"The SPARC processor is a reduced instruction set processor, but it is different from ARM's emphasis on low power and low cost, and it is relatively expensive to build, but it has excellent performance."

"Unlike the excellent prospects of ARM processors for portable devices, SPARC's computer architecture is ideal for use as servers. At the same time, it also far surpasses the x86 architecture in terms of reliability. Colonel Lu may know that many European satellites use this architecture for on-board computers, which means that it is very suitable for use in harsh environments. ”

"Therefore, the SPARCT1 processor developed by our Fanhan Group is mainly for several markets. The first is the server market, with the great development of the Internet around the world, high-performance server processors will definitely be very marketable. The second is the processor market for mainframes, giant machines, and even supercomputing, and our goal is to break the current monopoly of Intel, AMD, and VIA on supercomputing computer processors. In addition to this, there are on-board computer systems, industrial control systems, and the aforementioned spaceborne computer systems, and even ship control systems......"

If you want to talk about SPARC processor architecture computers, don't look at their reputation, it seems that they are not as famous as x86 and ARM, but they have penetrated into every corner of human society.

Especially in both the embedded and server segments, the advantages of SPARC processors are clear. Industrial control, military electronics, and space applications are its home turf. On top of that, its scalability and high reliability, as well as its high performance, are almost tailor-made for high-end servers.

Back in 1995, when Intel was still producing Pentium CPUs. Sun has already introduced 64-bit UltraSPARCI processors with frequencies up to 167MHz. As for the multi-core that later became popular with Intel and ARM architectures, it was just what SPARC was left to play.

Of course, the most important thing is the SPARC architecture processor. Its source code is open source.

Lu Ge certainly has his own judgment in his heart, high performance, high reliability and flexible embedded applications. It's fair to say that the SPARC processor is simply tailor-made for the military.

But the key now is that there is too little research on SPARC processors in China. In fact, not to mention the underdeveloped China, even the international research on the architecture of SPARC is not in-depth. It was only in 1992 that sun launched a relatively mature microSPARCI processor with good market response.

So far, the computer architecture of SPARC processors has not been available for even ten years, and it has only been three or four years since it really developed. In this field, it can be said that everyone is still on the same starting line. Even in Zhou Shuo's view, maybe he will have more advantages than Sun Company.

"Can I take a look at the current research results of Pan Han Group?" Lu Ge rubbed his hands and looked at the equipment on the table with some excitement.

Zhou Shuo nodded. Pointing to a bunch of scattered equipment on the table, he opened a box and said, "This is the on-board computer system we are developing, which is powered directly by the car battery." This on-board computer can work in very harsh environments and monitor multiple sensors in the car at the same time. For example, engine condition, mileage, tire pressure, transmission and battery level. If there is an electronic map, GPS or inertial navigation can also be carried out. In another two or three years, digital camera technology will be miniaturized and reversing images will also be available. Synthetic ...... of panoramic view around the vehicle"

After Zhou Shuo introduced the on-board computer that looked like a bunch of bits and pieces, he pointed to a square chassis and said: "This is the network data server we developed, and you can install Oracle, SQL or special data library software. We are currently developing an XML number jù library technology, which is well suited for the use of network transport. In terms of dealing with small numbers jù. It has a very big advantage. ”

"Colonel Lu look at this again-" Zhou Shuo picked up a handheld computer with a large four-inch screen and said, "This is an information receiving terminal, which can be accessed by the WÈN network server with the digital network. Implement the upload and download of the number of jù. At the same time, it also has some basic functions, such as reading, typing, and visiting the wèn website. And this PAD has a java virtual machine installed. You can directly use the Java language for programming and development......"

"This is an industrial control system that we are researching, and it is a cooperative research and development with Zhaoxiang No. 1 Machine Tool Factory. The operating system of industrial control is relatively professional. So the current progress is not very fast. ”

……

Zhou Shuo gave a complete introduction to the bunch of equipment on the table, and he put a lot of thought into the SPARC architecture and made a lot of investment. Electronic products such as in-vehicle computers originally used ARM or x86 architectures in the past. It cannot be said that these two are necessarily inferior to the SPARC architecture, but they are certainly not as good as the SPARC architecture in terms of reliability, performance, and system expertise.

