Introduction
The Encore 91TM series
is the first member of the new
Encore 90TM
family of open systems targeted to real-time
applications.
These high-performance multiprocessor
systems are built using industry
standard hardware platforms,
standard I/O interfaces and standard OS and
application
software. The Encore 91 series has been designed for
maximum
flexibility to meet the requirements of end users and
system
integrators.
The hardware architecture of
the Encore 91 series is based on
the Motorola high-performance 88100
25MHz RISC processor.
A basic system is a highly integrated fully
symmetrical single
board multiprocessor. The single board includes two
or four
88100 processors with supporting cache memory, 16 mega-
bytes of
shared main memory, two synchronous SCSI ports,
an EthernetTM
port, 4 asynchronous ports, real-time clocks,
timers,
interrupts and a VME-64 bus interface. The VME-64 bus provides full
compatibility with VME plus enhancements for greater throughput. Shared
main memory may be expanded to 272 megabytes (mb) by adding up to four
expansion cards. The expansion memory boards have the same high-speed
access characteristics as local memory.
Encore’s tradition of
high-performance real-time capabilities continues with the Encore 91. In
addition to the real-time enhancements to the processor card and bus
design, the Encore 91 optionally provides Reflective Memory Systems and
High-Speed Data connectivity. The HSD interface developed by Encore is
the industry’s de facto standard for high-speed device connectivity.
Reflective Memory is Encore’s award winning memory interconnect
technology which provides deterministic tight coupling of distributed
systems.
Reflective Memory allows for multiple Encore 91 systems to be tightly
coupled together to form large scale systems. Reflective Memory is fully
supported on Encore’s CONCEPT 32 series of products; therefore,
heterogeneous combinations of Encore 91 and CONCEPT 32 systems can be
applied to solve the wide ranging demands of real-time applications.
Encore’s innovative operating system design reconciles the
competing requirements for standards based systems software and
uncomprised real-time performance. The Power DomainTM
multi-operating system design harnesses the power of AT&T’s system
V.3.2 UNIXR (UMAXTM V) and Encore’s POSIXTM compliant MicroMPXTM
real-time kernel. UMAX V provides powerful software capabilities for
real-time applications, as well as general purpose UNIX computing.
MicroMPX is utilized for running real-time applications within a
deterministic time-critical environment. Both operating system
environments are symmetrical multithreaded implementations that take
full advantage of the tightly coupled parallel architecture of the
Encore 91 series systems. MicroMPX retains a large degree of
compatibility with MPX-32TM used with Encore’s CONCEPT 32 real-time
systems. In addition UMAX V and MicroMPX are fully integrated to present
a single operational environment.
A range of packaging options is available including a compact
desk-high cabinet and 19-inch rack-based cabinets for computer room
applications housing one or two Encore 91 series systems. Customers may
purchase the required chassis, boards, power supplies and cooling for
mounting in their own cabinets.
The Encore 91 series system conforms to the Binary Compatibility
Standard (BCS) defined for the Motorola 88000 family of processors and
UNIX V.3.2. By conforming to the standard, a wealth of off-the-shelf
applications is available to users of the Encore 91 series systems.
These applications may run under UNIX while the remainder of the system
is performing real-time tasks under control of MicroMPX.
Central Processor
The Encore 91 series is a multiprocessor-based computer
system configured with two or four Motorola model 88100 processors. The
processors are implemented using Motorola’s HCMOS technology. All data
paths and registers are 32-bits wide. The 88100 is a RISC (Reduced
Instruction Set Computing) microprocessor with 51 instructions – most
of which execute in one clock cycle. The instructions that exceed one
clock cycle, such as memory reference and floating point instructions,
execute in a pipelined fashion. Pipelining of these instructions allows
them to effectively execute in one clock cycle. The Encore 91 series
clock frequency is 25 Megahertz. So the basic instruction execution
elapsed time is 40 nanoseconds.
The Encore 91 series 88100 central processor supports seven data
types – from individual bits, to integer arithmetic, to floating
point. The floating point format is IEEE 754, single precision (32 bits)
or double precision (64 bits).
To further enhance performance of each 88100 processor, the Encore 91
series utilizes 88200 Cache Memory Management Units (CMMUs). The CMMUs
monitor the memory bus for write cycles in order to ensure that its
on-chip cache is updated with new information when data in the main
shared memory is changed. This function of the CMMU maintains
"cache coherency." A dual processor 91 series system has a
cache size of 64 Kbytes per processor. For the quad 91 Series system,
the cache is 32 Kbytes per processor. In each case, half the cache is
used for data and half for instruction.
The Motorola 88000 family has two 2 gigabyte dual-mapped logical address
spaces. One 2 gigabyte area is user space and the other is system
(operating system) space. This segregates user application code
from the co-resident operating systems.
