DIAB DS90
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Dataindustrier AB (literal translation: computer industries shareholding company) or DIAB was a
Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
computer engineering and manufacturing firm, founded in 1970 by Lars Karlsson and active in the 1970s through 1990s. The company's first product was a board-based computer centered on a specific bus named ''Data Board 4680''. This unit was used for
automatic control Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, namely by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machines ...
in several Swedish industries as would be almost all of DIAB's computers. DIAB is mostly known for engineering the
ABC 80 The ABC 80 (Advanced BASIC Computer 80) was a personal computer engineered by the Swedish corporation Dataindustrier AB (DIAB) and manufactured by Luxor in Motala, Sweden in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was introduced on the market in August ...
, the first Swedish home computer, manufactured by
Luxor AB Luxor was a Swedish home electronics and computer manufacturer located in Motala, established in 1923 and acquired by Nokia in 1985. The brand name is now owned by Turkish company Vestel and is used for televisions sold in the Swedish market. O ...
. They would subsequently develop all the ABC-models (''ABC 800'', ''ABC 1600'' and ''ABC 9000'') before rebranding their own make of the ABC 9000 as ''DIAB DS-90'' and develop a series of
Unix Unix (; trademarked as UNIX) is a family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems that derive from the original AT&T Unix, whose development started in 1969 at the Bell Labs research center by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and ot ...
-compatible computers, using code licensed from
AT&T AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world's largest telecommunications company by revenue and the third largest provider of mobile tel ...
Version 5 Unix The term "Research Unix" refers to early versions of the Unix operating system for PDP-7, DEC PDP-7, PDP-11, VAX and Interdata 7/32 and 8/32 computers, developed in the Bell Labs Computing Sciences Research Center (CSRC). History The term ''Re ...
release, but with a unique in-house
kernel Kernel may refer to: Computing * Kernel (operating system), the central component of most operating systems * Kernel (image processing), a matrix used for image convolution * Compute kernel, in GPGPU programming * Kernel method, in machine learnin ...
using the brand name
DNIX DNIX (original spelling: D-Nix) is a discontinued Unix-like real-time operating system from the Swedish company Dataindustrier AB (DIAB). A version named ABCenix was developed for the ABC 1600 computer from Luxor. Daisy Systems also had a system ...
. DIAB would continue to provide
OEM An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...
services past Luxor AB, the most prominent probably being the entire Unix server product line from
Cromemco Cromemco was a Mountain View, California microcomputer company known for its high-end Zilog Z80, Z80-based S-100 bus computers and peripherals in the early days of the personal computer revolution. The company began as a partnership in 1974 betwe ...
. The compiler technology developed by Tomas Evensen at DIAB was bought by
Wind River Systems Wind River Systems, also known as Wind River (trademarked as Wndrvr), is an Alameda, California–based company, subsidiary of Aptiv PLC. The company develops embedded system and cloud software consisting of real-time operating systems software, ...
and was renamed to the "Wind River Compiler". Further information about the Wind River Compiler can be found at th
Wind River Compiler product home page
The Unix computer support and customers was acquired by Bull Computer in 1990 ending the history of the company.


Product line


Card-based microcomputers

* 1974: Data Board 4680 - the number is a short form of the three
microprocessor A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circu ...
s supported by the bus of this system:
Intel 4004 The Intel 4004 is a 4-bit central processing unit (CPU) released by Intel Corporation in 1971. Sold for US$60, it was the first commercially produced microprocessor, and the first in a long line of Intel CPUs. The 4004 was the first signific ...
,
Motorola 6800 The 6800 ("''sixty-eight hundred''") is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit microprocessor designed and first manufactured by Motorola in 1974. The MC6800 microprocessor was part of the Motorola 6800 family, M6800 Microcomputer System (latter dubbed ''68xx' ...
and
Zilog Z80 The Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor introduced by Zilog as the startup company's first product. The Z80 was conceived by Federico Faggin in late 1974 and developed by him and his 11 employees starting in early 1975. The first working samples wer ...
. Eventually only Z80 was ever used in this product.


Home and office computers

* 1977: 7S "Seven S" a combined monochrome terminal and computer built on the Data Board 4680 bus and a Z80 processor. * 1978:
ABC 80 The ABC 80 (Advanced BASIC Computer 80) was a personal computer engineered by the Swedish corporation Dataindustrier AB (DIAB) and manufactured by Luxor in Motala, Sweden in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was introduced on the market in August ...
a Z80-based monochrome home computer. * 1983:
ABC 800 ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
an enhanced office and home computer, 32 KB RAM, also based on Z80, with color graphics. * 1983: ABC 802 a variant of ABC 800 with 64 KB RAM whereof 32 KB were used as a
RAM disk Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to: Animals * A male sheep * Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish People * Ram (given name) * Ram (surname) * Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director * RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch * Ra ...
. * 1983: ABC 806 a variant of ABC 800 with 160 KB RAM whereof 128 were used as a RAM disk.


