Convergent Technologies (Unisys)
Encyclopedia
Convergent Technologies was an American computer
company formed by a small group of people who left Intel Corporation and Xerox PARC in 1979.
Convergent Technologies' first product was the IWS (Integrated Workstation) tower based on the Intel 8086
. The next product was a cost-reduced desktop version called the AWS (Advanced Workstation). Both of these workstations ran in an RS-422 clustered environment under a proprietary operating system known as CTOS
.
In 1982, Convergent formed a new division to focus on a multi-processor computer known as the MegaFrame. The MegaFrame ran a UNIX System 3
-derived operating system called CTIX on multiple Motorola 68010
processors. Three other I/O processor boards could also be place in the system, the File Processor, the Cluster Processor, and the Terminal Processor. All I/O processor boards were based on the Intel 80186
and ran a scaled down version of CTOS.
Convergent later used the Motorola 68010
in their MiniFrame, and later Motorola 68020
and 68040
processors in their VME-based MightyFrame systems, all also running CTIX.
Supplanting the IWS was the AWS (Advanced Workstation) which itself was replaced by the NGEN (New or Next Generation) workstation and used by Prime Computer
as a word processing workstation; The "Prime Producer 100". The NGEN was known to Burroughs users as the B25, to Prime as the "Prime Producer 200", and was included the Intel 80186 CPU chip.
Later models kept pace with Intel CPU development through at least the Intel 80386
era. A successor to the NGEN called the SuperGen and based on the Intel 80486
was finally introduced in 1993 after the Unisys acquisition. http://books.google.com/books?id=cTwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 Convergent also developed the first Motorola 68010
OEM UNIX product for AT&T, and integrated a number features (Stream-based I/O, Multinational Language Support) to the Intel AT&T UNIX base (SVR3.2).
Convergent Technologies systems were also resold by Motorola under the Motorola/4-Phase brand. Motorola/4-Phase pioneered development of international character support for Unix platforms for their EMEA business using the CTOS/CTIX equipment.
The Workslate, a very early portable computer which used a spreadsheet as the primary interface and included a mini-cassette for both voice and data
recording, was also marketed by Convergent Technologies.
Convergent reached an agreement to acquire 3Com
in March 1986, but the merger was called off at the last moment. Unisys
bought Convergent Technologies in 1988, after which Convergent Technologies became Unisys' Network Systems Division.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
company formed by a small group of people who left Intel Corporation and Xerox PARC in 1979.
Convergent Technologies' first product was the IWS (Integrated Workstation) tower based on the Intel 8086
Intel 8086
The 8086 is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel between early 1976 and mid-1978, when it was released. The 8086 gave rise to the x86 architecture of Intel's future processors...
. The next product was a cost-reduced desktop version called the AWS (Advanced Workstation). Both of these workstations ran in an RS-422 clustered environment under a proprietary operating system known as CTOS
Convergent Technologies Operating System
The Convergent Technologies Operating System, also known variously as CTOS, BTOS and STARSYS, was a modular, message-passing, multiprocess-based operating system.-Overview:...
.
In 1982, Convergent formed a new division to focus on a multi-processor computer known as the MegaFrame. The MegaFrame ran a UNIX System 3
UNIX System III
UNIX System III was a version of the Unix operating system released by AT&T's Unix Support Group . It was first released outside of Bell Labs in 1982. UNIX System III was a mix of various AT&T Unixes: PWB/UNIX 2.0, CB UNIX 3.0, UNIX/TS 3.0.1 and UNIX/32V...
-derived operating system called CTIX on multiple Motorola 68010
Motorola 68010
The Motorola MC68010 processor is a 16/32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1982. In line with the Motorola 68000 naming convention, it is usually just referred to as the 010 ....
processors. Three other I/O processor boards could also be place in the system, the File Processor, the Cluster Processor, and the Terminal Processor. All I/O processor boards were based on the Intel 80186
Intel 80186
The 80188 is a version with an 8-bit external data bus, instead of 16-bit. This makes it less expensive to connect to peripherals. The 80188 is otherwise very similar to the 80186. It has a throughput of 1 million instructions per second....
and ran a scaled down version of CTOS.
Convergent later used the Motorola 68010
Motorola 68010
The Motorola MC68010 processor is a 16/32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1982. In line with the Motorola 68000 naming convention, it is usually just referred to as the 010 ....
in their MiniFrame, and later Motorola 68020
Motorola 68020
The Motorola 68020 is a 32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1984. It is the successor to the Motorola 68010 and is succeeded by the Motorola 68030...
and 68040
Motorola 68040
The Motorola 68040 is a microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1990. It is the successor to the 68030 and is followed by the 68060. There was no 68050. In keeping with general Motorola naming, the 68040 is often referred to as simply the '040 ....
processors in their VME-based MightyFrame systems, all also running CTIX.
Supplanting the IWS was the AWS (Advanced Workstation) which itself was replaced by the NGEN (New or Next Generation) workstation and used by Prime Computer
Prime Computer
Prime Computer, Inc. was a Natick, Massachusetts-based producer of minicomputers from 1972 until 1992. The alternative spellings "PR1ME" and "PR1ME Computer" were used as brand names or logos by the company.-Founders:...
as a word processing workstation; The "Prime Producer 100". The NGEN was known to Burroughs users as the B25, to Prime as the "Prime Producer 200", and was included the Intel 80186 CPU chip.
Later models kept pace with Intel CPU development through at least the Intel 80386
Intel 80386
The Intel 80386, also known as the i386, or just 386, was a 32-bit microprocessor introduced by Intel in 1985. The first versions had 275,000 transistors and were used as the central processing unit of many workstations and high-end personal computers of the time...
era. A successor to the NGEN called the SuperGen and based on the Intel 80486
Intel 80486
The Intel 80486 microprocessor was a higher performance follow up on the Intel 80386. Introduced in 1989, it was the first tightly pipelined x86 design as well as the first x86 chip to use more than a million transistors, due to a large on-chip cache and an integrated floating point unit...
was finally introduced in 1993 after the Unisys acquisition. http://books.google.com/books?id=cTwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 Convergent also developed the first Motorola 68010
Motorola 68010
The Motorola MC68010 processor is a 16/32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1982. In line with the Motorola 68000 naming convention, it is usually just referred to as the 010 ....
OEM UNIX product for AT&T, and integrated a number features (Stream-based I/O, Multinational Language Support) to the Intel AT&T UNIX base (SVR3.2).
Convergent Technologies systems were also resold by Motorola under the Motorola/4-Phase brand. Motorola/4-Phase pioneered development of international character support for Unix platforms for their EMEA business using the CTOS/CTIX equipment.
The Workslate, a very early portable computer which used a spreadsheet as the primary interface and included a mini-cassette for both voice and data
recording, was also marketed by Convergent Technologies.
Convergent reached an agreement to acquire 3Com
3Com
3Com was a pioneering digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney, Bruce Borden, and Greg Shaw...
in March 1986, but the merger was called off at the last moment. Unisys
Unisys
Unisys Corporation , headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States, and incorporated in Delaware, is a long established business whose core products now involves computing and networking.-History:...
bought Convergent Technologies in 1988, after which Convergent Technologies became Unisys' Network Systems Division.
External links
- Convergent archive at bitsavers.org