Re: OK I got this here VAXen thingie.... what is it?

On Tue, 5 Jan 1999, User Rdkeys Robert D. Keys wrote: Smile. It's a decent machine. CPU Both are memory boards. Don't know for sure how much. 8 or 16 megs apiece, I'd guess. Ethernet. Sounds like a graphic subsystem. Plotter interface? Controller for the TK70 tape drive. Controller for the RA70 disk. (The controller can have up to four disks attached). CPU and memory minimum. I'd recommend to remove the VCB02 and CXY08, since you don't have the peripherials. Move all other cards up to delete the empty space in the middle. Turn on the power. It's a pretty easy machine to play around with. Plain terminal will do. In fact, it *expexts* to get a plain terminal. The MMJ is a DEC thingie. The electrical levels are compatible with RS-232. You can get a cable from DEC, or perhaps some other place. I also know that the pinouts have been published on the net from tim to time. Protocols? That's software! As for electrically connecting it, that depends on what card you put in the machine! Paralell or serial, you choose! I assume you have 10Base2, so get an AUI-cable to extend the connection from the DELQA to outside the box, get a 10Base2-transciever, and you're set. For other types of carriers, get the proper transciever! :-) Yes. Boot NetBSD on it. Get 1.3.2, which works pretty fine on the machine. You can netboot it to get started. Johnny Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt(a)update.uu.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id IAA11143 for pups-liszt; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 08:54:54 +1100 (EST) Received: from seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu (seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu [152.1.88.4]) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id IAA11138 for &lt;pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt;; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 08:54:44 +1100 (EST) Received: (from rdkeys@localhost) by seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) id QAA28061; Tue, 5 Jan 1999 16:47:55 -0500 (EST) (envelope-from rdkeys) From: "User Rdkeys Robert D. Keys" &lt;rdkeys(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu&gt; Message-Id: &lt;199901052147.QAA28061(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu&gt; Subject: Re: OK I got this here VAXen thingie.... what is it? In-Reply-To: &lt;Pine.VUL.3.93.990105205913.2044A-100000(a)Zeke.Update.UU.SE&gt; from Johnny Billquist at "Jan 5, 99 09:07:11 pm" To: bqt(a)Update.UU.SE (Johnny Billquist) Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 16:47:55 -0500 (EST) Cc: pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au, bsdbob(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4ME+ PL38 (25)] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Precedence: bulk I am beginning to think my eleven buckeroos de realme were well spent! What different SDI(?) drives will fit and work in the VAXstation, for our play purposes. Someone mentioned a 1 gig and a 2 gig size that I might want to use instead of the RA70, although beggars like me can't be too choosy. A pair of RA70's would make a fair minimal box. A pair of 2 gig drives would make a very comfy box to use as the main home server. > > > CPU and memory minimum. > I'd recommend to remove the VCB02 and CXY08, since you don't have the > peripherials. Move all other cards up to delete the empty space in the > middle. OK. What should cover the blank space in the rack, or just leave it open? Any funky jumpers to set like on Sun VME backplanes? > > > Turn on the power. I was thinking about boot sequences for roms or whatever, or anything strange in the callup from a dumb terminal. Someone mentioned setting a break switch and a baud rate dial on the CPU? I did get a box from the previous owner a few minutes ago, and there were a dozen or so TK50 tapes that I need to sort out what is on them. He though they were Ultrix and VMS tapes. If they turn out to be unknowns, I can probably use them to get someone to write a good boot tape for a BSD flavor, perhaps. If they are, indeed Ultrix, would that be better or worse than a 4.3BSD or NetBSD or such? I have never run Ultrix, but I am comfy with 4.3BSD or NetBSD kinds of things, as long as they don't get too strange. I don't think I would like a VMS. Also, the guy gave me a cable with a DEC female DB25 adapter, a MMJ end, an RJ11 end, and a plain RS232 DB25 male adapter. Would that be usable for a console or is that some kind of printer cable? He thought it was plain serial, but was not sure. > > > Protocols? That's software! > As for electrically connecting it, that depends on what card you put in > the machine! Paralell or serial, you choose! Well, I prefer serial, no-handshake printer lines on my old junkque. That is a