Peripherals

* 1982: ABC 838 – 2× 8-inch 1 MB
floppy drive A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, or a diskette) is an obsolescent type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined w ...
* 1982: ABC 830 – 2× 5.25-inch 160 kB floppy drive * 1982: ABC 890 – 8× ABC-bus slot expansion * 1982: ABC 815 – 14-inch monochrome screen * 1983: ABC 812 – 14-inch colour screen * 1983: ABC 850 – 10 MB hard disc and 640 kB floppy disc as well as 8× ABC-bus slots * 1984: ABC 834 – 2× 5.25-inch 640 kB floppy drive, compact version. Introduction price at 12000 SEK. * 1985: ABC 1656 – 40–80 MB hard disc and tape drive for backup * 1985: ABC 1615 – 1024 × 768 pixel screen * ABC 820 –
Compact Cassette The Compact Cassette or Musicassette (MC), also commonly called the tape cassette, cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Ottens ...
storage (for ABC 80) * ABC 821 – Compact Cassette storage (for ABC 80, 800, 802) * ABC 22 – Function and numeric-only keyboard * ABC-55 – Keyboard * ABC-77 – Keyboard * ABC-99 – Keyboard * ABC R8 – Mouse * LUX-NET – 50 computer, 1000-meter range, 500 kbit/s,
EIA-422 RS-422, also known as TIA/EIA-422, is a technical standard originated by the Electronic Industries Alliance that specifies electrical characteristics of a digital signaling circuit. It was meant to be the foundation of a suite of standards that ...
external networking adapter{{cite web, title=Rune's PC-Museum - Luxor Page, url=http://pc-museum.com/luxor/index.htm 091209 pc-museum.com


