For more historical information, see Multics History. The site timeline is a graphical presentation of events in Multics history.
1944 | Whirlwind at MIT |
1957 | Sputnik |
1959 | John McCarthy proposes time-sharing in memo to Philip M. Morse, director of the MIT Computation Center. |
1961 | Burroughs B5000 (Algol, dual CPUs, segmentation) |
11/61 | MIT Computation Center running IBM 709. 4-user tape CTSS demonstrated. |
05/62 | Paper on CTSS presented at Spring Joint Computer Conference. |
08/62 |
MIT Computation Center upgraded to IBM 7090. CTSS running on new hardware. First Paper on Internet Concept by J. C. R. Licklider & Welden Clark, "On-Line Man Computer Communication". |
09/62 |
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10/62 | Cuban Missile Crisis |
11/62 | MIT Project MAC suggested by J. C. R. Licklider. |
12/62 | Ferranti Atlas (paging) (12/7/62) |
01/63 | Project MAC proposal submitted to ARPA. |
03/63 | Project MAC authorized & funded by ARPA IPTO. ($3 million contract) |
04/63 | MIT Computation Center 7090 with second 32K memory, 1302 disk, 7750 |
05/63 | Initial JOSS service on JOHNNIAC at RAND. |
06/63 | Timesharing running at SDC on spare AN/FSQ-32 (funded by ARPA) |
07/63 | Project MAC summer study, using CTSS on Computation Center IBM 7090, attended by many computer scientists. |
09/63 |
Project to establish a
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10/63 | Project MAC IBM 7090 (red machine) installed, later upgraded to 7094 II. |
04/64 | IBM announces System/360 (4/7/64) |
05/64 | DTSS brought up at Dartmouth on a GE-225/DATANET-30. (05/01/64, 4AM) |
06/64 | Corby's group moved to Tech Square |
08/64 | General Electric selected as supplier for MAC research machine, contract signed. |
11/64 | Bell Labs joins Multics project with MIT and GE |
1965 |
First inter-computer communication, between TX-2 and Q-32 (Marill and Roberts) NSA RYE time-sharing system on Univac 494, multilevel security |
08/65 |
GE 635 delivered to Project MAC, 6.36 simulator running IBM announces TSS/360 ![]() |
11/65 | Special Multics session at Fall Joint Computer Conference, 6 papers presented. |
06/66 | Flag Day (06/14/66) |
1967 | WYLBUR and ORVYL developed at Stanford on 360/67. |
01/67 |
GE 645 delivered to Project MAC
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03/67 |
GE 635 removed from Project MAC milestone phase .5 (file system on 645 simulator) |
04/67 |
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05/67 |
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09/67 |
Digital Equipment PDP-10 announced
TENEX begun at BBN |
12/67 | milestone phase 1 (single process boot on 645) |
03/68 | milestone A3 - 3 processes (Rappaport) |
04/68 | IBM decommits TSS/360 |
05/68 | IBM releases CP/67 version 1 to 8 sites |
07/68 | First Multics picnic |
08/68 | RADC GE-645 installed |
10/68 | Demonstrable Initial Multics milestone (8 users) |
12/68 |
Multics running console sessions in 545 Tech Sq, self-hosting
moved MAC 7094 to MIT IPC, building 39 |
01/69 | Limited Initial Multics milestone (12 users) |
01/69 | Integrated mini-GIM & TTY DIM into system |
04/69 |
Bell Labs drops out of Multics development Unix begun on PDP-7 at Bell Labs IBM un-decommits TSS/360 |
05/69 | file system 2.0 |
06/69 | milestone 3.0.10 |
07/69 | Experimental MIT use of Multics (Cambridge Project) |
10/69 |
MSS 4.0 - Multics public at MIT new PL1 compiler, new traffic control First ARPANet connection UCLA-SRI (10/29/69) |