carryover from my early CP/M days where one never knew which RS232 cable to use, and I got quickly in the habit of 3-wiring everything, instead. Software or non-shake protocol always worked, if 4/5, 4/8/20 were jumpered on each end. One of my friends said that DEC did some strange protocols on serial lines, and I was just checking for sure. > > > I assume you have 10Base2, so get an AUI-cable to extend the connection > from the DELQA to outside the box, get a 10Base2-transciever, and you're > set. For other types of carriers, get the proper transciever! :-) I must rub the right rabbit's food today. Another friend gave me a DEC dongle box and cable that is an AUI to BNC transceiver (DECSTA?). That is a good find, or the right find, perhaps? > > > Yes. Boot NetBSD on it. Get 1.3.2, which works pretty fine on the machine. > You can netboot it to get started. My problem is getting it up to a network. My home net is mostly down or only running between whichever two boxes I can get up at the same time. Most are AIX/4.3BSD IBM RT-PC boxes or FreeBSD/AIX x86 boxes. Proper netbooting on them is a bit wierd. I might could drag it into the office and netboot off the archives somewhere. That may be the easiest thing to do, practically. Most of the boxes I prefer to load via tape, if possible for a lowest common denominator boot when all else may fail. That way, everything is covered. What needs to be cleaned out around the cabinetry or power supplies or backplane? I don't want to get dustbunny fireballs rolling out of it, if possible. Is there anything I should look out for in preflighting the beast, over the usual blow it out with a vacuum cleaner or air hose? Anyway, toy VAXuser getting there little by little.....(:+}}.... Maybe I will get the itch to fire it up tonight. Now to feed the Reddy Kilowatt meter man. I hear these VAXen things make him very happy. Bob Keys Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id JAA11273 for pups-liszt; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:33:18 +1100 (EST) Received: from henry.cs.adfa.edu.au (henry.cs.adfa.oz.au [131.236.21.158]) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id JAA11268 for &lt;pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au&gt;; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:33:09 +1100 (EST) Received: (from wkt@localhost) by henry.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id JAA12801 for pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:33:57 +1100 (EST) (envelope-from wkt) From: Warren Toomey &lt;wkt(a)henry.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt; Message-Id: &lt;199901052233.JAA12801(a)henry.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt; Subject: V8's roots? To: pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au (Unix Heritage Society) Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:33:57 +1100 (EST) Reply-To: wkt(a)cs.adfa.oz.au X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4ME+ PL43 (25)] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Precedence: bulk Just got this email from a friend... ----- Forwarded message from David Blackman ----- Just had a quick look at [Warren's Unix family tree diagram] You list Research V8 as successor to V7, which is true i guess, but i've seen several sources say most of the kernel was derived from a BSD version, probably 4.1. ----- End of forwarded message from David Blackman ----- Can anybody confirm or deny this? I suppose I should ask Dennis. Ta, Warren Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id LAA11605 for pups-liszt; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 11:36:31 +1100 (EST) Received: from henry.cs.adfa.edu.au (henry.cs.adfa.oz.au [131.236.21.158]) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id LAA11600 for &lt;pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au&gt;; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 11:36:23 +1100 (EST) Received: (from wkt@localhost) by henry.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id LAA15385 for pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 11:37:10 +1100 (EST) (envelope-from wkt) From: Warren Toomey &lt;wkt(a)henry.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt; Message-Id: &lt;199901060037.LAA15385(a)henry.