COMPARISON OF CIA AND NSA CRT TERMINALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP95-00972R000100170003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 27, 1979
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100170003-0
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'-
STAT
STAT
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THROUGH
FROM
ODP 9-493
27 March 1979
//2-fe
Associate Deputy Direc or r administration, DDA
Deputy Director for Processing, ODP ci
I rir Ils n ?
i.,,,1411.0!`,"^t'!
z)//)-2,1??.
Chief Engineer, Engineering Division, ODP
SUBJECT : Comparison of CIA and NSA'CRT Terminals
1. The specifications which controlled the procurement
of our CRT terminal were prepared to meet the requirements
documented in ODP Report, "User Requirements for an Agency
Soft Copy Computer Terminal", dated 26 October 1979. The
terminal which could satisfy these requirements needed to be
quite sophisticated and used state-of-the-art technology.
The contract which was recently signed will provide the Agency
with just such a high quality terminal, which because of its
flexibility, will be able to meet many Agency requirements
in the next five years.
2. There have been some questions raised concerning the
terminal which NSA procured last year and why we couldn't use
it. It is the intent of this memorandum to answer these ques-
STAT tions. The Purchase Description for CRT Terminals,
dated 4 November 1976 from NSA is the basis for the following
comparison.
3. There are some misconceptions about the NSA terminal
which should be cleared up before making the comparison:
a. The NSA terminal does not meet full NACSEM
5100 when it is in the normal configuration.
b. The optional disk drives were not required
to be TEMPEST approved.
c. The cost of the NSA terminal is $3,800,
however, in the normal configuration it
is used with a cluster controller which
is a separately priced item.
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STAT
d. The price for the terminal was established
about two years ago and does not contain
a corresponding inflation factor. Delta
Data said they are loosing money on the
NSA terminals and would not sell them at
that price in the future.
e. CIA is reaping the benefits of the TEMPEST
development work which was part of the NSA
contract. Without this previous effort
our terminals would be more expensive and
the delivery schedule significantly extended.
The funds which we have allocated to TEMPEST
are primarily for two items:
1) Testing of the terminal for
NACSEM 5100 compliance (there
are sufficient differences
between the two terminals to
require re-testing).
2) Development of TEMPEST floppy
?disk drives.
4. It should be noted that the CIA terminal could not
be developed by any contractor for the price which has been
negotiated (the competitive procurement was sent to 117 potential
vendors). As a yardstick for comparison, the only known TEMPEST
terminal which even comes close to our requirements (about 60%)
is a modified Hewlett-Packard for $7000.
Att: a/s
cc: Acting D/ODP
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ATTACHMENT I
TERMINAL COMPARISON
Feature in CIA Terminal NSA Terminal
F.2.1 (M) Standalone Terminal
F.2.2 (M) Configuration Variations
F.2.2.1 (M) Functional Configuration
F.2.3 (M) Local Peripheral Devices
Optional, normally clustered
Less than CIA
Less than CIA
No light pen, mouse, joystick
F.2.3.1
(M) Local Printer Characteristics
Not as many variations
F.2.3.2
(M) Simultaneous Operation
Yes,
but concatenation not req.
F.2.3.3
F.2.3.4
(MO) Large Floppy Disk Drives
(MO) Smaller Floppy Disk Drives
Yes,
but not Tempest -
No
F.2.4 (M) Local Capability
No,
but possible.
F.2.4.1
F.2.4.2
(M) Local Editing
(M) Local Data Validation
Yes,
but not as comprehensive
No
F.2.5 (M) Size
F.2.6 (M) Resident Monitor
F.2.7 (M) Programmability
F.2.7.1 (M) Changeable Firmware
F.2.7.2 (M) Changeable Firmware Image
F.2.7.3 (MO) User Programmability
Equivalent
No
Yes
Yes
Not dynamically
Limited, assembly lang. only
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F.2.7.4 (M) BASIC Language
F.2.7.5 (MO) Floppy Disk Operating
F.2.7.6 (DO) Word Processing Software
F.2.8.1 (M) Assembly Language
F.2.8.2 (M) Debugger
F.2.9 (M) Software Source Files and
Listing
F.3.1 (M) Display Area and Format
F.3.2 (DO) More Lines
No
No FDOS, utility programs only
No ?