12/69 | MSS 5.0 - DSU270's (10 MB disk) |
03/70 |
MSS 6.0 - Revised command loop MSS 7.0 - page control rewrite DEC announces PDP-11 (3/28/70) |
05/70 | First Multics talk at GESHUA XI in Seattle (THVV) |
06/70 |
MSS 8.0 - pre-paging and post-purging
TENEX on the air (6/15/70) |
08/70 |
MSS 9.0 - new Directory Control, User Control Multics installed on RADC machine |
10/70 |
MSS 10.0 - new ttydim Honeywell buys GE computer division: the "merger" |
11/70 | MSS 11.0 - new init |
12/70 |
MSS 12.0 - Support for DSU170's MSS 13.0 - Associative Memory fix Unix ported to PDP-11 at Bell Labs |
1971 | Software Factory on BCO 645 installed |
01/71 | MSS 14.0 - Moved processes from ring 32 to ring 4 |
01/71 | Multics Symposium at MIT Jan 21-22 |
04/71 |
MSS 15.0 - retrofit. DTSS simulator using Dartmouth BASIC |
05/71 | IBM decommits TSS/360 again |
09/71 |
MIT 645 Multics providing service on ARPANet (host #6) via GIMPSPIF.(RFC 0252) RCA sells its computer division to Univac |
1972 | Paris 645 installed at Bull on Av. Gambetta |
11/72 |
MIT 6180 delivered System M "6090" installed. |
12/72 | MSS 18.0. - ACL redo: CACLs eliminated |
1973 | Honeywell Phoenix Multics Development Center (PMDC) opened. |
01/73 | Multics and H6180 announcement at Boston Museum of Science (01/17/73) |
07/73 | CTSS turned off at MIT IPC (07/20/73) |
11/73 | AFDSC installed |
12/73 | MIT 6180 Multics connected to ARPANet (host #44) by ABSI. |
12/73 | Thompson and Ritchie present Unix paper at 4th ACM SOSP, Yorktown Heights NY |
1974 | CISL development machine installed |
01/74 |
MSS 22.0 Ford installed |
05/74 | GM Corporate (GMISCA) installed |
06/74 | MR 1.0: First standard release. Compilers support EIS, BASIC, GCOS Simulator, DSS191. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN. |
1975 | RADC, BCO, System M upgraded to 6180s |
01/75 | MR 2.0: CPU cache, NPS, 1600bpi tape, TN1200. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN, tape. |
03/75 | MR 2.1: iox_, probe, trace, debug, On-line T&D. Enhanced administration & metering, GCOS. |
06/75 | MR 2.2: Secure Mail. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN, BASIC, system tools. |
09/75 | MR 3.0: MCS, Scheduler, RCP, COBOL-74, SORT. Enhanced GCOS. |
1975 | Ford deinstalled |
07/75 | University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) installed |
1976 | DCC, USGS Reston installed |
02/76 | MSS 28.0: New storage system |
03/76 | MR 3.1: AIM, DTSS Simulator, HEALS, 4 FNPs. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN, COBOL, ALM, commands. |
07/76 | MR 4.0: New storage system, MRDS, MSU451, MERGE, 16MB SCUs. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, SORT, Graphics system, mail. |
09/76 | MR 4.0.1: Reconfiguration & Operator Interfaces. |
12/76 | MR 5.0: 4MW SCUs. Enhanced MCS, COBOL, FORTRAN, MRDS. |
1977 |
Honeywell-MIT collaboration ends USGS Menlo Park and Denver installed Puerto Rican Highway Authority (PRHA) installed Industrial Nucleonics installed Apple Computer founded (01/03/77) |
10/77 | MR 6.0: tape, ESD, salvager, RJE, WORDPRO, 7 CPUs, multiple tape controllers. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN, COBOL, MRDS, reliability & damage recovery. |
1978 |
Ford installed again INRIA/Rocquencourt installed University of Grenoble installed University of Calgary (UC) installed |
03/78 | MR 6.1 |
09/78 | MR 6.5: Video Terminals, DN6670, IBM 3780, 4 FNPs, run units, resource reservation, remote station TTFs. Enhanced communication, FORTRAN optimizer. |
