VT R10 minicomputer

Smaller technical-scientific calculations (e.g. digital image processing for evaluating space images)
Enterprise applications, process management
Real-time terminal (real time front-end) for on-line data collection and processing systems

Its portability and low heat generation made it suitable for industrial and military applications.

In Hungary, several tasks were solved on it that were performed using medium-performance computers in France.

Widely distributed in Hungary; main users:

• Hungarian Optical Works (MOM)
• Budapest Radio Engineering Factory (BRG)

Many machines were distributed in the CIS countries, especially the Soviet Union.

Information Technology History Exhibition

Structure

Central unit

Word-organized machine: 16 bpW

• Control system: microprogrammable control built from LSI packages, Minibus rail system
  • 1 or 2 KB firmware memory
  • cache with a maximum capacity of 4*32 B
  • 32 interrupt levels
• main memory: 4-32 KW ferrite ring memory (from 8 KB modules); cycle time 400 μs
• calculator: no
• channel: implemented by microprogrammed control of external units

Periphery

• backups:
  • removable magnetic disk, 5 MB
  • SAGEMFEX3 fixed magnetic disk, 800 KB
    • access time: 10 ms
  • 8″ floppy disk, 256 KB
  • 9-track magnetic tape
• external devices:
  • ASR33 Teletype console typewriter, 10 chps
  • VT 340 CRT monitor
  • punched tape reader, 300 – 1000 chps
  • punch tape punch, 50 chps
  • punched card reader, 300 cdpm
  • line printers:
    • 80 chpl, 356 lpm
    • 132 chpl, 245 lpm
  • dot matrix printer, 100 chpm
  • AD/DA converter

Operation

86 microprogrammed instructions; instruction-level compatibility with Mitra 15; instructions supporting time-sharing mode

Main memory addressing modes:

• directly
• indirectly
• indexed
• relative or parametric addressing

Possible data types:

• byte
• word (2 B)
• double word (4 B)
• byte sequence

Instruction execution time for store-register type word operations: 2.1 ms (~500 ips) on average

Channel control instructions were handled by an interrupt system with a 300 μs response time, allowing automatic execution of hierarchically nested interrupt programs

The 32 interrupt levels could be assigned to 112 external interrupt causes

Screen resolution: 16 lines, 80 chpl

Program set

• operating system:
  • MTR
  • RTM
  • RTDM
  • VIDOS (Infelor development)
  • Answer
• programming languages:
  • BASIC
  • CDL
  • Cobol 74
  • Fortran IV
  • Videoton assembly

Application systems tailored to user needs

Historical curiosities

Hungary undertook the development of the smallest member of the ESZR machine families, the R10 computer. The OMFB, responsible for its implementation, entrusted the task to SZKI, which contacted the French company CII (Compagnie International pour l'Informatique). This led to the purchase of the license and manufacturing rights for the company's CII 10010 computer (1969). According to the contract, 4 prototypes arrived in Hungary, which were given to KFKI, SZTAKI, EMG, and SZKI (they presented them with minor modifications at the 1971 BNV). VIDEOTON also manufactured ~20 computers under the license, and marketed them under the name VT 1010B (1971).

Meanwhile, EMG lobbied to have its own developed EMG 830 computer announced as R10 – after the promised modifications had been implemented. However, the effort, which was otherwise justifiable from both professional and economic perspectives – was not successful – mainly due to the fault of EMG's management.

In the meantime, the political concept had also changed, and the OMFB – in accordance with the government’s decision – commissioned VIDEOTON to develop the R10 (EC1010) computer that met the ESZR specifications, based on the license of the Mitra15 computer that was still under development at the CII – later acquired by the SEMS company. VIDEOTON signed a contract with SZKI for its creation and future international testing. In order to more quickly adopt the technology and know-how, two SZKI employees worked for months in France to prepare the first Mitra15. The successful testing (approval) took place in 1972. (For details, see: József Csendes: Hungarian-French cooperation )

It is interesting to note that at the request of the CII company - back in the 1010B era - a conference entitled Hungarian Days was organized, where programs developed in Hungary for the 10010 machines were presented.

Another interesting fact is that 20 copies of the interface unit developed at SZKI for the Bulgarian-made magnetic disk were also produced for VIDEOTON, which were sold in R10 computers.

Resources

General description: Journal of Communications Technology, issue XIV/2, page 62.

Detailed description, with pictures: R10 minicomputer family (Compiled by: Mátyás Gerlai)

Summary overview: VIDEOTON computers (Compiled by: Zoltán Újvári and Mátyás Gerlai)

R10 turns 50 Compilation of the history of R10