Yes
Yes
No
Equivalent
No, 24 lines or less
F.3.3.1
F.3.3.2
F.3.3.3
(M) Screen Characteristics
(M) Cursor
(M) Tabbing
Equivalent
Equivalent
Equivalent
F.3.3.4
(M) Scrolling and Paging
Not req.,
probably
in
terminal
F.3.3.5
(M) Selective Highlighting
Equivalent
F.3.3.6
(M) Displayable Storage
Less
F.3.3.7
(M) Field Blanking
No
F.3.3.8
(M) Field Protect
Yes
F.3.3.9
(M) Format Mode
Yes
F.3.3.10
(M) Screen Segmentation
Yes
F.3.3.11
(MO) Simple Graphics
No
F.3.3.12
(MO) Larger Displayable Memory
No
F.3.3.13
(M) Password Suppression
No
F.3.4 (M) Character Sets Equivalent sets
2
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F.3.4.1 (M) ASCII Yes
F.3.4.2 (MO) APL No
F.3.4.3 (MO) Other Character Sets Yes
F.4.1.1 (M) Rollover No
F.4.1.2 (M) Detachable Keyboard Yes, but not also attachable
F.4.1.3 (M) Layout (Keyboard) Different
F.4.1.4 (M) Repeat Function Yes
F.4.1.5 (M) Function Keys Fewer
F.4.1.6 (M) Shift Lock Yes
F.4.1.7 (M) Color Coding (Keyboard) Yes
F.4.1.8 (M) Key Caps Yes
F.4.1.9 (M) Numeric Pad No
F.4.1.10 (M) Keyboard Disable Yes
F.4.1.11 (M) Acoustic Feedback No
F.4.1.12 (M) Programmed Terminators No
F.4.2.1 (MO) Light Pen' No
F.4.2.2 (MO) Joystick No
F.4.2.3 (MO) Mouse No
F.4.3.1 (M) Audible Alarm Yes
F.4.3.2 (M) On/Off Switch Yes
F.4.3.3 (M) Status Lights Yes
F.4.3.4 (M) Brightness Control Yes
F.5.1 (M) Transmission Speed Nearly equivalent
3
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F.5.1.1 (MO) Higher Speed No
F.5.2.1M) Synchronous and Asynchronous
Operation Yes
F.5.2.2 (DO) Combined Capability
(Comm Mode) No
F.5.2.3 (M) Transmission Mode Similar
F.5.2.4 (M) CR/X?OFF Selection No
F.5.2.5 (M) Character and Block
Transmission
F.5.2.6 (MO) Polling
F.5.3.1 (M) RS-423
7
F.5.3.2 (M) RS-422
No buffered TTY
Yes
Yes
No
F.5.4 (M) Line Wrap Around No
F.5.5.1 (M) Asynchronous Protocol (TTY) Yes
F.5.5.2 (M) Asynchronous Protocol (Block) Yes
F.5.5.3 (M) Synchronous Protocol Yes
F.5.6 (M) Error Control Yes
F.5.7 (MO) Direct Memory Access No
F.6.1 (M) Tempest Terminal only
F.7.1 (MO) DD 5260 Emulation No
F.7.2 (MO) DD 5600 Emulation No
F.7.3 (DO) Beehive 400 Emulation No
F.8.1 (M) CAM Software No
4
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100170003-0
F.8.2 (M) Elapse
F.8.3 (M) Read Field
F.8.4 (M) Page Command
F.8.5 (M) Write to Field
F.8.6 (M) Clear n Characters
F.8.7 (M) Timed Read
F.8.8 (M) Read Tabs
F.8.9 (M) Move Cursor
F.9.1 (M) Design Considerations
F.9.2 (M) Quiet Operation
F.9.3 (MO) Tilting
F.9.4 (M) Color
F.10.1 (M) Memory
F.10.2 (M) Hardware Compatibility
F.10.3 (M) External Connectors
F.10.4 (M) Power Backup
F.10.5 (M) Jump Start
F.10.6 (M) Expansion Space
F.10.7 (M) Reset
F.11.1 (M) Power
F.11.2 (M) Temperature
F.11.3 (M) Humidity
F.11.4 (M) Power Cable
5
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Equivalent
Yes
No ?
