DESY - IT

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From 1967 to 1994 the computer center at DESY consisted of two different groups. Group R1 was responsible for operating (Hardware), for data processing and data management. Group R2 took charge of graphic devices and -application, monitoring and networking.

At the beginning the computer center was located in building 1b, ground floor.1974 part of it moved to the new building 2b. For a couple of months, computer operations were done parallel in both buildings.

The first machines that were used for card reading in 1963-65, were IBM machines 650, 1401 und 7044. Two years later DESY bought a IBM 360/65 and a 360/75, at that time one of the most powerful machines in Germany. 1973/74 they were replaced with two new IBM 370/168.
All computing jobs (approx.. 1000-1500 a day) were read in with punch cards because the direct access to the computer via terminals etc. was not possible. At that time operating hours of the computer center were 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

About 50 staff members were employed at R1 and R2 in 1972. R1 was operating in shifts and 3 operators had to serve 21 shifts per week.

Early in the 70ies R1 und R2 developed a first draft for a Hierarchical Storage Manager (HSM) at DESY. This migration system for disk files was called FAST. It was based on the HSM-technology and had been extended that data could be sourced out on magnetic tapes and be made available if required.