaks serious things
happen, like terminal (re-power up) UNIBUS hangs and wham-bam smashed
kernel mem..

DEC was helpful from the start, but even the engineers who designed the
product took a dim veiw of the situation (i.e. mucking with the code). I 
got the idea that there were no new products planned with the KMC/DMC
due to it's clever and winning features.

I understand there is a version of the IMP-11 interface that uses a KMC;
I know of no site that uses it. I heard some vague horror stories about it
wedging IMP's , but maybe someone else on the net has better stories about it.

This is definitly not a plug it in and run device, it's a serious device
which has design errors you must program around. The programming is *NOT*
just as easy as any other microcoding job (sorry jfr-- HP and VAX ucode is
a holiday compared to this toy). On the plus side KMC's are fast as hell
and seem to work other DEC equipment without complaint.

Thats when you get them to work....<yes, lpa's work under UNIX...barely>


		Bill Jolitz.