CTM computer

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The company CTM Computer (Computertechnik Müller) was founded in 1972 in Constance by the industrial clerk Ilse Müller and her husband Otto Müller . In the 1960s, he designed the micro-program-controlled Nixdorf System 820 small computer for the Nixdorf company .

CTM 70

In the beginning they created the following computers of the CTM 70 series.

hardware

  • Computer
    Müller developed the CTM 70 model family in 1972 at the same time as the TA 1000 . Both families were similar, the CTM 70 had a 16-bit architecture , while the TA 1000 had an 8-bit architecture . The 16-bit architecture was more advantageous for connecting disk drives because it was better able to deliver data to the users (up to 16 clients). This was not possible with the TA 1000, which required two overlapping cycles for this .
  • Memory
    8 KByte core memory was used early on , later semiconductor memory up to 64 KByte with parity (notorious, the sockets were prone to failure), from 1978 128 KByte ECC memory were used. On the memory board of the semiconductor memory there were two sockets for PROMs , the so-called nucleus , in which was programmed what the respective machine could boot its operating system from. In the last server of the series, the CTM 70/9000, two 128 KByte memory cards were used.
  • Input / output
    An input / output board (IO display) provided the display, printer and keyboard connection.
  • Mass storage
    Various floppy disks / disk controllers were used.
  • Local network
    Each BAP screen workstation had its own computer and internal memory. The server and workstations were connected to one another via the local network CTM-MULTINET. This computer system philosophy was called "Distributed Intelligence".
  • Connection of the workplaces
    The IO DNÜ (local data transmission) was responsible for the networking and fed a shielded 2-wire cable, usually up to 1 km long. The transmission speed was usually 512  Kbit / s , but could be reduced by half to double the range. A 4-bit coding was used to address the workplaces, which enabled a total of 16 connections. The address zero was reserved for the server. Since only one of these cards was possible in the server, the number of workstations that could be connected was limited to 15, but the server could also be used as a workstation. Up to 64 workstations BAPs could be connected to the CTM 9032 models equipped with 32-bit computers.
  • Remote data transmission
    via the IO Dial ( remote data transmission ) could post a modem , a synchronous data transmission to a remote terminal can be realized.
  • Serial Asynchronous
    The IO Asynchronous provided connections with serial devices such as scales.

computer

The hardware kit made it possible to implement different computer systems. These always consisted of a computer board, memory and IO system for keyboard, printer and display. VDU workstations "BAP 70" could be connected via the IO DNÜ, which could be placed on the desk. The server consisted of the usual workbench with a built-in monitor and integrated computer hardware in a container with an integrated disk drive.

1973 CC MDT lists two models in its current price list (June 1973 edition) page 6, the CTM 70/400 and the CTM 70/500.

In 1978 the system family comprised a magnetic account version (model 600), a diskette version (model 700), a disk version (model 800) and a multi-user version with up to 15 workstations (model 900). The operating system of the CTM 70/900 was called "Intelligent Terminal Operating System" ITOS, alluding to the dialog computer .

software

operating system

The computers ran with CTM's own ITOS operating system, which stands for "Intelligent Terminal Operating System". From 1988 Unix was also offered.

Development environment

The CTM development environment was attractive for the time.

  • In addition to the in-house assembler , developed by Frieder Jung, there was a BASIC interpreter integrated in the operating system , a BASIC compiler (IBAT Basic) and a PL / I compiler used for system programming that was supported by a macro processor.
  • In addition, already with the CTM 70, model 800, indexed database structures in the operating system and in the file system offered the programmer the possibility of quickly and efficiently delivering the requested data to the screen.
  • From CTM 70 - 9000 a modern database structure based on B-trees .

Applications

The Computerwoche wrote in April 1978: "In addition to a modular program package for tasks such as invoicing, financial accounting and inventory management, the CTM software offer includes numerous industry packages, for example for the construction industry, beverage wholesaling and building cleaning."

CTM 9032

In 1984 CTM presented a new server, the CTM 9032, the first commercial 32-bit computer built in Germany. 48 computer workstations (BAP 70, later BAP 90) could be connected. Memory boards (ECC) of 512 K bytes , 1 Mbytes and 2 Mbytes, maximum memory expansion 4 Mbytes. Four disk drives (fixed or removable disk as well as the combined hard / removable disks) from a size of 32 Mbytes to 300 Mbytes were configurable. A 1-inch tape drive with a capacity of 80 MB was used for data backup and for data exchange with IBM mainframe computers. The planned number of 100 units was clearly exceeded.

CTM 9032 polyline

Since 1986 it has been possible to connect up to 96 BAPs (computer workstations) to the system center ZAP (central workstation) of the CTM 9032 PL (POLYLINE) thanks to the multiprocessor operation.

Time after the sole guided tour by Otto and Ilse Müller

  • 1974/75: Diehl took over the financial majority of CTM.
  • 1975: The new multitasking operating system ITOS with LAN / WAN network appeared.
  • 1976: CTM produced 2000 computers in its own factory in Konstanz, from electronic components to devices ready for dispatch, including self-developed system software.
  • 1977: annual sales of DM 60 million.
  • 1984: Diehl sold a 49 percent stake in Standard Elektrik Lorenz (SEL).
  • 1986: SEL takes over CTM entirely.
  • 1989: SEL / Alcatel sold the company CTM to the two ex- Commodore managers Harald Speyer and Walter Bartholomä, who then renamed the company to ITOS and relocated the head office to Frankfurt.
  • 1989: Founding of CTM Computervertrieb GmbH from the former CTM office in Bremen and from there at the end of 1992 CTM Computer Technik Marketing with the later focus on the business software Navision (today Microsoft Dynamics NAV ).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ralf Kreher: High-Tech from Swabia - only known overseas. Ilse and Otto Müller, founders of "Hyperstone Electronics", had to find out how Germany's big industry is missing the connection to the future. Berliner Zeitung, March 30, 1996, accessed September 1, 2014 .
  2. ↑ Intelligent screen workstation CTM Computer Awarded the IF Product Design Award 1979
  3. ↑ Computer system CTM 70 Awarded the IF Product Design Award 1978
  4. ↑ CC MDT June 1973 edition
  5. ↑ a b CTM GmbH: memory expansions for system family CTM 70 Computerwoche April 14, 1978
  6. ↑ a b System Manual CTM90 1987 Version 871001 pp. 5–6
  7. ↑ 9032 with streamer tape Computerwoche April 6, 1984
  8. ↑ The system CTM9032 - a powerful network of intelligent computer workstations Informatik-Fachberichte Volume 78, 1984, pp 236-24
  9. ↑ CTM and SEL with joint services ( memento of the original from August 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Computer Week November 1st 1985  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.channelpartner.de
  10. ↑ SEL has finally brought the Konstanz-based DV-Division to the man  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.computerwoche.de