Operating Systems
Encore 91 series systems
utilize AT&T's V.3.2 UNIX as their base for real-time program development.
The operating system has been enhanced to support Encore 91 series'
multiprocessing uniform memory architecture and multithreaded
programming techniques. The resulting symmetrical operating
system implementation is known as UMAX V. In addition, extensions have
been made to UMAX V to support the real-time operating systems, MicroMPX.
Real-time applications developed using UMAX V facilities will execute on
the Encore 91 series under the control of MicroMPX.
MicroMPX has been derived from Encore’sMPX-32 real-time operating
system, a product proven and field tested with Encore’s CONCEPT 32
systems that have been shipping for over ten years into some of the
world’s most time-critical applications. MicroMPX has been designed to
be compatible with MPX-32 at the high-level language programmatic
interface level. Specifically, current MPX-32 based applications,
designed using Encore’s FORTRAN 77+, may be ported to the 91 series by
recompiling and relinking for execution under control of MicroMPX.
MicroMPX has been designed to conform to real-time standards including
POSIX.
With the Encore 91 series, real-time applications are developed using
UMAX V and all the standard UNIX facilities and services. The resulting
program executes under the control of MicroMPX. MicroMPX supports fast,
priority based, fully re-emptive scheduling with isolation from UNIX
scheduling and system overhead. In addition MicroMPX services interrupts
directly, as well as real-time I/O, without involvement of UMAX V.
MicroMPX includes a UNIX-compatible file system which is enhanced to
support contiguous and pre-allocated data files, crucial to real-time
applications.
The role of UMAX V for the Encore 91 series is to
provide a highly productive software development
environment while MicroMPX provides the high-performance
real-time execution environment. Of the lour processors available on an
Encore 91 series system, at least one must be devoted to UMAX V. The
other processors can execute under control of UMAX V or real-time
MicroMPX, depending on environmental needs. The user can dynamically
reconfigure the processors between UMAX V and MicroMPX when his needs
change. System administration and the console functions are handled by
UMAX V, as is intersystem communications and the overall scheduling of
the other processors. However, once a processor is running MicroMPX,
UNIX can not gain control of the processor until MicroMPX relinquishes
control.
Main Shared Memory
The minimum memory configuration for an Encore 91 series system is 16
megabytes. This shared memory is packaged on the same board as the
central processors and utilizes one megabit DRAMs. All processors have
uniform access to the shared memory. Data integrity is ensured by the
inclusion of one parity bit for each byte in memory Four expansion
memory cards can he added to 91 series systems, in 16 or 64 megabyte
increments. Two or more expansion memory cards permit interleaved access
to memory. The interleaving speeds up access time to memory, thereby
boosting throughput of the overall system. The Encore 91 series memory
can be expanded up to a total capacity of 272 megabytes if four 64
megabyte expansion memory cards are used. Expansion memory has identical
access characteristics to local memory and in addition is dual ported to
support simultaneous CPU and I/O accesses to main memory without
contention.
Bus Structure
The Encore 91 series has several internal and external buses. The
heart of the system is the internal high-speed 100 megabytes per second
Local Bus. The processors and shared memory communicate over Local Bus.
There are two principal industry-standard external buses available to 91
series users the SCSI bus and the VME bus. The two SCSI buses are used
as peripheral buses for 91 series’ disks and tapes. The VME bus also
is generated from a Local Bus interface on the Processor Board. The 91
series supports the VME-61 extension to the industry standard VME 32-bit
bus. This extension allows block mode transfers to take place at
sustained speeds in excess of 55 megabytes per second (peak rate of 80
megabytes), yet retaining compatibility with the industry standard VME
32-bit bus.
The Encore 91 series architecture has been designed such that the
shared memory is dual ported. One port communicates with the central
processors and the other directly with the VME bus. This means that I/O
operations on the VME bus can make data transfers directly into shared
main memory. It also means that because processor to memory data
transfers use Local Bus, they do not place a load on the VME bus.
Real-Time
Interfaces
Available as a VME—based option with the Encore 91 series is a
32-hit parallel High-Speed Data (HSD) interface. Encore’s HSD is the
industry be facto standard for high—speed data input arid output. The
HSD is typically used to interconnect two systems back—to—back or to
act as an interlace to digital instrumentation, graphical devices or
customer designed devices. The HSD provides a 32-hit wide, hall-duplex,
point-to-point connection. The hardware is a board that can be inserted
into a spare VME slot in the card cage. Appropriate software drivers are
supplied.
