PDP-10 InstallationMan

This "PDP-10 Installation Manual" provides comprehensive instructions and specifications for planning the physical installation of a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-10 computer system.

The manual covers:

1. Site Preparation Schedule: A timeline outlining tasks from 6-10 months before system delivery (reviewing the manual, layout planning, determining power/AC/floor needs, checking access) to one week before delivery (ensuring all facilities are installed and tested).
2. Building Requirements: Considerations for selecting an installation site, including proper power, air conditioning, efficient workflow, floor loading capacity, and fire/safety.
3. System Component Layout Suggestions: Guidance on planning for future expansion, maintaining service clearances between machines, optimizing work space and aisles, and adhering to maximum cable lengths. A layout kit with scaled floor plans is provided.
4. Floor Construction: Recommendation for a raised floor to protect cables, enhance safety, provide space for air ducts, and improve appearance.
5. Acoustical Suggestions: Advice on using sound-damping materials for floors, walls, ceilings, and ducts to mitigate noise from mechanical components like printers and tape drives.
6. Environmental Requirements (Humidity and Temperature): Specifies operating ranges (60-95°F, 20-80% Relative Humidity) and storage ranges (40-110°F, 10-80% RH, non-condensing). The ideal operating condition is 70°F and 50% RH, with procedures for increasing humidity and a strong recommendation for continuous monitoring.
7. Fire and Safety Suggestions: Emphasizes fire-resistant construction, watertight installation, immediate access to CO2 extinguishers, "pre-action" sprinkler systems, and secure storage for magnetic media. Electrical safety includes main line breakers, emergency lighting, lightning arrestors, and waterproof receptacles. The PDP-10 system is designed for safe automatic shutdown during power failures.
8. Detailed Component Specifications: For each PDP-10 component (e.g., KA10 Central Processor, MA10/MB10 Core Memories, RD10 Disc File, LP10A/B Line Printers, CR10 Card Reader, DF10 Data Channel, TM10 Tape Control, TU20/TU79 Tape Transports, TD10 DECtape Control, TU55 DECtape Transport, DC10 Data Line Scanner, 346/340 & 348/VR30 CRT Displays, DA10 PDP-8/PDP-9 Interface), the manual provides descriptions, physical dimensions, weight, power/heat dissipation, required service clearances, door swings, and maximum cable lengths. Most systems operate on 3-phase (WYE) power.
9. System Layout Kit Usage: Instructions for using the supplied floor plans to arrange components, noting that core memories should generally be to the left and I/O devices to the right of the KA10 Central Processor. Critical cable length limits (e.g., 100 ft for memory bus, 150 ft for I/O bus) and visibility of operator/maintenance panels are highlighted.