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From: scott@gitpyr.UUCP (Scott Holt)
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.college
Subject: Re: Free and undirected campus computing facilities - not at Waterloo
Message-ID: <388@gitpyr.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Nov-84 11:20:42 EST
Article-I.D.: gitpyr.388
Posted: Wed Nov 28 11:20:42 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 04:37:53 EST
References: <457@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Lines: 55
Xref: gatech net.micro:6593 net.college:356


   Here at Ga. Tech. the computing services department operates a good deal of
the campus computing power. We run 2 Cyber 180/855's running NOS 2.2,  
2 IBM 4341 running VM (yeach) and a Pyramid 90x. We also have a Net/One LAN
that connects the central computers and many departmental machines to over 1000
terminals. The Cybers are for general campus computing and are used for a large 
ammount of the course load, each one usualy supports over 100 users at once. One
IBM is used by Administration and the other is used by the Engineering College.
The Pyramid is being tested and supports a few classes in graphics and          
compilers.

  The Computer Science department supports several mini computers and about 100
PC's. Included are Vax 780 (gatech) 3 750's, 1 HP 3000, an HP 1000, an IBM 4361
4 or 5 Series ones, 2 Symbolics Lisp machines, and 3 rapidly deteriorating 
PR1ME's running a system called SWT, a Unix like shell over PR1MEOS. Most of
theses resources are for graduate work. The HP 3000 is used for the first     
freshman programming classes and the 4361, together with the Series 1s and the
PCs, is used for a CAI project which supports several classes in both ICS and
other departments, the PR1ME is a general student machine. 

  Of all these resources, not much is used for so called 'free computing' and
'hacking' is virtualy nil. This does not mean that computer access is very  
restrictive. The SWT system that runs on the PR1MEs was written as a student
project, a large ammount of software for the Cybers was written outside of
class by students and student employees, and most of the system support for 
the HP 3000 and IBM 4361 comes from student employees. 

  Although students are not given accounts automaticly, an account on the Cyber
system is relativly easy to come by...in fact, there is a large group of high
school students who are given accounts on the system just  because of their  
interest in computers. ICS students are allowed accounts on the PR1ME just
by asking an intructor, but the machine is being phased out on favor of a better
system.

  Eventualy, as we get more resources from the appropriate dieties, access to
computers will become even less restricted. 'Hacking' at operating system code,
however, won't become widespread just because of the large number of users  
supported on the various machines. Hopefully, we will get more machines, like
the VAXes, for research.

                              - Scott Holt
                                ...gatech!gitpyr!scott

-- 

---------
Yes, I'm allright....ayeeee Haaa Haaa Haaa!!!!

Scott Holt
Po Box 36199
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332

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