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt; Subject: Apout: new version + freeze To: pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au (Unix Heritage Society) Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 11:37:10 +1100 (EST) Reply-To: wkt(a)cs.adfa.oz.au X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4ME+ PL43 (25)] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Precedence: bulk All, I've put yet a new version of the Apout PDP-11 a.out simulator in ftp://minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au/pub/PDP-11/Sims/Apout and now I'm going to stop working on it for a while. This means you won't get these annoying emails any more :-) Current version is apout2.2alpha6. The latest changes are: + Runs 2.11BSD binaries, including overlay binaries + Runs shell scripts + Can exec native binaries as well as PDP-11 a.out binaries + Has floating point operations + Still emulates V5/V6/V7 UNIX binaries + On a Pentium Pro 350MHz, compiles the 2.11BSD GENERIC kernel in 4 minutes 16 seconds. + Now uses u_int* throughout + Finally, a man page exists Enjoy! Warren Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id NAA12041 for pups-liszt; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 13:56:09 +1100 (EST) Received: from Zeke.Update.UU.SE (IDENT:2026@Zeke.Update.UU.SE [130.238.11.14]) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id NAA12035 for &lt;pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt;; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 13:55:56 +1100 (EST) Received: from localhost (bqt@localhost) by Zeke.Update.UU.SE (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id DAA12954; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 03:54:33 +0100 Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 03:54:31 +0100 (MET) From: Johnny Billquist &lt;bqt(a)Update.UU.SE&gt; To: "User Rdkeys Robert D. Keys" &lt;rdkeys(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu&gt; cc: pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au, bsdbob(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: OK I got this here VAXen thingie.... what is it? In-Reply-To: &lt;199901052147.QAA28061(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu&gt; Message-ID: &lt;Pine.VUL.3.93.990106033734.12114A-100000(a)Zeke.Update.UU.SE&gt; MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Precedence: bulk On Tue, 5 Jan 1999, User Rdkeys Robert D. Keys wrote: I'd say so. Fit as in physically fit. The RA7x series will fit. However, only the RA70 as far as I know have a switch pack for setting unit numbers. Any other type of drive will default to unit zero unless you have a proper front panel. All RA-drives will work however. Me I have one RA72 in the box, two RA90 and one RA92 lying on the floor. :-) Also remember that VAX binaries are *smaller* than what you might be used to see. This is a CISC. If you have blank covers, put them there. It improves the air flow in the box. But you should be able to run it as is. Nope. Just keep al the cards next to each other. > > > > > > Turn on the power. > > I was thinking about boot sequences for roms or whatever, or anything > strange in the callup from a dumb terminal. Someone mentioned setting > a break switch and a baud rate dial on the CPU? Ok. To boot the machine, try "B <device>", where disks are DUAx, tape is MUA0 and ethernet XNA0 (I think...) If you open up the front you'll notice that the CPU fron panel cover has, in addition to the connector for the console, a small display, a three position dial switch and a two-position switch. If you look at the back of the panel, you have thumbweel. The thumbweel sets the baudrate for the console. There should be a sticker beside it with the key. The three-position switch selects power-up action. Language menu, boot or eternal selftest. The two-position switch selects whether booting to console prompt, or booting all the way with OS. There are a number of commands you can give at the ">>>" prompt. Useful is (among others) "SHOW ETHERNET" which tells your ethernet address. Try booting them. Ultrix is definitely not something you want to run. It's okay to have around, but it's not that much fun. It's more or less a mix between 4.2 and 4.3. VMS is nice. :-) The cable should be usable. If you have a VT220 or newer, the cable can be used without any adapter at all. > > > > > > Protocols? That's software! > > As for electrically connecting it, that depends on what card you put in > > the machine! Paralell or serial, you choose! > > Well, I prefer serial, no-handshake printer lines on my old junkque. Ah. Intelligent opinion. Since the CXY08 is a serial interface, that's your answer. (If the CXY08 has a driver for the OS of your choise.) DEC has very seldom done strange things. It's rather the other way around... Most likely your friend might have heard of DECs refusal to use modem signals for handshake, since neither a computer, nor a printer is a modem. (And by the book they are right, it's just that most other people like to violate this fact. :-) DEC always uses XON/XOFF. > > > > > > I assume you have 10Base2, so get an AUI-cable to extend the connection > > from the DELQA to outside the box, get a 10Base2-transciever, and you're > > set. For other types of carriers, get the proper transciever! :-) > > I must rub the right rabbit's food today. Another friend gave me a DEC