The IBM System/7 was a computing system designed to acquire physical data such as voltage, current, temperature, pressure and other measurements directly from instrumentation and devices. The system converted and analyzed the data to produce meaningful information that was communicated to operational personnel or other computers. Control could then be exercised, where required, over the physical process to which the System/7 was attached. The System/7 could also acquire and transmit data via inplant and remote multimedia data communication stations and asynchronous, synchronous and binary synchronous communication lines.
A standalone System/7 could be used for simple applications. More comprehensive applications or those requiring data integrated with a management information system could be handled by a multisystem arrangement of several System/7s working in concert with an IBM System/370, or by communicating with another System/7, IBM System/3, most models of the IBM System/360, IBM System/370, IBM 1130 and IBM 1800 systems.
The System/7, because of its modular design, could handle the far ranging variety of instrumentation signals generated by contemporary technology. Both monolithic and auxiliary storage were readily expandable. Sensor-based and data collection input/output facilities were extensive and flexible.
The System/7 was composed of a processor module, from one to eleven input/output modules, an operator station, and associated peripheral devices. The processor and I/O modules were housed in enclosures that provided self-contained power supplies and signal distribution.
IBM System/7’s IBM 5010 Model A
processor module (left) and IBM
5028 operator station (right).
IBM 5010 Processor Module, Models A, B and E
- Model A offered from 2K to 16K words of storage in 2K increments.
- Model B offered from 2K to 16K words of storage in 2K increments, and was used for direct attachment to an IBM 1130.
- Model E offered:
- From 16K to 64K words of storage in 4K increments.
- Seven more instructions than Models A and B.
- Storage protect features including write protection of 512-word blocks of storage, except for input from cycle-stealing devices. Four protect key registers were associated with four operating levels and a storage key register was associated with each 512-word storage block.
- Highlights of Models A, B and E:
- Words were 16 bits in size with two parity bits per word.
- 400-nanosecond monolithic memory.
- Register to accumulator add time was 400 nanoseconds.
- Two independent interval timers operated at 50-microsecond increments.
- Four levels of priority interrupt; 16 interrupt sources per level.
- Each level had its own register stack (Instruction Address Register, Accumulator, and seven index registers).
- Fast interrupt response: between 800 nanoseconds and 4.7 microseconds. Typical response: 1.4 microseconds.
- Interactive communication between operator and system.
- Optional feature provided a power failure interrupt with an automatic restart in event of power loss.
Asynchronous Communications Control Adapter (ACCA)
- Special feature on 5010 Models A and E.
- Provided control circuits for one asynchronous communications line adapter between System/7 and System/370 or System/360, or IBM 1800.
- Permitted Initial Program Load (IPL) of System/7 from remote processor.
Binary Synchronous Communications Adapter (BSCA)
- Special feature on 5010 Models A and E.
- Provided control circuits for one binary synchronous communications line adapter operating in point-to-point or multipoint tributary mode.
- Communicated with System/370 Models 115 through 195, System/3 Models 6 and 10, and other 5010 Models A or E.
- Offered access to virtual storage System/370 software support.
- Allowed CICS and IMS support of System/7 as a BSC terminal.
- Communicated in half-duplex mode at wide range of speeds depending on modem attached.
- Transferred data via a direct storage access mechanism, minimizing processor loading.
- Permitted IPL of System/7 from remote processor.
Cycle Steal Basic
- Special feature on 5010 Models A, B and E.
- Provided path between 5010 and the IBM 5022 disk storage module equipped with Disk Cycle Steal attachment.
IBM 5028 Operator Station
Provided a keyboard, printer, paper tape reader/punch. Each System/7 had to have access to a 5028 for maintenance.
IBM 5026 Enclosures
- Provided housing and power for an IBM 5010 and input/output modules.
- Model A2 housed processor and one I/O module.
- Model C3 housed processor and two I/O modules.
- Model C6 housed processor and up to five I/O modules.
- Model D3 could be attached to Models C3 and C6 to provide up to three additional I/O modules.
- Model D6 could be attached to Models C3 and C6 to provide up to six additional I/O modules.
- Thermal detector warned if internal temperature exceeded danger point.
- Internal Air Isolation, optional feature for Models C3, C6, D3 and D6, was used in severe industrial environments in which there were gaseous contaminants harmful to electronic circuitry.
Input/Output Modules
- IBM 5012 multifunction module provided analog and digital I/O and IBM 2790 control on System/7.
- IBM 5013 digital input/output module provided digital I/O, expansion for custom products, and 2790 control on System/7.
- IBM 5014 analog input module Model B1 provided analog-to-digital conversions of up to 200 samples per second.
- IBM 5014 Model C1 provided analog-to-digital conversions of up to 20,000 samples per second.
- IBM 5022 disk storage module was available in four models.
- Pluggable termination cards had screw terminals for attaching sensor devices. Cards plugged directly into I/O module.
- Swing-out gates provided rapid access to processor and I/O modules without disrupting connection between termination cards and sensor devices.
- Designed for non-air-conditioned environments.
Programming Support
Provided on the System/7 and the host computer, it included:
- System/7 Disk Support System
- System/7 Program Preparation Facilities.
- Macro assembler.
- FORTRAN compiler.
- Application Module Library.
- Source Library Editor.
- MSP/7 Host Program Preparation Facilities.
- Available on System/370, System/360, IBM 1130 and 1800.
- Macro assembler.
- On System/360 and System/370 only:
- FORTRAN compiler.
- Application Program Generator.
- Application Module Library.
- MSP/7 standalone assembler.
- Single-pass assembly.
- Multiple assemblies without program reload.