TENEX version history

[larsbrinkhoff]

Can we (re)create a version history for TENEX?

I see the version in here, 1.34, is from late 1975. And TOPS-20 v1 is from early 1976. Does this mean 1.34 was one of the last versions? As released from BBN.

I suppose some sites kept TENEX running and may have made modifications of their own. Like Xerox.

[larsbrinkhoff]

I'll scan Murphys papers for information about TENEX versions.

[larsbrinkhoff]

From Dan Murphys papers:

• TOPS-20 development had started in 1973 based on TENEX.
• TENEX architecture was designed in 1969.
• Implementation was underway in 1968. (Does this mean implementation started before the design?)
• TENEX was put officially on the air on June 15, 1970

[larsbrinkhoff]

The file revision histories mention versions 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135.

Earliest revision seems to be in 1971.

[b4]

Do be aware that I have several more versions than this; these are just the most BBN-pure ones I have.

[larsbrinkhoff]

I'd like there to be a version history for TENEX. Recreated from release notes, email archives, file timestamps, changelogs, etc if necessary. The more data we have, the better the result.

This would also include releases outside BBN, if applicable.

[rmaldersoniii]

DEC created a version of TENEX for the KI-10, substituting the KI's pager for the BBN pager on the KA-10. (This may have been taken up by BBN as one of the releases.) It ran best on a 1077 dual processor.

[b4]

Dual processor documentation is in the repo.

[rmaldersoniii]

I have a question about the SUMEX archives related to WAITS/TOPS-20 v5.4/Stanford sources. Would you mind contacting me? @b4

[larsbrinkhoff]

TENEX-132.DOC says 1.32 was released 15 February 1974.

[larsbrinkhoff]

DISTRIBUTED COMPUTATION AND TENEX RELATED ACTIVITIES says 1.33 was available in January 1975.

[larsbrinkhoff]

<134-TENEX>134-ME.TXT says 23 DEC 1975.

[larsbrinkhoff]

RFC 543 implies 1.31 was running by 1 APR 1973.

[larsbrinkhoff]

RFC 412 says 1.29 was running on 11-NOV-72.

[larsbrinkhoff]

RFC 307 has a 25-FEB-72 login session with TENEX 1.28.

<128-TENEX>SYS.COLLECT has the text

;8 NOV 71, 1633:
;PARAMETERS FOR SYSTEM A

DEFINE SYSTXT
<	FOO <BBN-TENEX 1.28, SYSTEM-A>>

[larsbrinkhoff]

RFC 254 has a 6-AUG-71 login session with TENEX 1.26.

[larsbrinkhoff]

Architecting a Secure Enterprise with a Systems-Thinking Approach has a 08-APR-72 login session with TENEX 1.25. Also features the Creeper.

[larsbrinkhoff]

BBN Report No. 2182 implies TENEX 1.21 was available on 5-APR-71.