Despite its financial worries, Concurrent Computer Corp has steeled itself to launch a new series of real-time Unix systems based around Motorola’s 68040 part. The 7000 series, with up to three processors – support for more will be added in future will first be delivered with 68030s and upgraded to 25MHz or 33MHz versions of the 68040 in May next year, when Concurrent expects to begin receiving volume deliveries from Motorola. Initial shipments of the 7000, rated at up to 60 MIPS, with from 8Mb to 32Mb RAM, 200Mb hard disk, floppy drive, SCSI, Ethernet and four RS232 ports will go to OEM customers as a board-level set – from UKP10,000 – or as a packaged system, starting at UKP20,000, from the beginning of next year. The 7000 series sits between low-end 68030-based 5000 and 6000 systems, and the top-end MIPS Computer Systems Risc-based 8000. All presently run version 5 of Concurrent’s RTU, real-time Unix operating system. Version 6, which combines features of AT&T Unix V.3 and V.4 will follow in first quarter 1991. Pick-under-Unix house VMark Software Inc and 20 others have signed OEM orders for the 7000, says Concurrent UK general manager Jeremy Crook. It intends to continue both complex and RISC lines whatever the outcome of its financial shake-up and boxes using MIPS Computer’s R4000 and R6000 chip sets expected.