Not specified
Less
Yes
Not Specified
No, but 33 ms power glitch
No, but probably exists
No
Yes
Equivalent
Equivalent
Equivalent
Equivalent
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100170003-0
F.12.1 (M) Design Considerations
(Maintenance)
F.12.2 (M) Access
F.12.3 (M) Adjustments
F.12.4 (M) Changeable Components
F.12.5 (M) Cables
F.12.6 (M) Self Test
F.12.7 (M) Diagnostics
Equivalent
Equivalent
Equivalent
Equivalent
Equivalent
Yes
Yes
F.12.7.1 (M) Diagnostic Operations Yes
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100170003-0
F.12.1 (M) Design Considerations Equivalent
(Maintenance)
F.12.2 (M) Access Equivalent
F.12.3 (M) Adjustments Equivalent
F.12.4 (M) Changeable Components Equivalent
F.12.5 (M) Cables Equivalent
F.12.6 (M) Self Test Yes
F.12.7 (M) Diagnostics Yes
F.12.7.1 (M) Diagnostic Operations Yes
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Danny
I believe this is what you want.
DIA was given a copy of our RFP some
time ago. We are still talking to them.
NSA is looking at the suitability
of our terminal. Delta Data told Hal
that NSA had indicated some concern
over those CIA terminals-obsoleting
theirs. We will continue our dialog
with everybody on this terminal.
STAT
elArg4-401
/1?044,41-44^
e
AS
Date 28 March 1979
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-^ DDle
26 Iarch 1979
NEEORANPU11 FOR: Director Office of rata frocensing
TEPOUCU
STAT Timm
EUBJECT
UeTuty Director for rrocesnine, orp
Chief Engineer, Engineering Divivion, ODP
Comparison of CIA & rrA CPT Terminals
1. The specifications which controlled the procurement of
our CRT terminal were prepared to net the requirements documented
in OD? Report, "Veer requirements for an Agency Soft Copy
ComputerTerminaI", dated 26 October 1979. The terminal uhich
could satisfy these requirements needed to be quite sophisticated
are used etate-of-the-art technolopy. The contract which ves
recently signed will provide the Apency with just such a 1)101
quality terminal, which because of it's flexibility, vill be able
to meet many Agency requirements in the next five yetis's.
2. There have been some queetionn raised concerning the
terminal which rSA procured last year and why we couldn't use it.
It is the intent of this memorandum to answer these questions.
The Purchase Description for CPT Terrinals, Ftf co?col/7r, dated
4 rovember 1976 from NSA is the basis for the following
comparison.
3. There ore teve rAccenc?tioes but the 1'SA tory /11(A
which should 1-e cicrred 11'1- hoiere tt?P cerrerisen:
e. The NSA ter(Anal deco net :loci full ;:Aerr 51ro when it
iv in the normrl configuration.
b. The optlonel disk drive s were not required to be Tempest
approVed.
