Dataindustrier AB

Dataindustrier AB, generally abbreviated as DIAB, was a Swedish computer engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1970 by Lars Karlsson. Its business developed from industrial control hardware into a broad portfolio of microcomputers, office systems, peripherals, Unix-compatible workstations and servers, operating-system technology, and original-equipment manufacturing services. The company operated mainly during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, a period when Sweden developed a distinctive domestic computer industry serving both industrial automation and the emerging personal-computer market. DIAB's first major product was the Data Board 4680, a card-based computer system designed around a shared bus architecture. The system could support processors including the Intel 4004, Motorola 6800, and Zilog Z80, although the Z80 ultimately became the processor used in the product. The board-based design reflected DIAB's original orientation toward automatic control and industrial applications. Its computers were used in Swedish industrial environments, where modular hardware and control capability were more important than consumer-oriented features. The company subsequently moved into general-purpose computing. Its 7S, or Seven S, system combined a monochrome terminal with a computer based on the Data Board 4680 bus and a Z80 processor. In 1978, DIAB engineered the ABC 80, which became the first Swedish home computer. The machine was manufactured by Luxor AB and established DIAB as a significant contributor to Sweden's early personal-computer sector. DIAB later developed the ABC 800 and related models, including the ABC 802 and ABC 806, which expanded the platform toward office and professional use through color graphics, additional memory, and RAM-disk configurations. DIAB also supplied a substantial peripheral ecosystem for the ABC family. Its products included floppy-disk units, hard-disk and tape-backup systems, displays, expansion hardware, keyboards, pointing devices, cassette storage, and networking equipment. These products helped make the ABC computers usable as integrated office and business systems rather than isolated educational or hobbyist machines. The company continued to cooperate with Luxor on later systems, including the ABC 1200. During the 1980s, DIAB developed a second major business around Unix-compatible computers. In 1983 it introduced the DS90, a Motorola 68000-based system that used technology licensed from AT&T's Unix System V while incorporating DIAB's own kernel and system software. DIAB called its operating environment DNIX. Because the company's industrial customers required real-time behavior, DIAB replaced the supplied Unix kernel with an internally developed compatible real-time implementation and progressively replaced standard Unix user-space components with its own code. The resulting systems were used as servers and professional computers and were developed through successive Motorola 68000-series processor generations. The DS90 family included systems based on the Motorola 68010, 68020, 68030, and 68040. DIAB also produced the ABC 1600, which ran the ABCenix operating environment, and the ABC 9000, a computer closely related to the DS90 and operated with DNIX. The company supplied Unix-based hardware to other businesses through OEM arrangements, including systems associated with Cromemco and Dynatech Computer Systems, as well as products connected with Ohio Scientific, Norsk Data, and ISC Systems Corporation. DIAB's compiler technology later attracted outside interest. Technology developed by Tomas Evensen at DIAB was acquired by Wind River Systems and became associated with the Wind River Compiler. In 1990, Bull acquired DIAB's Unix computer support and customer business. Bull continued producing and supporting DIAB-branded systems for a period, including later DIAB models based on the company's server technology. The acquisition marked the end of DIAB as an independent company, although elements of its hardware, operating-system, compiler, and engineering work continued through successor products and technologies.

