Wikipedia

Norsk Data

Norsk Datawas aminicomputermanufacturerlocated inOslo,Norway.Existing from 1967 to 1998, it had its most active period from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. At the company's peak in 1987, it was the second largest company in Norway and employed over 4,500 people.

Norsk Data
IndustryComputer hardware,Computer software
FoundedAugust 8, 1967;57 years ago(1967-08-08)
FoundersLars Monrad Krohn,Per Bjørge,Rolf Skår
Defunct1992
FatePurchased by Telenor
SuccessorTelenor
Headquarters
Oslo
,
Norway
ProductsMinicomputer
Number of employees
over 4,500 (1987)

Throughout its history Norsk Data produced a long string of extremely innovative systems, with a disproportionately large number of world firsts. Some examples of this are theNORD-1,the first minicomputer to have memorypagingas a standard option, and the first machine to havefloating-pointinstructions standard, theNORD-5,the world's first32-bitminicomputer (beating theVAX,often claimed the first, by 6 years).

Historical overview

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Main article:History of Norsk Data
Norsk Data-Elektronikk in 1971

The origins of Norsk Data go back to the development of digital computers at theNorwegian Defense Research EstablishmentatKjeller,Norway,where several early computers had been designed, such as theSAMand theSAM 2,also known as the FLINK.

The success of this program resulted in the founding ofA/S Nordata – Norsk Data Elektronikkon August 8, 1967, byLars Monrad Krohn,Per Bjørge andRolf Skår.The company became a significant supplier of minicomputers to many research projects, in particular toCERNinGeneva,Switzerland,where they were chosen to produce the computers for many projects, starting with theSPS Project,[1]Norsk Data's international breakthrough contract. The other market segments Norsk Data succeeded in were process control, Norwegianmunicipal administrationdata centers,newspapers, as well as parts of the educational, health, and university sector.

For a period in 1987, Norsk Data was the second largest company by stock value in Norway, second only toNorsk Hydro,and employed over 4,500 people.

In March 1991, shortly after theJanuary Events,Norsk Data donated the first computer to Lithuanian Institute of Mathematics and Informatics. This donation started the development ofLITNET,an academic and research network inLithuania.Later that year, the network connection lines directly connectingVilniustoMoscowwere shut down. With the help of additional hardware donated by Norsk Data, Lithuania was able to use its firstsatellite-based Internet connection,which operated at 9.6 kbit/s. This was the first Lithuanian communications line that was totally independent from the formerSoviet Union.[2]

After a long period of exceptional success, the Norsk Data "empire" collapsed in the early 1990s, mostly due to not realizing the impact of thePCrevolution as well as the growing competition fromUnix-based systems.[3]In 1987, Norsk Data sought to expand its collaboration withDIABof Sweden to provide UNIX-based systems in Norsk Data's portfolio, to offer "a complete UNIX concept" together with the company's ND-5000 products.[4]1988 saw the company sign an agreement with theSanta Cruz Operationto offer SCO's System V product on itsIntel-based personal computer systems.[5]In 1989, alongside upgraded versions of the company's proprietary minicomputer range, notably the ND-5850, attempts were made to introduce Unix products such as the Uniline 33 range, based onMotorolasystem designs for the68030processor. Such conventional Unix systems were primarily aimed at international customers, whereas inScandinaviathe company reportedly sought to offer only its NDIX implementation of Unix for its own proprietary architecture. Systems based on Motorola's88000processor were planned to follow on from these new 68030-based products.[6]

Efforts to restructure the company in 1990 were initially perceived as moderately successful, with executives and analysts expressing beliefs that such restructuring had put the company in a more favourable position than competitors who were yet "to swallow the same bitter pill" of refocusing and workforce reductions.[7]Development of Norsk Data technology was continued byDolphin Server Technology,with this spin-off company aiming to supply Motorola 88000-based systems to its parent.[8]Indeed, Norsk Data introduced the Uniline 88 series of 88000-based systems, developed by Dolphin, initially in Scandinavia during 1990 and then in the UK and Germany during 1991.[9]Norsk Data also announced an agreement withData Generalto resell that company's Aviion line of 88000-based products.[10]Norsk Data was purchased by Telenor and went through several rebrands and relaunches.

Notable innovations

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Throughout the times, Norsk Data produced a long string of innovative computers. Some examples of this include:

Post-breakup companies

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Although the Norsk Data breakup caused a large number of layoffs, a large number of employees and intellectual property lived on in various smaller companies. Some went bankrupt quite quickly, some were bought for tax purposes.

The hardware research and development group was split off into Dolphin Server Technology in 1989.[15]Dolphin later split off into a number of companies, by far the most successful of these beingDolphin Interconnect Solutions,aclusterinterconnect hardware company.