1
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STAT
c. The cout of the NSA terminal it 13,fPO, however, in the
noreel corfigurntion it Is used with n clerter controller
which is n eererrtely priced item.
d. The price fer tie tervinel eetebliebed about two
yeero Ago end deep mot contsin f correspordine, inflation
teeter. Velta rAt4 eel(' they arc leonine none on the rsA
term-Ingle +led would not sell them Lit thet price in the
future.
e* CIA ic reaping the benefits of the Teereet development
worF which wee pert of tbe rFA contract. tJitbout this
previous effcrt cur tereinelo would Fe more repenolve end
the eelivery ecFedule elevitieset/y eytendel. The fundn
which ue have elleented to Terpost ere prinsri/y for two
items:
/) Teetint of the ter:Anal tor rAcsrh 51CC coepliance
(there Aro sufficient differencer between the two
terminals: to require re-testing).
2) Develeement of !tweet floppy 45.sk driver.
4. It should by rotcd tbst the CIA terrinal cpuld Lot be
developed by Any contractor ter the priee which Itlf; beer
negotleted (the corpetitive procuremset eae cent tn /17 potertinl
.vendors). Ae s yardstick for eeneerison, the only known Toveeet
terminal which even comes elope to our requirements (about 6C!)
is a modified liewlett-rockard for $7000.
Att: a/m
4.
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ON
ATTACHMENT I
TERMINAL COMPARISON
Feature in CIA Terminal NSA Terminal
F.2.1 (M) Standalone Terminal
Optional, normally clustered
(M) Configuration Variations
F.2.2.1 (M) Functional Configuration
F.2.3 (M) Local Peripheral Devices
F.2.3.1 (M) Local Printer Characteristics
Less than CIA
Less than CIA
No light pen, mouse, joystick
Not as many variations
AP.2.3.2
.2.3.3
, F.2.3.4
(M) Simultaneous Operation
(MO) Large Floppy Disk Drives
(MO) Smaller Floppy Disk Drives
Yes,
but concatenation not req.
Yes,
but not Tempest
No
F.2.4 (M) Local Capability
No,
hut possible.
P.2.4.1
F.2.4.2
(M) Local Editing
(M) Local Data Validation
Yes,
but not as comprehensive
No
(M) Size
F.2.6 (M) Resident Monitor
F.2.7 (M) Programmability
F.2.7.1 (M) Changeable Firmware
(M) Changeable Firmware Image
F.2.7.3 (MO) User Programmability
3
Equivalent
No
Yes
Yes
Not dynamically
Limited, assembly lang. only
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Flout
7.2.7.4 (M) BASIC Language Vo
?.7.2.7.5 (MO) Floppy Disk Operating No FDOS, utility prograns col/.
.,.7.2.7.6 (DO) Word Processing Software No
'
7.2.8.1 (M) Assembly LarQuage
7.2.8.2 (h) Debugger
7.2.9 (H) Software Source Files and
Yen
Yoe
..k46 Listing No
, s,-.?
7.3.1 (N) Display Area and Format Equivalent
7.3.2 (DO) Bore Linen ?.....1._-
No 16 lince or less
?
7.3.3.1 (H) Screen Cberscteristica yquivelent
i 7.3.3.2 (M) Cursor Equivalent
1
1 . .,
(h) Tabbing Ecuivelent
7.3.3.4 (h) Scrolling and raging Mot req., probsbly in terrinal
1.fit.3.3.3
1.3.3.5 (N) Selective Nighlighting yquivalert
.7.3.3.6 (h) Displayable Storage Leva
, F.3.3.7 (M) Field Blanking No
7.3.3.8 (h) Field Protect Yes
7.3.3.9 (M) Format Mode Yes
F.3.3.10 (h) Screen Segnentation Yen
7.3.3.11 (VO) Binplo Crephics ro
:YF.3.3.12 (VO) LarFer Pisplayeble Nenory Fe
. 7.3.3.13 (11) rossword Suppression ro
,?to. 7..3.4 (11) Character Sets
"i`
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rvIlvalent vete
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.1?-?