Dataindustrier AB was established in Sweden in 1970 by Lars Karlsson. The company began as a computer engineering and manufacturing business with a strong connection to industrial automation. Its early systems were intended for automatic control in industrial settings, an application that influenced DIAB's later emphasis on reliable, specialized, and real-time computing. The first identified product was the Data Board 4680, a modular, card-based computer system organized around a processor bus. The product was designed to accommodate several processor families, including the Intel 4004, Motorola 6800, and Zilog Z80. In practice, the Z80 became the processor used in the system. The modular architecture allowed DIAB to adapt the hardware for control and computing applications and provided a technical base for subsequent products. DIAB expanded into terminal and general-purpose systems with the 7S, or Seven S, introduced in 1977. This product combined a monochrome terminal and computer using the Data Board 4680 bus. In 1978, DIAB engineered the ABC 80, a Z80-based monochrome computer that Luxor AB manufactured. The ABC 80 is widely associated with the beginning of Sweden's domestic home-computer market and became DIAB's most publicly recognizable early achievement. The ABC platform developed through the ABC 800 line, introduced in 1983. The ABC 800 added color graphics and was aimed at both home and office users. Related models included the ABC 802, which provided additional memory and a RAM disk, and the ABC 806, which expanded the memory configuration further. DIAB supplied the surrounding hardware ecosystem, including floppy drives, hard disks, displays, expansion units, keyboards, cassette-storage equipment, and networking accessories. The company's cooperation with Luxor also continued into later office-oriented systems such as the ABC 1200. In parallel with the ABC family, DIAB moved into Unix-compatible professional computing. In 1983 it developed the DS90, initially based on the Motorola 68000. The system used code licensed from AT&T's Version 5 Unix release, but DIAB created a distinctive operating environment known as DNIX. The company had industrial customers whose applications required real-time operation, so it replaced the AT&T-supplied kernel with an internally developed compatible real-time kernel. Over time, DIAB also replaced a number of standard Unix user-space tools with its own implementations, reducing dependence on the original Unix code base. The DS90 platform evolved through several processor generations. Models included 68010-based systems such as the DS90-00, DS90-10, and DS90-11; multiprocessor 68020 systems such as the DS90-20 and DS90-21; 68030 systems including the DS90-30, DS90-30S, and DS90-31; and 68040 systems such as the DS90-41, DS90-45, and DS90-47. The DS101 represented a related system with exterior design associated with the artist Richard Hamilton. DIAB also adapted this technology for the ABC 9000, which was closely related to the DS90, and developed the ABC 1600, which ran ABCenix. DIAB's Unix technology supported an OEM business as well as its own branded products. Systems based on DIAB hardware and DNIX technology were supplied to other computer companies, including Dynatech Computer Systems and Cromemco. Other documented OEM relationships involved Ohio Scientific, Norsk Data, and ISC Systems Corporation. These arrangements extended the reach of DIAB engineering beyond computers sold directly under its own name. The company also developed compiler technology. Work associated with Tomas Evensen at DIAB was later acquired by Wind River Systems and renamed or incorporated as the Wind River Compiler. This transfer represented a continuation of DIAB's technical influence after its hardware business had begun to change. In 1990, Bull acquired DIAB's Unix computer support operation and customer base. Bull continued producing and supporting DIAB-branded systems, including later DIAB models derived from the DS series. The transaction ended the independent phase of Dataindustrier AB, while the company's DNIX, server, compiler, and engineering contributions remained relevant through successor products and acquired technology.

• 1990

  Unix business acquired by Bull

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  Bull acquired DIAB's Unix computer support and customer operations, ending DIAB's independent corporate history.

• 1985

  ABC 1600, ABC 9000, and DS90 line expanded

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  DIAB introduced or developed the ABC 1600, ABC 9000, and additional DS90-family systems while continuing work on DNIX.

• 1983

  ABC 800 and DS90 generations begin

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  DIAB introduced the ABC 800 family and developed the DS90, its first Unix-compatible machine, based initially on the Motorola 68000.

• 1978

  ABC 80 engineered

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  DIAB engineered the ABC 80, a Z80-based Swedish home computer manufactured by Luxor AB.

• 1977

  7S computer released

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  The 7S combined a monochrome terminal and computer around the Data Board 4680 bus.

• 1974

  Data Board 4680 introduced

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  DIAB introduced its modular Data Board 4680 computer system for engineering and industrial-control applications.

• 1970

  Company founded

  [1]Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org

  Lars Karlsson founded Dataindustrier AB in Sweden.

A Swedish engineering-led computer company positioned between industrial automation, domestic personal computing, professional Unix systems, and OEM technology supply.

• Industrial and modular computer · 1974

  Data Board 4680

  DIAB's early card-based computer system used a common bus architecture intended for industrial control and engineering applications. The designation referred to the processor families that the bus was designed to support: Intel 4004, Motorola 6800, and Zilog Z80. Although the architecture was multi-processor in concept, the Z80 became the processor used in the product. The system established DIAB's engineering-focused identity and provided the hardware basis for later products.

