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Re: bootstrap, was What is the oldest computer that could be used today for real work? [message #411414 is a reply to message #411412] Thu, 30 September 2021 11:03 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Dan Espen is currently offline  Dan Espen
Messages: 3867
Registered: January 2012
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Senior Member
Charles Richmond <codescott@aquaporin4.com> writes:

> On 9/29/2021 5:10 PM, John Levine wrote:
>> According to Questor <usenet@only.tnx>:
>>> Circling back to something on topic: this reminds me of bootstraping
>>> a DEC KI-10. From memory, subject to errors: first you set a code
>>> in a switch register that selects which device to use, for example, paper tape,
>>> then push another button. That loads into memory and executes a small
>>> loader program that reads a bigger bootstrap loader from disk, which in
>>> turn loads and starts the operating system (i.e., the monitor in TOPS-10
>>> parlance).
>> Sounds like S/360. You set the device number of the IPL (initial
>> program load)
>> device in the switches and pressed the IPL button. That ran a fixed one instruction
>> channel program pretending to be at location 0, that read 24 bytes into 0-23, then
>> executed whatever was read into locaion 8, typically another read command to read
>> a disk or tape block with real bootstrap, then started the computer by restoring the status word at
>> location 0 which runs the bootstrap just read in to start up the computer.
>>
>
> If it's like the IBM IPL I know... sit down and be prepared to wait
> a-while. Where I went to uni, the IBM 370/155 took about 20 minutes
> to IPL. Something about "waiting for the time-base generator to come
> up to speed" I think... Power supply voltage levels were involved,
> and sequencing the power-on of equipment to prevent power surges.
>
> 'course that's been a *long* time ago for me!!!

I think that was characteristic of OS/VS.

DOS and DOS/VS managed a minute or 2.

The IBM 1401 booted just about the same as the other machines mentioned.
Clear 1-80, read a card into 1-80, branch to 1.

Unlike the S/360, I don't remember any way to make a 1401 boot from
other media.

--
Dan Espen
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