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Dr. Evgeny N. Filinov

Translated by Alexander Nitusov.

Since 1974 establishing and development of the System of Minicomputers (mid-range computers) SM became the core of scientific and engineering policy of the USSR Ministry of Instrumentation. In 1974, by decision of the socialist countries' intergovernmental commission on cooperation in computing, Moscow research and engineering INstitute of Electronic COntrol Machinery (INECOM) received the status of the parent enterprise on minicomputers SM development. Its director Boris Nikolaevich Naumov was appointed as the General designer of the project.

More than thirty research institutes and industrial enterprises from USSR, Bulgaria, Hungary, GDR, Cuba, Poland, Rumania and Czechoslovakia were engaged in that program.

Minicomputer SM was designed and composed as aggregate system of computer hard- and software, including its methodic, regulatory and maintenance support, as well as of applied standards. As the result, this complex provided rational compatibility and unification of systemic, architectural, circuitry and design solutions.

Creation of the minicomputers SM was the result of joint efforts of numerous research and producing organizations from the participating countries. At the same time prestige of Moscow INECOM and its main role in the SM family development were supported not by administrative directives but by rich experience of the scientists from Moscow -Prof. Dr. Isaac S. Bruk's- engineering school (institute) of minicomputers, and by the scientific school for design of computer systems and aggregate complexes. Both the scientific directions of work and team of its collaborators were formed by Dr. Boris N. Naumov at the INECOM.

Alongside with its advantages international cooperation made the problem of mutual compatibility of the SM systems' components produced by different manufacturers especially important.

Dr. B.N. Naumov, as the chief designer of SM computers, always promoted development of international standards for hardware interfaces, SM computers software systems, constructs, racks and for printed circuitry boards sises, as well as other standards, to support compatibility and enable pairing of the devices within the finally produced structures.

Proposed basic principles, technologies and standards for SM minicomputers, encompassed all aspects of their components, units, devices and software systems unification, for all SM models and complexes based on them. Availability of national technologies and power of industrial production were also considered. All that made possible establishing of large-volume production and development of applied systems based on new minicomputers SM. Regulatory framework for SM computers had were developed in the beginning of the project by the Council of Chief Designers (CCD SM). Without these regulations it would be impossible to establish large-scale industrial manufacturing of the SM computers at various enterprises located in different countries. The leading role in coordinating of the regulations played CCD SM experts teams headed by M.A. Boyarchenkov, A.N. Kabalevskiy, V.P. Semik, E.N. Filinov, S.N. Khrushchev, T.D. Chernina.

Common scientific and technological policy had been shaped and confirmed by decisions on application of international standards, standards of the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) countries and standards of their governments and economic sectors.

Several general principles were adopted as the basic ones for the minicomputers SM development, the most important of them were:

by the use of standard interfaces of peripheral devices and devices for object communication;

Measuring and computing complexes (MCC) created on the basis of minicomputers SM, technical means of CAMAC or ACEMT, had been aimed at automation of performing complex experiments in real-time mode in various fields of science and engineering. Flexibility and modular hardware structure of SM computers, availability of advanced computer interfaces for conducting experiments according to the CAMAC or ACEMT standards and a wide range of problem-orientated, both system and applied, SM software ensured the widespread use of Measuring Computing Complexes (MCC) in scientific research automation systems, primarily at the institutes of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

Emergence of the SM computers made it possible to basically improve concept development of CAD workplaces. Previous CAD systems were based on large multi-terminal computers, working usually in a batch mode. That explained low efficiency of design process.

Implementation of computer-based workstations essentially increased performance by ensuring a dialog design mode, obtaining design results in a convenient form and also extending possibilities of graphic images, diagrams and drawings input, editing and output. The CAD workplaces (Automated WorkPlaces – AWP) incorporated wide range of basic software supporting machine graphics, e.g. Geographic Information Systems – GIS, Graphic Information System – GRIS, etc.

