FACOM M160-F

A DRAMATIC ADVANCE IN COMPUTER FACILITIES

A NEW KIND OF COMPUTER IS NOW REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THE GROWING NEEDS OF COMPUTER USERS

With the increase in acceptance of the benefits of Data Processing, the scope of user requirements has continually expanded. The need for the non-data processing specialist to have personal access to computing is continuing to grow. Information processing facilities are now required to be distributed to remote locations, yet managers recognise the need for these services to be integrated. This means that Corporate Divisional Managers are placing increased demands on Data Processing Management.
In adapting to this challenging new environment Fujitsu have developed the M-160F Medium Scale Computer System, a new model of the FACOM M-SERIES systems.
The F-MODELS incorporate the most advanced technology in commercial systems today. This technology has been developed by Fujitsu, and sets new standards of PERFORMANCE, ECONOMY and CAPABILITY in both software and hardware.
The M-160F model of the M-SERIES now provides an extended range of PERSONAL INTERACTIVE FACILITIES, BETTER PROBLEM SOLVING CAPABILITIES, and a GREATER RANGE OF PROCESSING MODES.
More facilities are available to more people to solve more complex and diverse problems, at greatly reduced cost to the business enterprise.

Fujitsu Limited - Facom Australia Limited 1979

And its operating system was OSIV/X8 more ...

Computer meets SA building society growth
Australian Computer Weekly Oct-1979

Online Computer Services Pty. has ordered a Facom M-series 160-F data processing system to upgrade its computer facilities. OCS is the data processing subsidiary of the Co-operative Building Society, the largest building society in South Australia. The system, to cost more than $1 million, will be installed in OCS premises at Rose Park.

Service

OCS general manager Brian Townsley said the new system would give the Co-operative and the four other building societies using the facilities, an expanded and improved service for members. "In the past two-and-a half years we have acquired three extensions to our computer facilities to process the ever growing number of members' accounts which now exceed 220,000," he said. ''An increase in Statewide branch locations is also anticipated, taking the number of immediate response customer services beyond the current 50."

The Facom M-160-F system has 3 Mb of memory, 2500 megabytes of online direct access memory, supporting 781 kilobytes a second, magnetic tape drives, communications processor and other peripherals. Software includes Facom's OSIV/X8 operating system which provides 225 virtual storage spaces of 16 megabytes each; AIM (Advances Information Manager) — a parameter programmed online communication system and a Codasyl-based database system; Staff/X for parameter driven system and development and programming; AIF (Advanced Interactive Facility) for online program development and personal end-user computing; MDS (Management Decision System) for corporate modelling and financial analysis.

Mr Townsley said "The new Facom system will provide a 12-fold increase in capacity. It provides software to enable all terminal handling and database management functions to use a high level language, and can handle transactions at the rate of three a second.

Once the Facom had been installed then the big task was to convert the US software package to cope with the new platform and Australian banking standards.

Luckily there was a great team at Online and the critical processes were completed well. Most of the staff involved should be in the photo below - taken in the computer room of the Fullarton Road offices.

Once the new hardware and software was operational the redundant IBM 360 went to a new home ...