Honeywell CP-6
CP-6 was the university mainframe computer and began operating at Carleton in 1979. Carleton University ran two Honeywell CP-6 mainframe computers, one called PROD for administration (Student Records, Finance, HR, Alumni) and ACAD for the academic computing. Users were able to connect to them using serial connections using the Gandalf PACX front end processors (FEP’s) (see photo/framed vintage display). The async card connected terminals and printers to the Honeywell CP-6 mainframe.
“FEP (front end processor) circuit card assembly for a Gandalf PACX that connected serial connections from end users. This async card connected terminals and printers to the Honeywell CP-6 mainframe.”
The CP-6 mainframe was located in Robertson Hall and the ITS Data Center is still located in Robertson Hall today. The photo below is a photo of the donated FEP’s to the Diefenbunker.
The async cards (vintage display item) were connected to 25 pin serial connectors that were arranged on the back of the FEP. Since there were far more terminals on campus than FEP serial connections, the Gandalf switch was used to share the FEP connections. You can see the monitor and printers on top of the FEP racks.
Photo of the FEP’s (front end processors) in a rack with a monitor on top. The equipment was at Carleton University and was donated to the Diefenbunker museum.
Attribution
Thank you Greg Schmidt ( School of Business Manager of Computing) and Colin McFadyen (ITS Supervisor of Operations) for their donation and historical input of this vintage computing item.
References
Honeywell CP-6: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeywell_CP-6
Gandalf PACX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PACX