Which Operating System for my DCC-116 E / Entrex 480 / Nixdorf 620 / Data General Nova 1200 clone ?
Dominique Carlier
dce at skynet.be
Mon Oct 1 03:21:23 CDT 2018
Hi !
In fact these terminals (named "Data/Scope Keystations")
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/palmgren/terminal_identification.jpg
are dedicated and apparently non-configurable, connected through exotic
connectors (for which I do not have, of course, the pinout), and using,
I think, a synchronous serial type link for data transmission. It is
possible to connect 12 terminals on my machine through two boards
(multiplexer type).
Here is what the connectors looks like
http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/palmgren/connector.jpg
These terminals have nothing autonomous, I mean that if I do not proceed
to a warm start, or a fresh installation with tape drive via the cold
start procedure, the terminals do not display anything at all.
There are two empty slots, one is named TTY (slot 3) and the other
COMMO (slot 9). Again I may be wrong but for an asynchronous
communication I think the TTY board is required. The board "COMMO" maybe
not because - I think - it was only used to communicate with other
systems including the IBM 3270.
Apparently, the board with witch it should be possible to connect a
console terminal (eventually a PC via a standard RS232 serial port) is
missing : DG serial port board (DG Model 4007/4010) or equivalent
But all new ideas are welcome ;-)
Dominique
On 1/10/2018 09:11, AJ Palmgren wrote:
> Dominique, I just had an idea. May I ask what
> type/style/pin-configuration of plug is on the back connector of your
> 1 working terminal?
>
> Not that the plug matters as much, but I'm thinking about an easy way
> to build a quick interface to reverse engineer the protocol (and
> pinouts/cabling) that these terminals use.
>
> Besides, that would be a FASCINATING thing for me to learn about this
> system, anyway.
>
> And I have some diagnostic hardware that I'd like to contribute to
> this portion, as well.
>
> On Sun, Sep 30, 2018 at 2:16 AM AJ Palmgren <microtechdart at gmail.com
> <mailto:microtechdart at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Well, Dominique, I would encourage you to not give up. You have
> the only functional version of this system that anyone has ever
> reported over the Internet in recent times (as far as I've found),
> and I would love to help in any way that I can.
>
> I also am quite busy, as are you, but this system has come to hold
> a important place in my desire to preserve vintage equipment.
>
> The complexity of the situation may be beyond my current skill set
> as well, however, I'd be very happy to contribute to the diagnosis
> in any way I can. I've come up with some pretty "unorthodox"
> methods, over the past few years, of reverse-engineering the way
> older vintage computer components talk to each other,and one of
> those tricks just might be the key to unlocking this mystery.
>
> Please keep us posted here. There are many here far more
> knowledgeable and experienced than I, with this vintage of
> equipment. It's so fascinating!
>
> Best always,
> AJ
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 4:50 AM Dominique Carlier <dce at skynet.be
> <mailto:dce at skynet.be>> wrote:
>
> Hello AJ
>
> Thank you for your interest in my project ;-)
>
> Unfortunately I was stopped by some technical problems.
>
> As I was studying ways to create bootable tapes for my DCC-166
> when it started to present troubles.
>
> It started with illegible characters (like a bad charset) on
> the only operational terminal I have. Despite this he
> continued to boot from the Diablo 44.
> Then I tried to reinstall from a bootable tape with DIDOS, the
> operating system of Nixdorf, and there it does not work anymore.
>
> Is it because the terminal is not properly working? Is it
> because there is a problem with the nine track tape? Is the
> disc of my Diablo 44 altered? Is it all problems are from a
> PSU problem? I do not know.
> I cleaned the tape drive, the disk platter, the heads, I clean
> all connectors (boards), checked what I could at the level of
> power supply. I still have not found the cause of the
> breakdown(s).
>
> I have not had the time yet but I am going to create a new
> topic on cctalk about this, unfortunately, I already feel that
> this troubleshooting will require knowledge beyond my skills.
>
> Well, we'll see ;-)
>
> Dominique
>
>
> On 25/09/2018 08:01, AJ Palmgren wrote:
>> Dominique,
>>
>> Might you have any updates on your Nixdorf 620 / Entrex 480
>> system? I am quite interested, and it's been a while since
>> I've seen any email with these keywords here, from you or anyone.
>>
>> Someday, it is my hope that I might take a tour of your
>> system in Belgium, on my next trip to the region, if you
>> would be open to this. I am quite fascinated by this rare
>> dinosaur of a system.
>>
>> I have begun to archive your work, and everything else I've
>> ever found about the Entrex 480 systems here:
>>
>> http://Entrex480.com
>>
>> Like your system restoration, it is a work in progress...
>>
>> Best always,
>> AJ
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 9:52 AM Dominique Carlier via cctalk
>> <cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>> wrote:
>>
>> I understand very well your concerns about sending by
>> mail rare data on
>> magnetic media. It's a pity that I live so far away (in
>> Belgium), even
>> if I have not finished to configure my machines, at the
>> end I should be
>> able to write anything on any media, and concerning
>> magnetic tapes it
>> will be from 500 to 6250 bpi.
>>
>> If one day you find in your stock a communication board
>> for Nova 1200
>> that you do not use please note that I am a potential buyer.
>>
>> In the meantime, I have to find solutions to reopen all
>> my old monsters
>> to the outside world ;-)
>>
>> Dominique
>>
>> On 16/01/2018 15:19, Jay West via cctalk wrote:
>> > The 'other Jay' wrote...
>> > ----------------------------------
>> > Diagnostics for DG systems are notoriously difficult to
>> find. I have a few, in listing format.
>> > ----------------------------------
>> > I have a full official DG-issued/labeled original
>> diagnostic OS tape. I do believe it is at 800bpi though.
>> If I had an 800 bpi drive (everything I have is
>> 1600-6250) I'd image it for everyone.
>> >
>> > I have a nice S/130 rack that I was almost finished
>> restoring till Bruce Ray stopped responding. It's been
>> sitting in my workshop for years now and I may have to
>> just get rid of it. Next to it is a pile of about 8 nova
>> 800/1200 cpus (all stuffed with boards) that I was going
>> to start on next, but was waiting till the S/130 was
>> done. I'd like to get done with them so I can move on to
>> other machines that need to be restored... but may have
>> to just move them out altogether.
>> >
>> > I'm wary of just sending the tape through the mail for
>> imaging.... maybe I can find someone local with an 800
>> bpi tape drive and eric smith's tapeutils.
>> >
>> > J
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Thanks,
>> AJ Palmgren
>> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
>> http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com
>> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Thanks,
> AJ Palmgren
> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
> http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com
> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Thanks,
> AJ Palmgren
> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
> http://SelmaTrainWreck.blogspot.com
> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>
>
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