The IBM 5280 Distributed data system series were actually declined in two systems. First is the IBM 5281 data terminal, associated with the main control unit IBM 5288, and secondly is the IBM 5285 programmable data station computer. 

Let's begin with the IBM 5281 and IBM 5288...

The IBM 5281 is a data station. Equiped with two 8 inches floppy drives, it didn't know what job proceeding alone, and had to be connected to a main control unit called IBM 5288.

Description of the MCU IBM 5288:
It's a huge beast ! 80 cm hight, same in depth, and 50 cm width. Equipped with 1 to four 8 inches floppy drives, it could also recieve a 10 M bytes hard disk drive. Memory could grow up to 64 kbytes.

Under is shown a screenshot, showing a software running. 

It's said that this machine was used for programming or entering data that had to be later read on a mainframe computer. I'm not sure of that. Indeed, my own machine seems to work in standalone, without need of something else. All my software sees to work on a single machine. I also doubt, because the file format of the 5280 system is absolutely uncompatible with the S/32, S/34 or S/36 format. So, i really wander how it could be possible to export datas from a 5280 to such systems !

Now, here follows a view of 5288 backplane, showing connector plugs.

On top, closer view of the 5281 terminal.

Let's go on now with the IBM 5285. It looks like a 5281 that would be clever. It can work alone, with no need of 5288 MCU. His memory could be extended up to 132 kb, it came with two 8 inch FDD and sometimes one 10 Mb HDD. 

Here is an IBM 5256 printer, including twinax cable connexion. So, this printer could be used with system 3x and 5280 series of computers.

What could be said as a conclusion ? Those systems were very robust and were essentially built to work in factories, uder dusty atmosphere. I don't say that they were 'dustproof', but dust does'nt seem to be a problem for 5280 !

Two other terminals also exists, but I don's own them : IBM 5282 and IBM 5286 dual data stations and dual data programmable station.

Creation date : 19/05/2007 @ 08:34
Last update : 16/10/2007 @ 09:49
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