dongle > box and cable that is an AUI to BNC transceiver (DECSTA?). That is a good > find, or the right find, perhaps? Probably. I don't know offhand what the DEC transciever is called, but I doubt there are any others with the right kind of looking connectors. > > > > > > Yes. Boot NetBSD on it. Get 1.3.2, which works pretty fine on the machine. > > You can netboot it to get started. > > My problem is getting it up to a network. My home net is mostly down > or only running between whichever two boxes I can get up at the same time. > Most are AIX/4.3BSD IBM RT-PC boxes or FreeBSD/AIX x86 boxes. Proper > netbooting on them is a bit wierd. Well, it isn't *them* you are about to netboot, but the VAX. :-) Maybe. Well, if you have VMS or Ultrix, you can write out tapes... Getting the dust out is always a Good Thing (tm). If you are a hardware junkie, you'll start by disassembling the power supply into small bits and check it out througly before reassembling it and allowing it to feed the system. Me, I'd just power the thing on. :-) Nah. A 3500 is a small thing. Try an 8650 instead. :-) Johnny Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt(a)update.uu.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id RAA12768 for pups-liszt; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 17:37:38 +1100 (EST) Received: from flamingo.McKusick.COM (flamingo.mckusick.com [209.31.233.178]) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id RAA12763 for &lt;pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au&gt;; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 17:37:15 +1100 (EST) Received: from flamingo.McKusick.COM (mckusick@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by flamingo.McKusick.COM (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id VAA26800; Tue, 5 Jan 1999 21:47:34 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: &lt;199901060547.VAA26800(a)flamingo.McKusick.COM&gt; To: wkt(a)cs.adfa.oz.au Subject: Re: V8's roots? cc: pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au (Unix Heritage Society) In-reply-to: Your message of "Wed, 06 Jan 1999 09:33:57 +1100." &lt;199901052233.JAA12801(a)henry.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt; Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 21:46:58 -0800 From: Kirk McKusick &lt;mckusick(a)mckusick.com&gt; Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Precedence: bulk From: Warren Toomey &lt;wkt(a)henry.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt; Subject: V8's roots? To: pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.oz.au (Unix Heritage Society) Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:33:57 +1100 (EST) Reply-To: wkt(a)cs.adfa.oz.au Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Just got this email from a friend... ----- Forwarded message from David Blackman ----- Just had a quick look at [Warren's Unix family tree diagram] You list Research V8 as successor to V7, which is true i guess, but i've seen several sources say most of the kernel was derived from a BSD version, probably 4.1. ----- End of forwarded message from David Blackman ----- Can anybody confirm or deny this? I suppose I should ask Dennis. Ta, Warren There was a big infusion of 4.1BSD into the research group system between V7 and V8. Dennis could give you more details. ~Kirk Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id FAA14605 for pups-liszt; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 05:14:10 +1100 (EST) Received: from mpl.ucsd.edu (chiton.ucsd.edu [192.135.238.128]) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id FAA14600 for &lt;pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au&gt;; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 05:14:01 +1100 (EST) Received: (from cdl@localhost) by mpl.ucsd.edu (8.8.8+Sun/8.8.8) id KAA24704; Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:07:15 -0800 (PST) Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:07:15 -0800 (PST) From: Carl Lowenstein &lt;cdl(a)mpl.ucsd.edu&gt; Message-Id: &lt;199901061807.KAA24704(a)mpl.ucsd.edu&gt; To: bqt(a)Update.UU.SE, rdkeys(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: OK I got this here VAXen thingie.... what is it? Cc: bsdbob(a)seedlab1.cropsci.ncsu.edu, pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Sender: owner-pups(a)minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au Precedence: bulk For short runs of AUI cable (a couple of feet) you can cheat by using crimp-on IDC connectors and flat ribbon cable. Frequently that is more available than real AUI cables. carl carl lowenstein marine physical lab u.c. san diego clowenstein(a)ucsd.edu Received: (from major@localhost) by minnie.cs.adfa.edu.au (8.9.1/8.9.1) id GAA14757 for pups-liszt; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 06:27:50 +1100 (EST)