REPORT CONCERNING UPGRADING THE DIGITAL PORTION OF THE HEPC FACILITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2004
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 21, 1971
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2004/12/01 :.CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
REPORT CONCERNING
UPGRADING THE DIGITAL PORTION OF
THE HEPC FACILITIES
21 DECEMBER 1971
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
 Approved For Release 2004/12/01 CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
The Working Group reviewed the Auerbach Computer
Technology Reports, Minicomputers, published by Auerbach
Info, Inc. , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to obtain the hardware
and software specifications of minicomputer manufacturers.
These specifications were compared with the requirements in
the report "Study of the Need for Upgrading the HEPC Digital
Computers". Most of the manufacturers were unable to meet
one or more of the requirements, in particular the following
three: a) memory cycle time and input device characteristics
to sustain the data transfer rate during digitization; b) magnetic
tape transport characteristics, i. e. , density, velocity, and
number of tracks, to sustain the data transfer rate during digi-
tization; and c) system software to provide a foreground/back-
ground processing environment such that a minimum of system
software programmer time would be required.
After this initial review, a configuration (not detailed but
only major components) was generated for each of six candidate
manufacturers to obtain a capability versus cost comparison.
As a result of this second review, two manufacturers were rated
above the others; Datacraft Corporation (DC), and Digital Equip-
ment Corporation (DEC). Two manufacturers, Systems Engi-
neering Laboratories (SEL) and Scientific Control Corporation
(SCC), were reviewed as being representative of the other candi-
date manufacturers.
An exception was made in the. case of DEC to the Working
Group philosophy that only existing hardware, system software,
and installation experience be considered. There were three
reasons for making this exception. First, DEC is the largest
manufacturer in the minicomputer field with corresponding ex-
perience and capability to influence future trends. Second, the
Agency has a considerable inventory of DEC equipment and some
system and application software experience and competence
among staff personnel. Third, DEC recently announced a new
model within its PDP-11 line, the 11 / 45.
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
 Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80101794RO00100210004-4
Existing PDP lines do not meet two' of the requirements,
i. e., magnetic tape transport velocity and system software. The
currently available tape controller and tape transport would have
to be modified to increase the velocity from 45 ips to 150 ips.
Two featur :~s of the PDP-11 /45, i. e., a memory segmentation
option and a new version of the system software, Real-Time
System Executive, RSX- 11 level D, provide the capability for a
foreground/ background processing environment.
The requirement for a 2. OM byte per second data transfer
rate as a minimum is met by both DC and DEC. The desire for
it 4. OM byte per second rate cannot be met by DC due to the de-
sign of the Automatic Block Controller; however, memory cycle
time will sustain this rate (see Appendix I). The 4. OM byte per
second rate probably can be met by DEC depending upon the re-
duction achieved by memory interleaving in their 0. 85 p second
memory cycle time (see Appendix II).
Specifications are not finalized for the: a) digitizer inter-
face; b) interface of equipment at an analyst position, i. e. , D/A
convertor and scope; c) 3 X 2 switch; d) CRT interface; and e)
electrostatic printer and other miscellaneous interfaces (see
Figure A). Thus, an estimated cost was included for these five
categories. There is a difference in the estimated cost in one
category, i. e. , digitizer interface, and this reflects the degree-
of-difficulty anticipated between a 24-bit word and a 16-bit word
interface.
The cost of the electrostatic printer, CRT, and the equip-
ment at an analyst position is not included.
Since DC and DEC were rated above the other manufacturers,
recent price lists, were utilized. The price list for DC was ef-
fective 9 November 1971 and for DEC the effective date was
1 August 1971. For SEL and SCC, price data were obtained from
the Auerbach Reports and are approximately fifteen months old
and thus probably are higher than current prices.
A detailed configuration was gener-tted for DC (Appendix I),
DEC (Appendix II), SEL (Appendix III), and SCC (Appendix IV).
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
 0
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
These configurations reflect an attempt to establish compara-
bility among hardware components assigned particular tasks.
I
STAT
The Working Group believes that both configurations, DC
and DEC, provide the capability required by HEPC and that SEL
and SCC, as representative manufacturers of the other four con-
sidered, do not provide an equal capability.
The PDP-11/45 is scheduled for first delivery during first
quarter of CY-1972 and the new version of the system software is
scheduled for release during second quarter of CY-1972. Thus,
if HEPC desired to install the first minicomputer system, hard-
ware and software, prior to third quarter of CY-1972, it would
be a PDP-11/20 not a PDP-11/45. This would entail processing.
under the old system software for a period of time and then re-
placing the 11/20 with the first 11/45. This delivery schedule
mitigates against DEC to the extent that ,he Working Group does
not recommend the PDP- 11/45 even though this system promises
more potential.
Approved For Release 2004/12/01: CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
 Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
It is recommended that OEL solicit a proposal from DC
which would include the following items:
a. purchase price of digitil configuration and firm
delivery schedule,
b. estimated price for the required hardware inter-
faces,
c. maintenance contract for the total system,
d. lease (rental) contract, either directly or through
a third-party arrangement, for a sufficient period
to demonstrate total system operation in the
HEPC environment.
If a satisfactory proposal is received, it is recommended
that one DC-6024 be leased and installed within, and in addition
to, the existing HEPC facility. When this minicomputer has been
demonstrated to be operational, one of the SDS 910 computers
may be released and a second leased DC-6024 scheduled for in-
stal-lation. When the latter has been demonstrated to be operational
and the total system to be satisfactory, the second SDS 910 com-
puter may be released, the leasing arrangement terminated, and
the system purchased.
It is also recommended that OEL task an independent con-
tractor to provide an estimated price for the required hardware
interfaces.
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
 AjpproveW~Re e 2004/12/01: CIA-RDP80-01794R00010021 0004-4
TY/EwR/T ''C'
PROGRAM 1
X/tom
MAC - r' PE
1-/NE'
P,/n1TER
TE'
ryrw~iT-R
r. SCP~' ' L7/~ i
'CGW CT. T
;;;;, o&-,o- A40. - I
f/6/T41. , CA~r)PvTFk i
CoNV ,eTER inrrEer/
ANA4 YS T FOSI7YaN Oiw 3)
TALE ~'YP,~'~ 1
PRciR,) M
Ir/o
P/3P,-; MAC
/146 7WRIZ5,
COIIIPUT FR
D 5/ ED G1NE"S
IIYO/Cf}TE U///75
WHeRL D~~YGN
,is %D r
OR 1YOT "V '1~WED
eSGt, - i,GPf1PN/CS,~.
/~' D15P~f1 y
P,e1NT~ , 7Z 'R/ 7'4'U-
F/GURE A.
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
 STAT Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4
Next 21 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP80-01794R000100210004-4