I/O interfacing for the transputer

As transputer-based parallel computing networks are cast into more diverse and demanding roles, one requirement remains unchanged-the need to communicate with traditional I/O devices. Applications requiring high-volume multistream I/O communications demand superior resource management. Therefore, a capability must exist in hardware that allows the operating system to perform dynamic load balancing and reallocation of I/O resources. As part of the computer-assisted dynamic data monitoring and analysis system (CADDMAS) project at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, a single-board transputer-based communications server has been developed for turbine testing applications. The server supports five protocols, including up to 16 channels of RS-232 and/or RS-422 communications, two Centronics parallel ports, an IEEE-488 interface, a 41-bit Inter-Range Instrument Group timing channel, and 24 independently programmable control lines. This paper describes the development and initial implementation of this I/O server