Here is a simple NS32016 circuit which could be modified to include an NS32082 MMU (per the datasheet). There is a link to the schematic at the bottom. It is very simple and has only a chip or two more than a basic NS32008 circuit.

http://cpu-ns32k.net/Gary.html

If there is to be an NS32K circuit it really has to include an MMU. According to Udo, the NS32K embedded controllers lack the interface to the MMU and can't be modified to accept the MMU. Without the MMU sophisticated operating systems like *BSD, Linux, Un*x, etc. are not possible unless you got to extremely early versions like BSD 2.11 or specialty embedded systems like uCLinux. I'd argue that a computer without an MMU cannot run a BSD or Linux like OS because there is no VM or memory protection which is essential for any modern OS.

... since we don't even have a simple monitor for NS32K AFAIK. So maybe somebody has an NS32K monitor or one would have to be written from scratch and any sort of simple program loader OS (like a port of CP/M-68K, assuming that's possible for NS32K) would also have to be done largely by hand.

Even a simple circuit is a major undertaking because so much of the hobbyist NS32K support infrastructure has atrophied away or never existed. Maybe "Gary" has some kind of ROM monitor from the original build but it sounds like it wasn't completed.

lynchaj wrote on Tue, 13 June 2017 18:51

Here is a simple NS32016 circuit which could be modified to include an NS32082 MMU (per the datasheet). There is a link to the schematic at the bottom. It is very simple and has only a chip or two more than a basic NS32008 circuit.

http://cpu-ns32k.net/Gary.html

If there is to be an NS32K circuit it really has to include an MMU. According to Udo, the NS32K embedded controllers lack the interface to the MMU and can't be modified to accept the MMU. Without the MMU sophisticated operating systems like *BSD, Linux, Un*x, etc. are not possible unless you got to extremely early versions like BSD 2.11 or specialty embedded systems like uCLinux. I'd argue that a computer without an MMU cannot run a BSD or Linux like OS because there is no VM or memory protection which is essential for any modern OS.

Not that this approach will be pain-free though, since we don't even have a simple monitor for NS32K AFAIK. So maybe somebody has an NS32K monitor or one would have to be written from scratch and any sort of simple program loader OS (like a port of CP/M-68K, assuming that's possible for NS32K) would also have to be done largely by hand.

Even a simple circuit is a major undertaking because so much of the hobbyist NS32K support infrastructure has atrophied away or never existed. Maybe "Gary" has some kind of ROM monitor from the original build but it sounds like it wasn't completed.

I think the Bruce Culbertson material is meant for the PC532

or maybe not. Is there a schematic or PCB information regarding the Culbertson design? I see a netlist

... ~50 chips is a pretty big board....