NETWORKING THREE COMPUTING CENTERS ON CAMPUS
In the years 1962 to 1964, UCLA had developed two more large scale computer centers on campus. The Health Sciences Computer Center (HSFC) under the direction of Professor Wilfred Dixon was funded by a grant from the National Insitutes of Health and located in the UCLA Medical Center. The Campus Computing Facility under the direction of Professor C. B. Tompkins was located in a Math Science/Engineering building. Both had IBM 7094 computers, although Control Data and UNIVAC computers were also considered by CCF.
The ARPA networking grant at WDPC was expanded to include networking the three IBM 7094 computers, one in each center, linked together with Direct Data Adapters. This design was changed when IBM announced System 360. The network now proposed using System 360 Model 50s as the networking computers behind which sat the 7094s.
Network configuration for linking WDPC, CCF and HSCF.
Additional programmers were hired at the three computing centers to start work on developing the network. The IBM Federal Systems Division proposed to design and build special communications equipment. The Health Science computer room needed some renovation. The target date for first test was late 1965.
However, the ARPA contract was late in coming. IBM would not proceed without that contract being signed and in effect. The WDPC contract was up for renewal or cancellation in mid-1966 and the administration was having discussions with IBM about future support of computing on the UCLA campus.
So, not only was the target date missed. The whole network project collapsed. The WDPC contract was not renewed. IBM financial support went to CCF and the money left in the ARPA contract was transferred to Professor Gerald Estrin in the Computer Science Department.