MARI Advanced Microelectronics Ltd, subsidiary of the Microelectronics Applications Research Institute spin-out from Newcastle University, has come up with its own 68020-based Unix supermicro. The Tyneware System 20 is a VMEbus machine with 25MHz or 16MHz 68020 main processor supported by separate 68000-based Very Intelligent Disk Controller and Very Intelligent Communications Processor. The disk controller has SCSI bus and 512Kb or 2Mb of cache with on-board disk cacheing algorithms. The communications processor has 16 asynchronoous and two synchronous ports and 57 bits of parallel input-output, 128Kb of buffer RAM and firmware for character processing. The machine takes up to 1.5Gb of internal disk, supports 30 or more users, and is rated at up to 8 MIPS. Main memory can go to 64Mb. Operating system is Uniplus+ System V.2, and OS-9 is also supported; a full range of disk and tape peripherals are offered; no prices were given. MARI was formed eight years ago by Newcastle University, Newcastle Polytechnic, Tyne & Wear County Council and CAP Group Plc. It is classified a research institute limited by guarantee. It inaugurated its MARI Advanced Systems Ltd manufacturing subsidiary at Newburn last April.