• Terminal computer · 1977

  7S (Seven S)

  The 7S was a combined monochrome terminal and computer built around the Data Board 4680 bus and a Z80 processor. It represented DIAB's move from specialized industrial control hardware toward interactive computing. The system retained the company's modular engineering approach while presenting a more conventional computer-terminal form.

• Home computer · 1978

  ABC 80

  The ABC 80 was a Z80-based monochrome computer engineered by DIAB and manufactured by Luxor AB. It is regarded as the first Swedish home computer and became a foundational product in Sweden's early personal-computer market. The platform connected DIAB's hardware engineering with Luxor's manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

• Home and office computer · 1983

  ABC 800 family

  The ABC 800, introduced in 1983, extended the ABC platform with color graphics and a stronger orientation toward office and professional use. Related models included the ABC 802, which provided 64 KB of memory with part configured as a RAM disk, and the ABC 806, which increased the memory configuration further. The family was supported by a broad range of DIAB peripherals.

• Personal computer · 1985

  ABC 1600

  The ABC 1600 was a later DIAB computer associated with the professional ABC platform. It ran ABCenix and formed part of DIAB's transition from Z80-oriented office computers toward more advanced systems and operating environments. It occupied a position between the earlier ABC products and DIAB's Unix-oriented server and workstation work.

• Unix-compatible computer · 1985

  ABC 9000

  The ABC 9000 was closely related to the DS90 platform and ran DIAB's DNIX operating environment. It represented the high-end professional direction of the ABC family and combined DIAB's Unix-compatible software work with a computer marketed under the established ABC name.

• Unix-compatible server and workstation · 1983

  DIAB DS90

  The DS90 was DIAB's principal Unix-compatible computer line. It began with Motorola 68000-based systems and expanded through 68010, 68020, 68030, and 68040 generations. Models served terminal-based server roles, industrial applications, and professional computing environments. DIAB's DNIX operating system provided a Unix-compatible but increasingly independent real-time software environment.

• Operating system · 1983

  DNIX

  DNIX was DIAB's Unix-compatible operating environment. It originated with an AT&T Unix System V license but evolved to use an internally developed real-time kernel and increasingly independent system software. Its real-time orientation reflected DIAB's industrial-control heritage and supported the company's DS90 and later DIAB systems.

• Unix-compatible server · 1990

  DIAB 2320 and DIAB 2340

  These later DIAB-branded systems were related to the DS90 family and used Motorola 68030-based technology. They were produced and supported after Bull acquired DIAB's Unix business, preserving the company's server lineage under the DIAB name.

• Unix-compatible server · 1990

  DIAB 2420, DIAB 2440, and DIAB 2450

  These systems extended the DIAB server range with Motorola 68040-based technology. They were related to the later DS90-47 generation and formed part of the product line maintained under Bull ownership after the independent DIAB business had ended.

• 1990

  Bull acquisition of Unix operationsM&A

  Background

  DIAB's Unix computer support activities and customer relationships had become a significant part of its business.

  Action taken

  Groupe Bull acquired the Unix computer support and customer operations and continued producing and supporting DIAB-derived systems.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition ended DIAB's history as an independent company, while DIAB-branded server products and DNIX-related technology continued under Bull.

  Source

• 1985

  Expansion of the DS90 and ABC high-end linesGeneration change

  Background

  DIAB was broadening its portfolio from home and office computers into advanced professional systems.

  Action taken

  The company developed additional DS90 models, introduced the ABC 1600, and presented the ABC 9000 as a closely related DNIX-based professional computer.

  Aftermath

  The move strengthened the overlap between DIAB's ABC-branded computers and its Unix-compatible server technology.

  Source

• 1983

  Entry into Unix-compatible professional computingProduct launch

  Background

  DIAB's industrial customers required computing systems capable of supporting professional and real-time applications beyond the company's earlier Z80-based products.

  Action taken

  The company developed the Motorola 68000-based DS90 and introduced the DNIX operating environment using technology initially licensed from AT&T Unix.

  Aftermath

  The DS90 and DNIX became the foundation of DIAB's professional server business, later expanding through multiple Motorola processor generations and OEM relationships.

  Source

1. 1Dataindustrier ABen.wikipedia.org