11/78 | Palyn Report presented to Honeywell management |
12/78 |
MR 6.5a: remote station TTFs. Enhanced G115 protocol. Oakland University (OU) installed |
1979 | INRA, Renault, Bell Canada installed |
01/79 | Unix setuid patent issued (01/16/79) |
01/79 | Honeywell CNO installed (01/22/79) |
03/79 | MR 7.0: GTSS Simulator, TP, MSU0500, Tape Archive, T&D, tape archive, audit facility, T&D subsystem, 32 new terminal types. Enhanced PL/I, FORTRAN, communications, bulk I/O. |
06/79 | MR 7.0a: L6 Concentrator, MTU0610 9 Track tape, Emacs, polled VIP7760. Enhanced APL. |
09/79 |
MR 7.0b: Enhanced FIPS COBOL, WORDPRO. Bristol & Bath (Avon) installed |
1980 |
Stratus formed, many Multicians leave CISL
NWGS Level 68 development system installed at US Naval War College. Dir. Prevision, EPSHOM, INSEE, IRT installed |
03/80 | MR 8.0: VIP7801/7804, IBM 3270, Process Preservation, MSS0500, ORION support, Bulk Store removed. Enhanced communications, Emacs, GCOS TSS, COBOL, WORDPRO, MRDS, tape interface to PPS. |
03/80 | Site N (Flagship) installed 03/27/80. |
12/80 | MR 8.2: MSU0500/501. Enhanced: T&D, COBOL, PL/I, FORTRAN, BOS |
1981 |
VW (USA) installed in Honeywell space Arizona State University installed INSEE/Paris, CERAM, CICB, Culture, CICT, INRIA/Sophia installed |
08/81 | IBM PC announced (8/14/81) |
09/81 | St Johns installed |
10/81 | MR 9.0: DPS 8/70M CPUs, 8 FNPs, Executive Mail, CSU6601, MSP0611/0612, MTP0611. Enhanced BOS, COLTS/MTAR, COBOL, MRDS, WORDPRO. |
12/81 | Shutdown of Virginia Polytechnic Institute |
1982 |
DND Halifax installed (dual L68); Bull Systeme X installed at Louveciennes (L68/DPS-8); CIRIL, CNET, INRIA/Rennes, Mainz installed; VW shut down, deal canceled by VW corporate |
03/82 | MR 9.1: Enhanced: T&D, HASP, Emacs, FORTRAN, Tape. |
06/82 | STC installed |
07/82 | Honeywell PMDC moved from Camelback to DVCP in Phoenix. |
10/82 | MR 10.0: 4 IOMs, IOM Paged Mode, Dial-out, X.25, Forum, MTU0630. Enhanced HDLC & BSC to 72KB, record stocks, system recovery, forum command. |
11/82 | Cardiff (CJCC) installed. |
1983 |
SNECMA, CICRP, INNPPP, Credit Lyonnais, SOZAWE, ONERA/CERT, SNECMA, ELF, LUT, Brunel installed USGS Menlo Park shut down |
01/83 | CNO gets 8/70M |
03/83 | UBCC installed |
04/83 | CCVR installed |
06/83 | Canadian DND (DDDS) installed |
09/83 | CISL moves from Tech Square to Cambridge Center |
10/83 |
MR 10.1: Printers 901/1201, X.25 LAPB, Subsystem Utilities, EURCs 8001/8002/8004. Enhanced Video, tape, mail, MRDS, FNP memory. ACTC installed |
1984 |
USGS Reston, Dir. Prevision, INSEE shut down DOCKMASTER installed |
01/84 | MR 10.2: Satellite 6M, LINUS. Enhanced operator interface, crash analysis, EURC, APL, FIPS FORTRAN, GCOS simulator, MRDS, ARPANet, X.25. |
02/84 | ACTC becomes additional development site (2/3/84) |
06/84 | Special for DND: IO reconfiguration |
1985 |
Almost 100 sites (Gintell ACM speech) ASU, STC, USGS Denver, INRA, Renault, ELF shut down ONERA/Paris installed DND-H upgraded to triple 8-70M |
02/85 | Flower canceled by Honeywell |
06/85 |
Multics development capped by Honeywell MR 11.0: B2 security, 32k Cache, FAMIS, Executive Forum, PC Support, Bootload Multics; 2741, 1050, and ARDS support removed. Enhanced IOM reconfiguration, disk interface, video, FORTRAN, BASIC, mail, dump analysis. |
08/85 | B2 Orange Book rating awarded to MR 11.0+ by NCSC (08/29/85) |
10/85 |
Black armbands at HLSUA Multics Company spin-off (based on Flower) proposed at HLSUA Initial study for NOS (Opus) with MOD-400 group |