The most widely used were automated workstations developed at the Institute of Electronic Control Machinery (INECM) jointly with enterprises of the USSR Ministry of Radio Industry, the USSR Ministry of Aviation Industry, the USSR Ministry of Defense Industry and the USSR Ministry of Instrument Making, for radio and electronics (AWP-R), mechanical engineering (AWP-M), construction design (AWP-S), economic information processing (AWP-E).

Several families of micro- and mini-computers, control and computing complexes based on those computers, were created as part of the SM computers.

1. The Family of Control Computing Complexes (CCC): SM-1, SM-2, SM-1210 of 16-bit minicomputers class.

Computers of that family were fully compatible on software level with M-7000, and one-way compatible, on relocatable program level, with M-6000. The SM-1P and SM-2P processors were built using the principle of microprogram control, what made possible problem orientation of command system by changing the contents of the firmware memory.

SM-1 and SM-2 complexes were assembled on basis of SM-1P, SM-2P processors and aggregate modules from the SM computers components nomenclature, according to customer specifications. If needed, peripheral devices and devices for communication of the M-6000/M-7000 complexes with an object could be also included into those structures, as their input-output interfaces were fully compatible. Connection between computers SM-1/SM-2 and ES computers was provided by the CAMAC system, by aggregate complexes GSP: ASET, ASKR, ASTM, KTS LIUS, etc.

Software for UCC SM-1 and SM-2 had been composed on a modular basis. That allowed software systems to be compiled in accordance with required operating modes and the functions to be performed on a given hardware configuration.

The software included:

Development of this family was carried out by Scientific and Production Association “Impulse” from town of Severodonetsk, under the leadership of V.V. Rezanov and V.M. Kostelyansky.

Serial production vas performed at Severodnetsk instrument-making plant and Production Association (PA) “Control Computer plant, named after K.N. Rudnev” in the town of Orel.

More than 17 thousand Control Computer Complexes SM-1, SM-2, SM-1210 were supplied to scientific organisations and industrial enterprises. More than 10 thousand of them for process control systems. They were mainly used in power supply and military systems. For example, more than 100 such complexes were installed at the USSR Baikonur Cosmodrome, then the leading one.

2. The Family of Control Computing Complexes (CCC): SM-3, SM-4,   SM-1420, SM-1425 of 16-bit minicomputers class.

Computers of that family were compatible on software level with M-400 and PDP-11 family of the Digital Equipment Corporation. The main architectural feature of this family was uniform organization of connections between the processor and RAM and also external device controllers based on standard 16-bit system interface with a common bus (CB). That made it easy to implement off-process data exchanges of external devices both with RAM and with each other for increasing performance.

The microprogram control principle was applied in processors SM3P and SM4P and in controllers Command system provided for non-address, unicast and dual-address commands (12 addressing modes altogether). Besides operations on 16-bit words, operations on bytes could also be performed, what essentially increased performance of symbolic information processing.

The ability to organize a stack in RAM was implemented in hardware, what also increased performance. A five-level priority interrupt system was also provided.

The family included computers SM-1410 which were compatible on software level with computers MIR specially designed for engineering calculations. Abbreviation MIR literally means “Machine (for) Engineering Calculations” (russ.:МИР - Машина (для) Инженерных Расчётов). The compatibility had been achieved by adding to main processor SM-4P the second one that was interpreting programming language “Analytik”, similar to ALGOL.      

Computer SM-1420 – basic model of the family based on processor SM-4P. Computing complex SM-1425 – further development of SM-1420, which had more advanced architecture. Thus, it was provided with 22-bit backbone parallel interface (BPI or “digital data bus”).

Software of the family included:

During SM computers development the INstitute for Electronic COntrol Machinery (INECOM) paid significant attention to specialized processors, which provided increased performance of computing complexes at solving defined specific classes of problems. While improving architecture of the SM computers family A.N. Kabalevsky and V.P. Semik implemented ingenious principles for composing systems with sharing of functions. Their innovations made possible creation of twin-processor computer structures based on the components available at that period of time. Those systems implemented both universal and specialized processors.