Norsk Data UK

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In theUK,Telenorkept the Norsk Data name for several years, focusing in on hardware support and maintenance contracts, mainly withHMCGand local governments.

At the tail end of the "dotcom boom"Telenor decided to try and expand the service by acquiring the ISPCIXand XTML, a hosting company inManchester,UK.[16]The total expenditure on acquisitions was more than £50 million.

The name and business focus of this group of companies changed several times in the early 21st Century. Initially combined with the acquired CIX and XTML to form the UK arm of Telenor's Nextra subsidiary,[17]a "communications service provider",[18]the group became Telenor Business Solutions before finally reverting to ND Norsk Data once CIX and XTML had been resold to Pipex, reportedly for less than 10% of the purchase price. Much of the loss in value of the acquired companies was put down to the astronomical "goodwill" payment included in the purchase price during the "dotcom boom".

In 2003, Norsk Data was eventually acquired by 2e2, an IT services business pursuing rapid growth through acquisition,[19]joining various other established businesses including elements of PinkRoccade UK Group and ROCC Computers.[20]This bolstered the hardware maintenance side of the company. The growth by acquisition trend continued with several smaller businesses being taken on, and many employees subsequently being laid off. Major losses of high earning contracts such as Thomas Cook, Woolworths, HMP, or Corus, were never replaced with similar-sized customers.

Hardware

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Significant Norsk Data computer models include:

  • NORD-1,16-bitminicomputerlaunched in 1968, could run TSS (see below) from 1971
  • NORD-5,32-bitsuperminilaunched in 1972
  • NORD-9,
  • NORD-10,16-bit mini launched in 1973
  • NORD-10/S,version of the Nord-10 with cache, paging, and other improvements
  • NORD-50,second generation 32-bit supermini in 1975
  • NORD-100,16-bit, from 1978, later renamed ND-100. First single-board 16-bit minicomputer CPU.
  • ND-500,third generation 32-bit supermini in 1981
  • ND-505,a version of the ND-500 with 29 bit addresses allowed through theCoComembargoof theEastern bloc
  • ND-5000( "Samson" ), fourth generation 32-bit supermini in 1987 (5400, 5700, 5800)
  • ND-5850( "Rallar" ), fifth generation 32-bit supermini in 1987
  • ND-5900-2, ND-5900-3, and ND-5904, dual-, triple- and quad-CPU 5000 series machines.
  • ND-88000 – ND implementation of the MotorolaMC88000RISC for Unix/NDix – 1987

Software

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In addition to hardware, Norsk Data also produced a wide range of system and application software:

  • NORD-TSS– NordTime Sharing Systemfrom 1971
  • SINTRAN–Operating systemfor Nord 10 and later models, version III from 1973, III/VS in 1974
  • XMSG – OSI based (X21andX.25) communication system, integrated with SINTRAN, with support for bothsynchronousandasynchronous communicationin 1974 and on. FullLU 6.2support in 1982
  • SIBASdatabasebased on theCodasyl database specificationswas ported by the Central Institute for Industrial Research in 1975 SIBAS is owned by SRS.
  • FORTRANcompiler
  • ND-Paint Graphic editing –Windowsbased
  • BASICcompiler developed inKielandMülheim an der Ruhr,Germanywith the CAT-System (Common Abstract Tree-Language) using theVienna Development Method,1983
  • COBOLcompiler
  • Ccompiler for ND-100/ND-500 developed by University of Luleå, and IAR Systems AB, Sweden, in cooperation with Norsk Data A.S, 1984. A later C compiler developed in Kiel and Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany with the CAT-System using the Vienna Development Method, 1987.
  • ND-COSMOS– computer networking system
  • PLANCcompiler – PLANC was the system language of Norsk Data – a language "defined by its implementation", similar to C, but assignment left to right, as you read: A + 1 =: A same as A++
  • Pascalcompiler developed by Prof. Dr. Hans Langmaack and his team atKiel Universityin Germany with the CAT-System using theVienna Development Method,1987
  • PED– "Programmer's EDitor" Screen orientedtext editor
  • LED– "Language-sensitive programmer's EDitor" Screen orientedtext editoranddebugger– complete Integrated Development Environment made for own use.
  • ND-NOTIS– Integrated, modularword processingand office application suite with ties to database and customer applications.
  • NORTEXT – typesetting system integrated with ND-NOTIS and SIBAS
  • Lisp Machine Lisp– MIT Lisp machine lisp developed in a joint venture Racal-Norsk (ZetaLisp).
  • Technovision – CAD system developed in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
    Technovision was a modularCAD/CAMsystem which was internationally considered to be one of the best on the market. It was in part designed by Norsk Data Dietz GmbH. A specialworkstationnamed the Technostation was designed specifically for running Technovision. It was extremely well received by international press, and even won a design award.[21]
  • BIBDIA – Library system developed by Norsk Data Dietz GmbH in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
    BIBDIA was further developed by BiBer GmbH since 1992. The current WEB-based version is still running as a market leader in Germany and Switzerland.

