Diagnostic Engineering Project Plan for Dolphin

This document serves as the project plan for the development of the Dolphin Diagnostic Product. It details the comprehensive set of tests and support software designed to allow complete fault diagnosis for the Dolphin system, which is based on Macro Cell Array (MCA) technology.

Key Components:

• Console Software: Resides in the front-end processor memory to handle system bootstrapping, configuration, and monitoring.
• CPU Cluster Diagnostics: Focuses on detecting and isolating faults in the CPU, console, and bus interfaces using high-resolution diagnostics and 'known good' machine state data.
• Peripheral Subsystem Diagnostics: Provides reliability and device-level testing for adapters and controllers under timesharing.

Strategic Goals:

• Maximize system reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAMP).
• Achieve >98% solid hardware fault detection in critical logic and >95% isolation to a single MCA chip.
• Provide an extensible 'system exerciser' to ensure overall system operability.

Project Execution:

• The plan highlights critical dependencies, particularly on the VOTE fault simulator for quality assurance and the availability of hardware breadboards.
• It outlines a timeline spanning from early 1979 to June 1981, with key milestones for CPU functional tests, high-resolution diagnostic development, and release.
• Development staffing and funding requirements are explicitly mapped by quarter to manage the project through the first customer shipment.