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website/content/museum/osm-computer-corporation-zeus.md
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---
title: OSM Computer Corporation Zeus
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1981'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80A
params:
name: Zeus
image: /media/museum/photos/osm_zeus_1.jpg
company: /companies/osm-computer-corporation
company_name: OSM Computer Corporation
specs:
- label: NAME
value: Zeus
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: OSM Computer Corporation
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1981'
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z80A
- label: SPEED
value: Unknown
- label: RAM
value: Uknown
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 80 x 25 CP/M standard
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: none
- label: COLORS
value: monochrome through terminal display
- label: SOUND
value: None
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: Heavy
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: Hard disk (from 34 to 600 Mb), Tape backup
- label: OS
value: MUSE operating system (CP/M compatible)
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in PSU
tabs:
- adverts
forum_thread: 1299
adverts:
- title: US ADVERT (APRIL 1982)
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
oc_id: 1334
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230202144410/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1334
date: '2023-02-02'
---
OSM Computer Corporation, based in Santa Clara California, produced several multi-user CP/M computers called Zeus.
The first Zeus system was released in 1981. It looks like a mini-computer with a fairly big case that can house mutimple user boards. Each user has a dedicated Z80A-base-single board that fits into the system mainframe.
The modular, stackable system can expand up to 64 users. To add a user, you need a dumb terminal and a user "microcomputer" module added into the mainframe.
The Zeus computer use modular hard disk storage giving a capacity from 34 Mb to 600 Mb. It also features tape backup and shared printers with spooling and queuing.
One singularity of the Zeus is that it is equiped with a battery/recharger system that provides up to 20 minutes of operating power in case of power failures, lightning ot voltage variations.
Zeus uses MUSE as its operating system, a CP/M compatible OS for multi-user computers.
One difference between OSM's approach and that of other manufacturers is that OSM does not require the individual CPU/memory cards to share the same S100 bus. The OSM design approximates that of a local network, in that the only real connection between the users is a data bus carrying information to and from the master CPU, which handles the disk chores.
OSM also differs from some of the other multi-user systems in that each user's CPU/memory combination also includes terminal and printer I/O. Thus, except for the disk drive, each user has a complete computer system responding to his commands, and the only contention among users is the disk drive itself. OSM resolves this problem by providing 32Kb of memory for the master processor, which acts as a buffer between user requests and the disk drive.
<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>