Data General AViiON (m88k) Information

For several years, Data General produced AViiON systems based around the Motorola 88k processor family (88100/88200 and the 88110). In the summer of 1989, when they were just releasing the first couple of 88100-based systems, I worked as an intern at Data General in Research Triangle Park. I liked the processor architecture a lot, and Data General. Since then, I've picked up a time-consuming hobby: NetBSD. So, in a fit of nostalgia, I'm interested in seeing NetBSD run on the m88k--specifically on DG AViiON hardware. This page is meant to help collect and disseminate information on these systems for me and for anyone else who is interested in developing an open source OS for the m88k-based DG hardware.

Why is it called "AViiON"

As you might know if you've read The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder, Data General's first successful computer product was called the "NOVA" (introduced 24 Jan 1969). The NOVA was a 16-bit computer which they actually used as a bootstrap for some of their 32-bit minicomputers like the MV4000 or MV8000, which is what Kidder's book is about. Well, they were kind of desperate when naming the AViiON systems and spelled NOVA backwards with the "ii" in the middle--if I remember right, that was supposed to represent a newer generation or something like that.

The models

Since I've been out of touch with Data General for years and they don't have any good historical information available on their web site, my information is very sketchy. If you have anything to add, please contact me! Do you know of others that I don't have listed? Or know anything more or different about the ones listed? Again, please let me know!

Allen Briggs - briggs@ninthwonder.com