The Mainframe “Strela” (Arrow). Magazine for youth “Znanie-Sila” № 7, 1956
Тhe first Soviet serial mainframe system was named “Strela” (Arrow). The computer was created in 1953, seven copies produced. It had 2-3 thousand operations per second speed, 43-bit memory into 2048 cells, operated floating point in the binary system. Two tapes represented external memory. The total amount of information on a single tape does not exceed 100 thousand 43-bit numbers. Memory originally performed on cathode-ray tubes: there were 43 tubes – one for each digit. Memory element represented an electrostatic charge of one of the 2048 points of screen. Writing and reading produced by an electron beam. Memory for tubes was later replaced by a more reliable memory on ferrite cores. Data entry carried from punched cards or using the tumbler registers located on the console; the results were outputted on the cards or wide format printer.
The principle of inter-node computer. Figure S.Kaplan. Magazine for youth “Znanie-Sila” (Knowledge is power) № 7, 1956
Structurally the construction was divided into standard cell containing from three to nine radio valves. The active elements performed on six thousand vacuum valves and two thousand semiconductor diodes. Warranty endurance of each radio valves was 500 hours and the trouble-free operation of the mainframe was twenty hours a day. Power consumption was 150 kVA. Heat carried out an air cooling system. The mainframe system occupied 300 square meters of the area.
All issued machines had hardware and software monitoring and diagnosis. The staff of one shift was 5-7 people.
Do not forget that the machine was set up in the war-ravaged country and it used entirely domestic (U.S. compatible) the high level electronic element base.
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