Following the release of a minor HP 3000 simulator update (and a major HP 
1000 update), I am working on implementing the HP 30341A HP-IB Interface 
Module, a.k.a., "Starfish."  This will allow connection of HP-IB disc and 
tape drives to the Series III simulator.  It also moves quite a way along 
the road to a full HP-IB 3000 (e.g., Series 5x) simulator that will run MPE 
V/E.  That's because most of the features developed for the Starfish (GIC, 
CS/80 drives, IMB, Channel Program Processor, and HP-IB 3000 I/O 
instructions) are common to the Series 5x systems.  With a functional 
Starfish simulation, all that's needed to get MPE V/E running under 
simulation is the ADCC, the cold load microcode, and a couple of 
5x-specific machine instructions.

The HP 1000 update added a CS/80 drive simulator, so that part is already 
done.  The problem with the other bits is the lack of detailed design 
documentation.  Even after availing myself of all pertinent documents on 
Bitsavers and the HP Computer Museum, there are still a lot of gray areas.  
For example, there is hardly any information on the function of the various 
signal lines of the Intermodule Bus.  There are no prose descriptions of 
the CPP or GIC operations.  I've been doping things out from the schematics 
and a hazy understanding of the Series 6x microcode -- the latter having no 
published description of the various micro-order fields, nor of the 
interactions between the two ALUs.  Guesses abound, of necessity.

So it goes...agonizingly slowly.

What would help immensely is if anyone has, has access to, or knows someone 
who might have any of these documents:

 - 30000-90136  3000 Series III Computer System Microprogram Listing
     (to obtain the Starfish cold load microcode)

 - 30090-90004  3000 Series 40/44 Computer System Microcode Manual, or
   30070-90006  3000 Series 33 Microcode Manual
     (to understand the Channel Program Processor microcode)

 - 30341-90002  HP 30341A HP-IB Interface Module Reference/Training Manual
     (to understand the IMB adapter and GIC)

 - HP 300 I/O ERS
     (to understand the channel program instructions, because the HP 300
      and HP 3000 appear to use the same channel programs)

Any of these buried in someone's basement, perchance?

                                      -- Dave

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