It's just that ARM and x86 themselves have a large number of applications, and they seized the market as early as possible to form a monopoly situation, which blocked SPARC architecture computers from the outside.

Now that Zhou Shuo has grasped this life-saving straw, of course, he must fully tap its practical value. Compared with ARM-based systems, how can SPARC be the same as Java after all? Even with virtual machine technology, it is more adaptable than ARM.

Lu Ge nodded again and again while listening, what he was most concerned about was the integrity of the system. Although there are so many samples, after all, it is still a virtual SPARC environment, and there is always a feeling of scratching the shoe, whether it is software or hardware.

"Mr. Zhou, there are two things I am most concerned about now." Lu Ge waited for Zhou Shuo to finish speaking, and then he had to interject: "First, the hardware system of SPARC architecture, motherboard, memory and digital storage devices, is there a mature supporting solution in this regard?" The second is the operating system of SPARC-based computers, rather than the relatively rudimentary embedded systems that are currently available. ”

"We can develop the software used in the army ourselves, but if we have to redevelop the application software for each device, then the investment is too great. Therefore, whether there is a universal operating system is a very critical issue. ”

Zhou Shuo smiled slightly when he heard this, and turned his head to look at Bao Yueqiao and Qiu Jun with an inquiring eye. The two of them also looked at each other and nodded slightly.

"Colonel Lu's problem, I'll leave it to me." Qiu Jun stepped forward and pulled a clumsy notebook from the edge of the conference table.

If you look at the workmanship and design, this notebook must be a defective product that cannot be sold at a high price. Obviously, the design of this notebook does not take into account any issues such as ease of use, portability, etc., and is purely a rectangular flat box. The ABS plastic used for its shell smells cheap, and many joints can still be seen in the gaps and burrs. If you look at it from the point of view, maybe there will be ten catties and eight catties. As soon as Qiu Jun turned on the machine, he could hear the shrill sound of the fan, and it suddenly began to hum.

"The SPARC processor isn't fully designed, but the computer is equipped with a prototype version of the T1 processor. Although there are still many problems, they can be used to try to build the SPARC architecture. ”

Qiu Jun said, moving a buckle from the edge of the notebook, and the entire keyboard and a large panel were warped. He skillfully broke the keyboard, put it on the table, pointed to the notebook and said: "Colonel Lu, please look here, this is the chip of the T1 processor, here is the North Bridge chip responsible for the exchange of memory and CPU numbers, and here is the South Bridge chip responsible for the exchange of memory and memory, peripherals and flash memory." Here is 512M NAND flash memory, and here is 32M memory......"

Qiu Jun pointed out what the chips in each part of the notebook were used for, and showed Lu Ge one by one. Although the CPU architecture is different, the overall structure of the computer is the same. CPU, memory, storage devices, peripherals, these things are pretty much all there. And the platform that connects these devices is the motherboard.

Computer architecture is both difficult to say and easy to say. The main thing is the design of this motherboard, a good motherboard can not only connect various devices, but also improve the reliability and stability of the system. The bandwidth of the motherboard determines the bottleneck of system performance, the wiring of the motherboard determines the rationality of system design, and the expansion ability of the motherboard determines the multi-purpose of the system......

Fortunately, this was not a problem at all for Zhou Shuo, who had presided over the development of the SPARC architecture network number server before he was reborn. Although the complete set of solutions purchased directly from Sun Company, the process of independent absorption by the Chinese is always indispensable.

Although he can't design the entire motherboard, the entire framework and guiding ideology are still familiar. Fortunately, with the SPARC architecture with a reduced instruction set, the motherboard's north-south bridge chips are not complicated. And with the key numbers and the guidance of structure and design ideas, it is not so much trouble to make do with a working system first.

Although the accessories in this notebook are obviously some ready-to-use goods, although it doesn't look shoddy, it can't be said to have any overall design. But Lu Ge still watched it with relish, because this is indeed a complete computer system, and all functions are complete.

As the computer was running, it didn't take long for the laptop to display a command interface on its screen.

Qiu Jun pointed to the screen and said, "Colonel Lu, look, this is the operating system we developed - six-eared UNIX. (To be continued......)