Large computers

Article Abstract:

Almost all makers of large computers experienced financial declines or losses in 1991 despite some major technological advances and introductions. Both trends are exemplified by the state of Unisys Corp, which continued layoffs and sold off about $250 million in assets while introducing high-end mainframes in two different lines, the A19 and a new member of the 2200 series. Two major trends in large-scale machines were increasingly evident in 1991: the ability to run a variety of the UNIX operating system and the move to massively parallel supercomputing architectures. The latter is exemplified by Digital Equipment Corp's repackaging of a MasPar Computer Corp system as the DECmpp 12000, IBM's technology-exchange agreement with Thinking Machines Corp and ongoing development activities at Cray Research Inc. There is also ongoing developments in conventional supercomputers, as is exemplified by Cray Research's introduction of its C90 and smaller Y-MP EL systems, Convex Computer Corp's gallium-arsenide-based C3800 and C3400 series and improvements in IBM's ES/9000 systems.

Office machines, not elsewhere classified, Computers, peripherals & software, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Unisys Corp., UIS, Cray Research Inc., CYR, UNIX, Product Introduction, Trends, Industry Analysis, Manufacturers, Computer Industry, Convex Computer Corp., Massive Parallelism, CNVX

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Kwajalein's new role: radars for SDI

Article Abstract:

The remoteness of the Pacific atoll Kwajalein makes it a perfect site as a weapons testing facility of the US Army's Strategic Defense Command. It is officially known as the US Army Kwajalein Atoll. Because of the excellent technology established on the island, the Navy and the Air Force are also using the atoll for testing of ballistic missiles. New construction and upgrades are underway for SDI programs. A new 10 gigahertz phased array radar capable of pinpointing on a distant bevy of incoming reentry vehicles is to be installed by 1992 for $300 million. A renovated range control center with DEC VAX 8800 and 8650 superminicomputers and a Cray X-MP-14 supercomputer are planned. A combination of microwave and underwater coaxial cable data links connect various Krems radars to each other and to main instrumentation. They will supply information on warhead and missile tracking.

Admin. of general economic programs, Weapons, Tests, Satellites (Astronomical bodies), Computer Systems, Testing, Satellites, Military, Upgrading

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Large computers

Article Abstract:

Downsizing is not a new trend, however when combined with the general economic recession the effect on the computer industry is serious. Many industry experts are not ready to write off the mainframe and see important issues for the commercial environment that must first be resolved before that architecture can be abandoned. Although IBM did not introduce any new mainframe models in 1992, the company did introduce an improvement to the Enterprise System Connection (Escon) optical-fiber-based connection architecture that links mainframe computers with peripherals. The new Escon Multiple Image Facility can share channels across multiple devices, thus reducing operating costs. Massively parallel processors (MPPs) achieved just over 18 percent of the high-performance computer market in 1992.

Processor architectures, Cover Story, Economics, Market share, International competition (Economics), Parallel processing, 1992 AD, Competition, Demand, Vendors, Japanese Competition, Processor Architecture

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