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CAP computer



 
 
The Cambridge CAP computer was the first successful experimental computer that demonstrated the use of security capabilities
Capability-based security

Capability-based security is a concept in the design of secure computing systems. A capability is a communicable, unforgeable token of authority....
, both in hardware and software. It was developed at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory

The Computer Laboratory is the computer science department of the University of Cambridge. As of 2007, it employs 35 academic staff, 25 support staff, 35 affiliated research staff, and about 155 research students....
 in the 1970s. As well as being a research machine, it also served as a useful service machine, unlike most research machines of the time.

The sign currently on the front of the machine reads:
The CAP project on memory protection ran from 1970 to 1977.






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The Cambridge CAP computer was the first successful experimental computer that demonstrated the use of security capabilities
Capability-based security

Capability-based security is a concept in the design of secure computing systems. A capability is a communicable, unforgeable token of authority....
, both in hardware and software. It was developed at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory

The Computer Laboratory is the computer science department of the University of Cambridge. As of 2007, it employs 35 academic staff, 25 support staff, 35 affiliated research staff, and about 155 research students....
 in the 1970s. As well as being a research machine, it also served as a useful service machine, unlike most research machines of the time.

The sign currently on the front of the machine reads:
The CAP project on memory protection ran from 1970 to 1977. It was based on capabilities implemented in hardware, under M.Wilkes and R.Needham
Roger Needham

Roger Michael Needham Commander of the Order of the British Empire FREng Fellow of the Royal Society was a United Kingdom computer scientist....
 with D.Wheeler responsible for the implementation. R.Needham was awarded a BCS
British Computer Society

The British Computer Society is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology. Established in 1957, it is the largest United Kingdom-based professional body for computing....
 Technical Award in 1978 for the CAP (Capability Protection) Project.


Design

The CAP was designed such that any access to a memory segment or hardware required that the current process held the necessary capabilities.