11/85 | Multics Company spin-off dismissed by Honeywell |
12/85 | McDonnell Douglas Transport Aircraft installed |
1986 |
EPSHOM, IRT, CERAM, INRIA/Sophia, Mainz, SOZAWE, Credit Lyonnais shut down SEP installed North American Honeywell Bull integrated into Groupe Bull. |
01/86 | Opus (NOS/VS3) IPR-0 review at Honeywell |
05/86 | CISL closed (5/22/86), Opus team to Honeywell Billerica |
07/86 | NWGS DPS 8/70(M) installed at US Naval War College. Level 68 moved to SDF, Moorestown NJ, and got SMS workstations. |
12/86 |
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1987 |
Shutdown of SNECMA, CICT Bull Systeme X moved to Rocquencourt NWGS TTGL (Dam Neck VA) and TTGP (San Diego) sites installed. Honeywell System M moved from Camelback to DVCP location in Phoenix. |
11/87 | Bull takes over Honeywell computer division |
12/87 | Shutdown of CNO (12/11/87) |
1988 | Shutdown of INRIA/Rennes, CICB, Culture, CIRIL, CNET, INNPPP, ONERA |
01/88 | Shutdown of MIT Multics (MSS 38.3), eqpt to McDonnell (01/02/88) |
04/88 |
Development transferred to ACTC (Calgary) Opus canceled by Bull |
05/88 | Shutdown of AFDSC system T (05/31/88) |
07/88 | Shutdown of Brunel University |
09/88 | Shutdown of CICRP, Grenoble, Rennes |
11/88 |
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10/88 | Shutdown of Bristol & Bath (Avon) (10/10/88) |
09/89 |
Shutdown of St Johns (SJU) (09/14/89) Shutdown of RADC (09/30/89) Shutdown of UBCC |
12/89 |
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1990 |
Oakland University shut down Bell Canada Toronto, CCVR, SEP shut down |
01/90 | Shutdown of ENWGS-SDF |
05/90 | Shutdown of University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) |
12/90 |
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1991 | Shutdown of ABB (formerly Industrial Nucleonics). |
03/91 | Shutdown of Cardiff Joint Computing Centre (CJCC) (03/15/91) |
07/91 |
Shutdown of Loughborough University Shutdown of ASEA Brown Boveri |
1992 | Shutdown of Bull Systeme X and Honeywell BCO. |
02/92 | Shutdown of AFDSC system D (02/28/92) |
03/92 |
Shutdown of INRIA Shutdown of AFDSC system M (03/31/92) |
06/92 | Shutdown of last AFDSC machine, system Z (06/30/92) |
09/92 | Shutdown of Site N (Flagship). |
11/92 |
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1993 | Shutdown of Bell Canada Montreal. |
04/93 | alt.os.multics started by Magnus Olsson |
06/93 | Shutdown of U of Calgary (06/16/93) |
09/93 | Shutdown of DDDS/ORAE (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) (09/03/93) |
11/93 | Shutdown of Honeywell System M (Phoenix) (11/28/93) |
1994 | Multicians website begun by THVV with much help and advice from BSG. |
12/95 | Shutdown of McDonnell Douglas site (12/22/95) |
04/96 | Shutdown of last NWGS system, at US Naval War College. |
04/97 | Shutdown of Ford (04/25/97) |
03/98 | Shutdown of DOCKMASTER (03/31/98). |
10/98 | Shutdown of GM (10/20/98) |
1999 | PRHA no longer used? |
06/99 |
DOCKMASTER hardware loaned by National Cryptologic Museum to the ![]() |
07/00 | Shutdown of CGI (was Perigon (was ACTC)) (07/07/00) |
10/00 | Shutdown of DND-H (17:08Z 10/30/00) |
11/07 |
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11/14 |
Harry Reed's ![]() |
06/17 | Release 1.0 of the Multics simulator released, along with Multics MR 12.6f. |
07/19 | Professor Fernando J. Corbató passed away at the age of 93. |
09/19 | Release 2.0 of the Multics simulator released. |