In addition to the above:

  • twobatch languages,called JEC and XCOM. JEC were used primarily as a simple batch job controller, whereas XCOM was used for much more involved routines such as operating system patches etc. Most of the applications came in two different editions, one compiled for the NORD-10/ND-100 series and one compiled for the ND-500/ND-5000 series.
  • ND spun off NOTIS-WP and NOTIS-RG into NOTIS AS, which later changed its name to Maxware.NOTIS-QLwas copied by Microsoft, where it is called Access (the internal name for NOTIS-QL was "Access-1" ) but the original was sold to Sysdeco and sold now with the name "QBEVision".

Tim Berners-Lee connection

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TheWorld Wide Weboriginated whenTim Berners-Leewrote theENQUIREprogram in Pascal on a Norsk Data NORD-10 running under SINTRAN III atCERN.[22]They also used ND-NOTIS, that was based onSGML,[23]and emailed with NOTIS-MAIL, using tcp/ip, coded inHTML.

References

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  1. ^Adjudication Concerning the Computer System for the 300 GeV Accelerator(Report). CERN. 1972.
  2. ^"Istorija"[History].LITNET(in Lithuanian). Archived fromthe originalon 21 June 2007.
  3. ^Haraldsen, Arild (1999).Den forunderlige reisen gjennom datahistorien.Tano Aschehoug. p. 126.ISBN8251838320.Retrieved13 June2023.
  4. ^"News in brief"(PDF).ND News.September 1987. p. 74.Retrieved6 July2024.
  5. ^Steine, Tor Olav (January 1989)."UNIX® development history at Norsk Data"(PDF).ND News.p. 16.Retrieved6 July2024.
  6. ^"Ravaged Norsk Data Introduces Its First Unix Systems".Tech Monitor.19 October 1989.Retrieved10 July2023.
  7. ^Radoli, Don (3 September 1990)."Norsk Data comes back to post profit".Computerworld.p. 69.Retrieved13 June2023.
  8. ^Faden, Michael (February 1990)."Industry Report: RISC on the Rise in Europe".UNIX Review.pp. 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25–26.Retrieved24 February2023.
  9. ^"Norsk Data Hopes to Boost Its Unix Business in the UK with 88000-Based Dolphin Servers".Tech Monitor.28 April 1991.Retrieved11 July2023.
  10. ^"ScandinAviion".Computerworld.2 April 1990. p. 96.Retrieved13 June2023.
  11. ^The NORD-5 Instruction Set(PDF).A/S Norsk Data-Elektronikk. September 1971.Retrieved30 August2024.
  12. ^abSmith, Kevin (16 December 1985)."Norsk Data Grows Fast by Going Pan-European".Electronics.pp. 62–63.Retrieved7 July2023.
  13. ^Prince, Violaine (26 March 1984)."Les minis 32 bits VII - La série ND-500 de Norsk Data".Minis et Micros.No. 207. pp. 48–52.Retrieved8 September2024.
  14. ^Supnik, Bob (July–August 2004)."Simulators: Virtual Machines of the Past (and Future)".Queue.2(5). ACM: 52–58.doi:10.1145/1016998.1017002.
  15. ^"European Unity Creates New Superpowers".Datamation.15 June 1990. pp. 118–123, 127–128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 143–146.Retrieved24 February2023.
  16. ^"Norsk Data Ltd acquires XTML to broaden its range of managed services offerings"(Press release). Telenor AS. 24 August 2000.Retrieved10 July2023.
  17. ^Brown, Leonard (2011).The Social Networking handbook.Tebbo. pp. 157–158.ISBN9781743041369.
  18. ^"Nextra strengthens European presence by including UK based Norsk Data, XTML and CIX"(Press release). Telenor AS. 2 February 2001.Retrieved10 July2023.
  19. ^"Proposed Flotation of Rapidly Growing IT Services Provider"(PDF)(Press release). 2e2 Group plc. 20 May 2004. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2004-06-12.Retrieved12 July2024.
  20. ^"2e2 Group plc announces multi-year agreement with ROCC Computers Ltd"(PDF)(Press release). 2e2 Group plc. 11 May 2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2006-05-11.Retrieved12 July2024.
  21. ^"Norsk Data at the Telecommunications Museum".folk.uio.no.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.
  22. ^See Tim Berners-Lee's FAQ[1]or theENQUIREarticle
  23. ^Ball, Derek (March 1995)."CERN Office Support in a Scientific Organization"(PDF).ND News.Norsk Data. pp. 28–29.Retrieved6 July2024.
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