Also available is a Reflective Memory System (RATS) interface. RMS is
used to create a shared—memory multiprocessor system for two or more
discrete systems. Each Encore 91 series system is a tightly coupled
multiprocessor as it has two or four processors per cluster. However,
RMS interfaces two or more 91 series systems to a common memory. Up to
nine systems can he interconnected using Reflective Memory. Also, RMS
can he used to interconnect the 91 series and Encores CONCEPT/32 line of
high performance real-time systems.
Packaging
There are two basic packages for an Encore 91 series system. For
smaller configurations and for systems that reside in an office
environment, the 91 series is available in a desk-high cabinet, 30
inches tall. It is on casters and can be powered from a standard 15-amp
wall outlet. For shop floor and laboratory use, the 91 series can he
installed in a cabinet that conforms to the 19-inch RETMA rail
standard.
The mid-size cabinet will hold one 91 series system and the full-height
cabinet can have two complete 91 series clusters installed. The Encore
91 series systems are modular in that customers have great flexibility
in con figuring their peripherals, communications and real-time options.
The desk-high 91 series has a nine-slot VME card cage with one slot
dedicated to the Processor Board. Desk-high 91 series systems have space
for three
Peripherals - disks or cartridge tape transports. Encore 91 series
systems configured in cabinets have 21 - slot VME card cages with the
same slot dedicated to the processor hoard. The mid-height cabinet has
one card cage and space for four standard form-factor peripherals. The
full -height cabinet can he configured with two VME card cages and eight
standard form—factor peripherals.
Communications
Available on Encores 91 series systems is a wide selection of
industry-standard communications. The Processor Board has four
asynchronous ports. Two are reserved for use by the operator’s console
and a remote diagnostic port. The principal communication connection to
91 series systems is over Ethernet. The Processor Board includes a
standard Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) port. User terminals may interface to a
91 series system via an Encore supplied Annex terminal server (or
equivalent) that also resides on the Ethernet local area network.
Terminal users communicate with the Encore 91 series system using
standard TCP/IP protocols and applications such as "telnet"
and rlogin." Users will also have the use of other TCP/IP
application such as file transfer and mail.
For wide area communications, the 91 series includes, as an option, a
VME-based synchronous board that supports the X.25 protocol. This option
allows the 91 series to communicate with other systems using packet data
networks (PDNs) such as Telenet, Tymnet, Datapac, etc.
Also available on the Encore 91 series is the Network File System (NFS)
developed by Sun Microsystems Inc. This allows 91 series users to access
files on remote systems. The 91 series can act as an NFS Server (to
provide files to others) or as a Client (to use files, which reside on
other systems). NFS is a protocol that utilizes the standard Ethernet
port provided with the 91 series.
Network software built over standard protocols will also be developed
to work over Reflective Memory, thereby providing the functionality of
Reflective Memory software for large-scale multiprocessor
configurations.
Peripherals
The Encore 91 series has adopted a standardized approach for
a basic set of disks and tapes. The Processor Board has two SCSI ports
— one single ended and one differential. The former is normally used
for Peripherals that reside within the processor cabinet. Differential
allows longer cable distances and is useful when the SCSI bus must he
routed between cabinets. Synchronous or asynchronous SCSI protocols are
supported on either port and can he intermixed on each SCSI bus.
However, synchronous protocols provide a performance advantage over
asynchronous protocols. Both the desk-high 91 series and the cabinet
versions use the industry standard 5.25-inch form factor peripherals.
These include 300 and 600-megabyte disks and a 320-megabyte cartridge
tape drive. The tape drive uses the industry defined QIC tape formats.
Specifically, QIC-320, -150 and -120 formats can be written and read.
Tapes recorded to the older QIC-24 standard can be read.
The disks and tapes referred to above are housed in Encore designed
enclosures that allow easy insertion into mailboxes mounted in 91 series
mid-size and full height cabinets. SCSI peripherals can be removed from
the system wit hour dropping main processor power. In the case of disks,
this feature allows users to remove their private data for secure
storage.
As an alternative for tape storage, a standard nine-track tri-density
tape transport is available. This is a 125ips transport with front
loading access. The tape transport may be mounted in the processor
cabinet or in a peripheral cabinet. Encore 91 series systems in
desk-height cabinets can use a tabletop nine-track tape transport.
Encore can supply several printers for use with Encore 91 series
systems. These can be laser technology page printers or impact printers
with parallel or serial interfaces. The Annex terminal server has a
parallel port for use by printers In addition, serial printers can be
attached to the asynchronous ports on the Processor Board or to the
asynchronous ports on the Annex terminal server.
There are two choices for an operator’s console. The entry-level
device utilizes a low functionality terminal on one of the asynchronous
ports on the Processor Board. Control of multiple networked 9) series
systems, from one device, may use a personal computer with a direct
attachment to Ethernet. This option pro-vides for window capability to
monitor and control multiple 91 series nodes concurrently.