Computer complex based on SM-3P/SM-4P, with special Fast Fourier Transform processor (FFTP), developed at INECOM in collaboration with the Institute of Radio and Electronics (IRE) USSR Academy of Sciences should be specially mentioned. It was used for processing of the planet Venus surface radar images. This large-scale research project was performed by the USSR Academy of Sciences under member of the Academy V.A. Kotelnikov's scientific leadership. The work needed computing resource equal to power of a super-computer, but it was not available at the IRE. However, the problem was successfully solved by extending mini-computers (SM) with special FFTP.

Another example – parallel matrix processor (PMP) for solving problems of filtering, operations on vectors and matrices, performing Fourier Transforms. Special processor for digital circuits logical modeling had been developed for CAD of very large scale integrated circuits. Unusual advanced conveyor architecture of this specialized processor accelerated modeling process about 1000 times, if compared with universal (general-purpose) computers.

The given information on mini-computer family SM-3, SM-4, SM-1420, SM-1425 is clear evidence of their “native origin”. However, being not copied from foreign prototypes they were specially designed to be compatible, on the software level, with most common Western computers of their time.

B.N. Naumov pointed out, “There is popular opinion that our ES computers (ES – Russ. Edinaya Seriya - Unified Series) and mini-computers SM were copies of similar models from other countries. That's not true. Both the ES computers and SM mini-computers are essentially different from foreign analogues, at least because their creation was based on our national technology, which doesn't coincide with the foreign one. Indeed, the highest possible compatibility with computers produced abroad was primary goal of this project. That is reasonable, because otherwise our computers and computing would be isolated from global progress of computer technologies. We also wouldn't get access to the software accumulated in the world”.

Design and development of the SM family was performed by the scientists of Moscow INECOM in close cooperation with specialists of Kiev production association “ElectronMash”. Scientific supervisors and general designers were: B.N. Naumov, M.A. Boyarchenkov, V.G. Zakharov, A.N. Kabalevsky, E.N. Filinov.

Contribution of the Kiev experts was also essential. They were: V.A. Afanasiev, S.S. Zabara, A.E. Pilipchuk, E.I. Sakaev.

Serial production of new systems was performed by Moscow plant “Energopribor” - SM-3, SM-1300, and by Kiev plant VUM (CCM – Computing Control Machines) – SM-3 (since 1978), SM-4 (since 1979), SM-1420 (since 1983), SM 1420-1 (since 1985), SM-1425 (since 1989).

Design of SM-3 and SM-4 and organization of their serial production, performed by the team of leading specialists headed by B.N. Naumov, were awarded with “The USSR State Premium” (the highest civil reward) for scientific and engineering achievements in 1981.

3. The Family of Computing Complexes SM-1600

Computers of this family were compatible on software level with model M-5000 ASVT-M. Compatibility was ensured by a dual-processor configuration of this complex, based on processor SM-4P and the processor implementing command system of M-5000.

Development of SM-1600 was performed at the INECOM, under scientific supervision of B.N. Numov, A.N. Kabalevsky, V.P. Semik, in cooperation with Design Bureau of Vilnius Computing Machinery Plant (Lithuania), where the project was headed by A.M. Nemeixshis and S.I. Sidars. Serial production was performed by Lithuanian Production Association “Sigma”.

4. The Family of 32-bit Computing Complexes SM1700

Computers of this family had software compatibility with the family VAX-11 of Digital Equipment Corporation and one-way compatibility with 16-bit models of the family SM-3, SM-4, SM-1420, SM-1425. Architecture of SM-1700 was able to support virtual memory implemented with the use of a memory controller.

The command system provided operations over bit fields of variable length, bytes, 32-bit words and double words. Some commands were intended for the work with integer numbers of 64 and 128 bit length. Five data formats were provided for floating point numbers, they provided calculations with varying degrees of accuracy.

Arithmetic-logic processor, processor with floating point, memory controller, disc controller and multifunctional communication controller for input-output devices control over system interface Common Bus, all of them were firmware.