1.3.4.1 (H) ASCII Yea
7.3.4.2 (MO) APL No
7.3.4.3 (MO) Other Cheracter Sets Yes
1.4.1.1 (V) rollover re
7.4.1.2 (n) Detachable Keyboard Yee, but not also attachable
7.4.1.3 (H) Layout (Yeyboard) Different
(H) Repeat Function Yes
7.4.1.5 (N) Punction reys rcvcr
17.4.1.6 (N) Shift Loci: Yee
F.4.1.7 (H) Color Ceding (Veyteard) Yes
Y.4.1.8 (V) Key Caps Yea
(H) Numeric rad No
7.4.1.10 (h) Eeyheard DIsmble Yer
7.4.1.11 (V) Acouetic 17ee7bacl: No
4.4.1.12 (11) Programmed Terminators No
1.4.2.1 (NO) Light Pen Nn
7.4.2.2 (HO) JoysticV re
4.4.2.3 (t0) House No
F.4.3.1 (N) Audible Al err Yee
7.4.3.2 (r) Cn/Off iitch Yet;
7.4.3.3 (V) Statue LipLts Yen
7.4.3.4 (M) Brightness Control Yee
7.5.1 (10 Transmission Speed
5
Nearly Lanivnlent
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AN
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. rg4
11.5.1.1 (MO) Nigher Speed No
1.5.2.1M) Synchronous and Asynchronous
Operation Yes
F.5.2.2 (DO) Combined Capability
(Comm )ode) No
7.5.2.3 (H) Transmission Mode Similar
7.5.2.4 (H) CR/X?OFF Selection No
(M) Character and Dlock
Transmission No buffered TTY
7.5.2.6 (110) Polling Yea
' 1.5.3.1 (H) RS-423 Yes
5.3.2 (1) RS-422
- .1.5.4 (H) Line Wrap Around No
1.5.5.1 (N) Asynchronous Protocol (TTY) Yes
1.5.5.2 (Y) Asynchronous Protocol (Block) Yes
1 7.F..5.5.3 (M) Synchronous Protocol Yes
1..1.5.6 (F) Error Control Yes
T ,
:.'1.5.7 (MO) Direct Memory Access ro
F.6.1 (M) Terpest Terrinn1 ?nil
1.7.1 (MO) DP 5260 brIllmtion No
1.7.2 (MO) DD 5600 Fvulatien be
1.7.3 (DO) Pilch/ye 400 Emulatien to
,
.8.1 (11) CAM Software No
????????????o.1/...0/??
6
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F.8.2 (H) Elapse ro
F.8.3 (14) Read Field Ho
F.8.4 (H) Pape Commend Vo
V.1.5 (r) Vrite to Field
F.S.6 (V) Clenr n (n.lracters No
1.8.7 (M) Timed Peed No
r.84.8 Illy Read Tabs No
V.8.9 (1) Eove Cursor 1"C!F3
F.9.1 (V) Pepipn Connicrntions Favivelent
F.9.2 (H) Quiet Operaticn Yes
F.9.3 (HO) Tilting ro
4t -
(H) Color Not !pacified
F.10.1 (r) Nert-ry Less
F.10.2 (V) Uardware CompntiA,Ility Yen
F.10.3 (N) External Connectors Not Specified
F.10.4 (II) rover Bachsp Vo but 13 re power flitch
F.10.5 (I) Jump Start Uo, but rrobst12 exists
F.10.6 (H) Expansion Space No
F.10.7 (N? Reset Yet,
1.11.1 (V) tower IL,21vatent
F.11.2 (74) Tempernture Ennivslent
F.11.3 () Tumidity Fovivalcnt
11.11.4 (M) Power COhle Equivalent
7
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1.12.1 (M) Design Considerations
(Maintenance)
F.12.2 (fl) Access
F.12.3 (10 Adjustments
F.12.4 (M) Changeable Components
F.12.5 (14).Csbles
1.12.6 (M) .Self Teat
1.12.7 (Y) Diagnostice
1.12.7.1 00 Pier,Dostic Operntions
8
Equivalent
Fquivalent
Fouivnlent
Equivalent
Equivalent
Yes
Yes
CE;
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