Compilers and Tools
The Encore 91 series system is available with FORTRAN, C and
Ada compilers. These compilers are hosted by UMAX V. System calls to
other language are permitted from each compiler environment. All Encore
high-level languages have advanced, highly optimizing code generators
that greatly improve on the run time speed and compactness of earlier
programming language systems.
The Encore 91 series FORTRAN is available in two versions: The
sequential version creates programs that conventially execute on a
single processor. The parallel version creates programs that allow parts
of the application to execute on more than one processor at a time. This
parallelization can be user directed, automatic, or a combination of
both. The parallelization of an application to use multiple processors
will give an application a distinct performance boost at run time. The
FORTRAN supplied with Encore 91 series systems (ANSI FORTRAN 77) is
compatible with the functions and real-time extensions of FORTRAN 77+
available with Encore s CONCEPT 32 systems.
Encore was the first company to offer a validated Parallel Ada
compiler. This tradition continues with Parallel Ada availability on the
Encore 91 In addition, Encores Micro ARTE (Ada Real-Time Executive)
provides a low overhead approach to maximize real-time Ada performance.
Through the use of Ada tasking, the Encore 91 series Ada also allows
the user to easily develop applications that execute on more than one
processor at a time. The user can modify the number of processors used,
depending, for example, on whether code is being debugged or delivered
code is running.
All Encore 91 languages also provide access
to MicroMPX services. Through these services, the user can develop
multi-tasking applications that use multiple processors.
Case Environment
Encore 91’s UNIX and MicroMPX domains provide a complete
multi-language-programming environment supplemented by workstation and
X-windows-based Upper and Lower CASE tools. The UNIX CASE suite will
include support for cost estimation, project management, requirements
analysis, structured analysis, structured design, configuration
management, software repositories and document publishing.
Motif-based non-intrusive parallel instrumentation (Parasight)
software will be integrated as part of the CASE offering. Parasights
ability to control and monitor tasks, as well as access memory in a
non-intrusive fashion, sets the standard for debugging and tuning large
real-time systems. Encore is committed to providing a highly productive
CASE environment to reduce our customers software development and
maintenance costs.
Product Specifications Processor
Processor
25 MHz Motorola 88100 32-bit RISC.
Symmetric multiprocessor.
2 or 4 processors per 9LJ card.
Integrated IEEE 754 floating point.
Motorola 88200 cache/memory management unit.
32 Kbytes cache per quad processor — 16Kb data,16Kb instructions.
4 Gigabyte address space — 2Gb user, 2Gb system.
Memory
16 Mb on processor hoard — single port access.
Expansion cards, 16 or 64 Mb each. Up to four can be added.
Expansion memory is dual-port access with interleaving.
Total memory capacity of 272 Mb.
Buses
VME revision C.1 32-bit bus (VME-32).
VME-64 extensions to VME-32 for 64-hit block mode transfers.
SCSI — single ended and differential — asynchronous or
synchronous.
Internal Local Bus — 100 Mb/sec.
Software Environment
Power Domain multi-operating system architecture.
MicroMPX deterministic real-time execution operating system.
UMAX V for software development and high level control of MicroMPX.
88/OPEN BCS application software conformance.
Real-Time Features
24 hardware maskable interrupts.
Seven programmable counters.
Real-time clock.
HSD Interface for high speed data input and output.
Reflective Memory (RMS) — high speed shared memory link. Tri-ported
design.
Languages and Tools
FORTRAN 77 for creation of sequential or parallel code.
Compatibility with FORTRAN 77+ on CONCEPT/32 systems.
C compiler — packaged with UMAX V.
Ada - Parallel Ada and Micro ARTE (Ada Real-Time Executive).Parasighi debugger and monitor for parallel programs non-intrusive
for real- time applications.
CASE tools - to enhance the software development process.
Communications
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) port standard.
Four RS232-C asynchronous lines standard
TCP/ IP and NFS optional.
X.25 (hardware and software) optional.
Wide selection of VME boards available - additional
Ethernet ports, more asynchronous lines etc.
Peripherals
SCSI 5.25-inch disks — 300 and 600 megabytes.
SCSI 5.25-inch cartridge tape — 320 Mb storage.
Nine track tri-density tape.
Impact and non-impact printers.
Ethernet-based Annex Terminal Server.
Terminals and personal computers.
Installation
Desk-high cabinet, single node, 30 inches tall.
Nine-slot VME 9U chassis — up to eight slots available for peripheral expansion.
One or two SCSI 5.25-inch peripherals.
Power: H5./220 volts, 50/60 Hz. 15 amps single
Technology Marketing Group
TMG2000 MONITORING SYSTEM 