Interface Common Bus, used in SM-1700 as system interface, provided compatibility with SM3-SM-4 family hardware, while Message Passing Interface (or Main Parallel Interface – MPI), used in SM 1702, was also accepted as standard one.  

Advanced interrupt system provided 15 levels of software generated interrupts, what essentially simplified interaction and synchronization of processes and procedures in the OS.

Special complex was implemented in the family SM1700 for digital circuits modeling, to be used in computer assisted design (CAD). The peripheral sub-complex, controlled by the central core of computer SM-1700, had parallel multiprocessor organization with program memory and data memory distributed across processors. It consisted of a set of specialized processors for gate and functional modeling. Implementation of this complex in CAD of VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) enabled solving of the following problems: circuits verification, firmware debugging and data preparation for Intermediate Storage Device (ISD), checking the correctness and completeness of LSI and VLSI tests, synthesis of tests, composition of diagnostic dictionaries.

The SM-1700 software included:

Development of the CM-1700 family was carried out under the guidance of N.L. Prokhorov. In 1984 he was appointed as designer general of the SM computers.

The model SM-1700 was designed by the INECOM specialists (V.I. Frolov, V.V. Rodionov) in collaboration with Lithuanian PA “Sigma” (A.B. Chuplinskas, A.I. Darsutis, S.I. Sidaras, B. Belyauskas), which was running its serial production in 1987-1990. Three thousand computers altogether had been produced.

The model SM-1702 was designed by the INECOM specialists in collaboration with Kiev PA ”Electronmach”, which started its manufacturing in 1989.

5. The Family of Control Computing Complexes SM-1800 based on microcomputers

8-bit microcomputers based on microprocessor KR-580 were the first models of this family. They were built on the trunk-modular principle, and provided with system interface I-41 (Multibus), accepted as standard for SM computers.

The SM-1800 models included:

СМ1814. Промышленное исполнение СМ1810. 1987 г.

1987, mini-computer SM-1814. A serially produced model SM-1810

Model SM-1804 was an industrial version of SM-1800, designed for usage at the enterprises with limited personnel access.

Model SM-1810 was the 16-bit micro-computer based on microprocessor K-1810. Architecture of SM-1810 provided use of the system interface I-41 with address-bus extension up to 24-bit, and paging memory organization.

The central processor of this model MCP-16 had a local two-input 256 KB RAM and ROM with capacity of 64 KB, for storing programs and constants. It provided support for standard interfaces I-41, IRPR-M (Russ. ИРПР-М) and interface (joint) S2. There was also possibility to connect an arithmetic co-processor and 8-bit module MCP-1 as input-output processor to provide interfacing with modules from SM-1800.

The model SM-1814 was an industrial version of SM-1810. The model SM-1820 was a 32-bit micro-computer based on microprocessor 80386 of Intel Corp. For its main system interface I-42 the (USA) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE standard was adopted.

The model SM-1820M, based on microprocessor Pentium of Intel Corp. implemented system interface Compact PCI, which eventually became a “de-facto standard”. Architecture and design of computing control complex CCC SM-1820M made possible its wide application in various areas of national economy, in particular in nuclear power industry.

The CM-1800 family software included:

Development of that computer family had been carried out by the INECOM engineering team under N.L. Prokhorov scientific leadership. The specialists of Kiev PA “Electronmach” (Ukraine) took active part in the work. Serial production of these computers was mastered by “VUM” plant in Kiev and NPA “ELVA” in Tbilisy (Georgia), CCM plant (named after K.N. Rudnev) in town of Orel (Russia), PA “Electronmach” in town of Chernovtsi (Ukraine).

More than 11 thousand Control Computing Complexes (CCC) SM-1800, SM-1803, SM-1804 were produced in 1981-1990. More than 19 thousand CCC SM-1810, SM-1814, SM-1820 were produced in 1987-1990.

Translated by Alexander Nitusov.

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