UNIX computers

In 1983, DIAB independently developed the first
UNIX Unix (; trademarked as UNIX) is a family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems that derive from the original AT&T Unix, whose development started in 1969 at the Bell Labs research center by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and ot ...
-compatible machine,
DIAB DS90 Dataindustrier AB (literal translation: computer industries shareholding company) or DIAB was a Swedish computer engineering and manufacturing firm, founded in 1970 by Lars Karlsson and active in the 1970s through 1990s. The company's first produc ...
, based on the
Motorola 68000 The Motorola 68000 (sometimes shortened to Motorola 68k or m68k and usually pronounced "sixty-eight-thousand") is a 16/32-bit complex instruction set computer (CISC) microprocessor, introduced in 1979 by Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector ...
CPU.
DNIX DNIX (original spelling: D-Nix) is a discontinued Unix-like real-time operating system from the Swedish company Dataindustrier AB (DIAB). A version named ABCenix was developed for the ABC 1600 computer from Luxor. Daisy Systems also had a system ...
here made its appearance, based on a
UNIX System V Unix System V (pronounced: "System Five") is one of the first commercial versions of the Unix operating system. It was originally developed by AT&T and first released in 1983. Four major versions of System V were released, numbered 1, 2, 3, an ...
license from
AT&T AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world's largest telecommunications company by revenue and the third largest provider of mobile tel ...
. DIAB was however an
industrial automation Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, namely by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machines ...
company, and needed a
real-time operating system A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating system (OS) for real-time applications that processes data and events that have critically defined time constraints. An RTOS is distinct from a time-sharing operating system, such as Unix, which m ...
, so the company replaced the AT&T-supplied UNIX
kernel Kernel may refer to: Computing * Kernel (operating system), the central component of most operating systems * Kernel (image processing), a matrix used for image convolution * Compute kernel, in GPGPU programming * Kernel method, in machine learnin ...
with their own in-house developed, yet compatible real-time variant. Over time, the company also replaced several of the UNIX standard userspace tools with their own implementations, to the point where no code was derived from UNIX, and their machines could be deployed independently of any AT&T UNIX license. Two years later and in cooperation with Luxor, a computer called ABC 1200 was developed for the office market, while in parallel, DIAB continue to produce enhanced versions of the DS90 computer using newer versions of the Motorola CPUs such as the
Motorola 68010 The Motorola MC68010 processor is a 16/32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1982 as the successor to the Motorola 68000. It fixes several small flaws in the 68000, and adds a few features. The 68010 is pin-compatible with the 68000, ...
,
68020 The Motorola 68020 ("''sixty-eight-oh-twenty''", "''sixty-eight-oh-two-oh''" or "''six-eight-oh-two-oh''") is a 32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1984. A lower-cost version was also made available, known as the 68EC020. In keeping ...
,
68030 The Motorola 68030 ("''sixty-eight-oh-thirty''") is a 32-bit microprocessor in the Motorola 68000 family. It was released in 1987. The 68030 was the successor to the Motorola 68020, and was followed by the Motorola 68040. In keeping with general ...
and eventually
68040 The Motorola 68040 ("''sixty-eight-oh-forty''") is a 32-bit microprocessor in the Motorola 68000 series, released in 1990. It is the successor to the 68030 and is followed by the 68060, skipping the 68050. In keeping with general Motorola nami ...
. In 1990, after DIAB was acquired by
Groupe Bull Bull SAS (also known as Groupe Bull, Bull Information Systems, or simply Bull) is a French computer company headquartered in Les Clayes-sous-Bois, in the western suburbs of Paris. The company has also been known at various times as Bull General El ...
, who continued to produce and support the DS machines under the brand name ''DIAB'', with names such as ''DIAB 2320'', ''DIAB 2340'' etc., still running DIABs version of DNIX.Historien om DIAB - Dataindustrier AB
/ref> * 1985:
ABC 1600 The ABC 1600 was a personal computer from Luxor that was introduced in 1985. It was built around the Motorola 68008 processor, had of memory and used the operating system ABCenix, a Unix-like system developed from DNIX. The ABC 1600 used monochr ...
a personal computer running ABCenix * 1985: ABC 9000 really a DS90 in disguise, running
DNIX DNIX (original spelling: D-Nix) is a discontinued Unix-like real-time operating system from the Swedish company Dataindustrier AB (DIAB). A version named ABCenix was developed for the ABC 1600 computer from Luxor. Daisy Systems also had a system ...
* 1985: beginning of the DS90-line ** DS90-00, DS90-10, DS90-11,
Motorola 68010 The Motorola MC68010 processor is a 16/32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1982 as the successor to the Motorola 68000. It fixes several small flaws in the 68000, and adds a few features. The 68010 is pin-compatible with the 68000, ...
-based UNIX servers intended for use via terminals ** DS90-20, DS90-21, quad
Motorola 68020 The Motorola 68020 ("''sixty-eight-oh-twenty''", "''sixty-eight-oh-two-oh''" or "''six-eight-oh-two-oh''") is a 32-bit microprocessor from Motorola, released in 1984. A lower-cost version was also made available, known as the 68EC020. In keepin ...
-based computers ** DS90-30, DS90-30S, DS90-31, dual
Motorola 68030 The Motorola 68030 ("''sixty-eight-oh-thirty''") is a 32-bit microprocessor in the Motorola 68000 family. It was released in 1987. The 68030 was the successor to the Motorola 68020, and was followed by the Motorola 68040. In keeping with general ...
-based computers ** DS101, actually a DS90-31 with exterior design by pop-artist Richard Hamilton ** DS90-41, DS90-45, DS90-47,
Motorola 68040 The Motorola 68040 ("''sixty-eight-oh-forty''") is a 32-bit microprocessor in the Motorola 68000 series, released in 1990. It is the successor to the 68030 and is followed by the 68060, skipping the 68050. In keeping with general Motorola nami ...
-based computers * the DIAB line; these are actually partly rebranded DSnn-computers: ** DIAB2320, DIAB2340, Motorola 68030-based sequels to the DS90-31 ** DIAB2420, DIAB2440, DIAB2450, Motorola 68040-based sequels to the DS90-47 ** DIAB9030, DIAB9031 – even later computers of unknown construction *
OEM An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...
products based on DIAB UNIX computers: ** Dynatech Computer Systems (
Cromemco Cromemco was a Mountain View, California microcomputer company known for its high-end Zilog Z80, Z80-based S-100 bus computers and peripherals in the early days of the personal computer revolution. The company began as a partnership in 1974 betwe ...
) DCS-1/200: based on DS90-30. The ''Cromix'' UNIX dialect used in these systems is likewise simply a rebranded
DNIX DNIX (original spelling: D-Nix) is a discontinued Unix-like real-time operating system from the Swedish company Dataindustrier AB (DIAB). A version named ABCenix was developed for the ABC 1600 computer from Luxor. Daisy Systems also had a system ...
. ** Dynatech Computer Systems (Cromemco) DCS-1/300: based on DS90-31 ** Dynatech Computer Systems (Cromemco) DCS-1/400 ** Dynatech Computer Systems (Cromemco) DCS-4/300: based on DIAB2450 ** Dynatech Computer Systems (Cromemco) DCS-4/400: based on DS90-41 **
Ohio Scientific Ohio Scientific Inc. (also known as Ohio Scientific Instruments) was an Ohio-based computer company that built and marketed microcomputers from 1975 to 1981. Their best-known products were the Challenger series of microcomputers and Superboard si ...
– this company is known to have made at least one OEM computer based on DS90-00 hardware, model number(s) unknown. **
Norsk Data Norsk Data was a minicomputer manufacturer located in Oslo, Norway. Existing from 1967 to 1998, it had its most active period from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. At the company's peak in 1987, it was the second largest company in Norway and em ...
– also made a DS90-00 OEM computers, likewise details unknown. **
ISC Systems Corporation #REDIRECT ISC #REDIRECT ISC {{redirect category shell, {{R from other capitalisation{{R from ambiguous page ...
{{redirect category shell, {{R from other capitalisation{{R from ambiguous page ...
DNP-10: based on DS90-10


References


External links


Historien om DIAB
(in
Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
) Defunct companies of Sweden Defunct computer companies of Sweden