Acorn Network Computer
.jpg) | |
| Acorn's photograph of the Corporate NC | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Acorn Computers; production contracted to D2D[1] |
| Type | Network computer (thin client) |
| Released | August 1996[1] |
| CPU | ARM7500FE at 40 MHz (Home and Corporate NC); StrongARM SA-110 at 200 MHz (Office NC) |
| Memory | 8 MB (Home NC); 8 to 32 MB (Corporate NC) |
| Storage | None; smartcard for user data, network or ROM card for software |
| Display | SVGA monitor, or PAL or NTSC television |
| Sound | — |
| ROM | 4 to 8 MB, NCOS |
| OS / Firmware | NCOS, based on RISC OS |
| Model no. | TNS10 (Home NC) |
The Acorn Network Computer is Acorn's range of network computers, small diskless desktop boxes that load their software from a server or keep it in ROM and run a web browser. Acorn built the first implementation of the Network Computer Reference Profile that Oracle commissioned it to specify. The first models were launched in August 1996, running NCOS, an operating system derived from RISC OS, on ARM hardware; manufacturing was contracted to D2D, a Fujitsu subsidiary.[1] The hardware specific to the NetStation box, which is the same reference design, is on Acorn NetStation.
Models
[edit | edit source]| Model | Processor | Memory | Network | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home NC (TNS10) | 40 MHz ARM7500FE | 8 MB RAM, 4 MB ROM | 28.8 kbit/s modem | PAL TV or SVGA |
| Corporate NC | 40 MHz ARM7500FE | 8 to 32 MB RAM, 4 to 8 MB ROM | 10BaseT Ethernet; modem, 25.6 Mbit/s ATM or ISDN options | PAL or NTSC TV, or SVGA |
| Office NC | 200 MHz StrongARM SA-110 |
Home NC and Corporate NC figures are from Acorn's data sheets;[2][3] the Office NC processor is from Wikipedia.[1] Wikipedia also records Acorn's StrongARM CoNCord (late 1997) and the ARM7500 DeskLite (1998), and a 1997 decision to offer the designs free to RISC OS licensees.[1]
Acorn's product names overlap. Chris Whytehead's TNS10 is labelled NetStation and has an Ethernet card, while Acorn's Home NC data sheet gives the TNS10 a modem; the network card is a plug-in podule, so either can be fitted.[4][2][1] NetProducts, set up by Hermann Hauser in 1996, sold a version of the NetStation for the NetChannel television Internet service.[5]
Hardware
[edit | edit source].jpg)
The ARM7500FE puts the processor core, floating point accelerator, memory and I/O controller (IOMD) and video controller (VIDC20) in one chip.[2][4] The NCs add a smartcard slot at the front for the user's configuration and log-on details, a removable ROM card for operating system upgrades, a parallel printer port, stereo audio and composite video outputs, an SVGA connector and an infra-red receiver for a remote control or keyboard.[2][3][6] The network interface is a replaceable card at the back.[1][3]
Power comes from an external AC adapter. Acorn's user guide gives 18 V AC from a 230 V 50 Hz adapter; the label beside the power socket in Acorn's Corporate NC photograph reads 16 V AC 1.5 A.[6][3] Use the adapter that came with the unit.
Self-test and faults
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Screen turns red; front lights flash alternately, long red and short green; NC does not start | Power-on self-test failed | Acorn says the unit needs expert attention; see Acorn NetStation for the hardware |
| No lights on the front | No power | Check the adapter is plugged in at both ends and check the fuse in the adapter's plug |
| "Looking for a boot server", with the physical (MAC) address 00:00:a4:..., repeating | The NC is broadcasting for a server and none has answered | Normal for a few attempts; if it repeats for ever, the server configuration is at fault |
| No network connection | RJ45 lead or Ethernet card | Check the lead at both ends and that the Ethernet card is firmly in place |
Source: Acorn's user guide.[6]
Insert or remove a ROM card only with the adapter unplugged from the mains; Acorn says "under no circumstances" with power applied. The card goes behind the front flap and is released with the eject button.[6]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Acorn Network Computer Documentation: Acorn's NC user guide, the Home NC and Corporate NC data sheets, Acorn's NetStation factsheet and NetProducts' NetStation guides.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Acorn NetStation
- Acorn NewsPad
- Acorn A7000, which uses the same ARM7500 family of chips
- Acorn Online Media Set Top Box
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Acorn Network Computer", Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-10-02). Oracle's NC Reference Profile; launched August 1996; NCOS based on RISC OS; manufacture by D2D; designs offered free to RISC OS licensees in 1997; NetStation in modem and Ethernet versions with replaceable podule network cards; BT trial in 1997 and 1998; Home NC and Corporate NC with the ARM7500FE; Office NC with a 200 MHz StrongARM SA-110; DeskLite (1998); CoNCord (late 1997).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Acorn Computer Group, Acorn Home NC (TNS10), product data sheet AGP24.79.04. Hosted on this wiki: File:Acorn Home NC data sheet (AGP24.79.04).pdf. 40 MHz ARM7500FE, 35.9 Dhrystone MIPS peak, MMU and floating point accelerator; 8 MB RAM; 4 MB ROM; removable ROM card; smartcard slot; 28.8 kbit/s modem; PAL TV (760 × 576 × 16 bpp interlaced) and SVGA; infra-red remote with alphanumeric keypad; parallel port; height 45 mm, depth 260 mm, width 310 mm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Acorn Computer Group, Acorn Corporate NC, data sheet ACG5.79.01. Hosted on this wiki: File:Acorn Corporate NC data sheet (ACG5.79.01).pdf. 40 MHz ARM7500FE; 8 to 32 MB RAM; 4 to 8 MB ROM; built-in Ethernet, smartcard and wired keyboard and mouse; network options 28.8 kbit/s modem, 10BaseT, 25.6 Mbit/s ATM and ISDN; PAL and NTSC TV and SVGA; same dimensions as the Home NC; labelled rear-panel photograph.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Whytehead, Chris. "Acorn NetStation", Chris's Acorns, The Centre for Computing History (retrieved 2026-10-02). Acorn's NC reference design became the NetStation; models TNS10 (8 MB, 10BaseT Ethernet) and TNS11; BootP start-up from a server, or boot from an Iomega parallel Zip drive; NC 1 main board 2103,000 issue 1; ARM7500FE (CL-PS7500FE-QC-A) at 40 MHz; 8 MB EDO DIMM; NCOS 1.06 of 8 November 1996, based on RISC OS 3.70; Acorn 10BaseT Ethernet adaptor 2303,600-04.
- ↑ Whytehead, Chris. "Net Products", Chris's Acorns (retrieved 2026-10-02). Net Products set up in 1996 by Hermann Hauser to make an OEM NetStation for NetChannel; NC 1 main board 2103,000 issue 1, ARM7500FE at 40 MHz, 8 MB EDO DIMM, Acorn V34 modem rev 1, NCOS 1.06; rear ports; RC1 remote control.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Acorn Computers, Acorn Network Computer User Guide, part no. 2403,232, issue 1, June 1998. Hosted on this wiki: Acorn Network Computer Documentation. Setting up and the boot server message p. 4; power-on self-test and other symptoms p. 10; audio, printing, smart cards and ROM cards pp. 11 to 12; remote control and television p. 12; warnings (18 V AC from a 230 V 50 Hz adapter; no user-serviceable parts; ventilation) p. 13.