Have you run any (paper tape) diagnostics ? I genuflect to paper tape as XXDP and TU58
diagnostics are broadly a continuum from the paper tape days. The seminal 11/40
diagnostics are broadly applicable to all machines (noting that some addressing modes were
implementation dependent ...) and that the architecture / diagnostics evolved with I/D
MMUs U/S/K etc. Additionally, the early diagnostics have the merit of being instruction
(group) / memory (test) specific. The 11/34 diagnostics are agregated into a few files /
tapes e.g. CFKAAC0, CFKABD0 & CFKTHB0. Finally, an XXDP diagnostic pack is certain to
contain RL02 controller and drive diagnostics; snag is finding the pack is XFU - the
contents of available disk images is very variable.
The following links may be useful:
http://web.frainresearch.org:8080/projects/mypdp/tu58.php
https://github.com/AK6DN
https://www.pcjs.org/software/dec/pdp11/tapes/diag/
http://retrocmp.com/tools/pdp-11-diagnostic-database/200-pdp-11-diagnostics…
http://retrocmp.com/projects/unibone/285-unibone-pdp-11-and-unibus
The baseline concept is:
TU58 emulator / console --> DL11W --> 11/34 memory; integrating the TU58 emulator
and 11/34 may be a programming task
i.e. use the console emulator L and D commands to load the diagnostics
This could be evolved, if you have the hardware, boot roms, etc.
Good Luck and Best Regards
Martin
-----Original Message-----
From: Devin D via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org]
Sent: 27 November 2022 17:48
To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Cc: Devin D <lyokoboy0(a)gmail.com>
Subject: [cctalk] Guidance on repairing Dec PDP 11 System
Greetings,
Been a while since i have posted here. I have several PDP11 systems and peripherals. I
picked the original lot of a system 34 and related tech in Miami FL a couple years back,
and have since found several more pdp
11/34 machines, and a pdp 11/05, 11/85, and others.
It has been a goal to get the original PDP 11/34 system up and running, however my job
schedule kept getting in the way of my repair efforts, making it easy to loose track of
where i was at with the repair progress. Thankfully i no longer work in a datacenter in a
10 hour overnight shift, so it should be much easier to devote my time to this repair.
I am looking for advice to get the 11/34 system up and running. I have started to put
together a site to document my progress, to stay on track with the repair effort. The
system has 2 rl02 drives, and an attached 9 track tape drive. I had worked to repair a
power supply issue at first, there was a problem with the main transformer, as well as one
of the smaller voltage "bricks". Thankfully i have many systems and i was just
able to swap in the needed working parts.
So this is about as far as I got, I had a minimal config of the 11/34 machine running,
with not much more than the cpu, and a serial card to talk to attached terminal. Power
supply works, and i was able to toggle in programs from the front panel to output
characters to the attached terminal.
I believe the next logical step was to try and attach the rl02 controllers, and see if the
disk packs still have working installs of RSX installed. I am not sure how to proceed with
this though.
I have mainly been following the advice of Paul Anderson, who has been a godsend in regard
to advice and guidance with getting these old systems fixed up. I hope that if i keep a
log of the repair effort on my site, it will allow me to pick up where i leave off with
the repair much more easily.
So that is the present condition of the machine. Good power supply, can toggle in simple
programs to print to the attached terminal. Any advice on how to proceed is much
appreciated. I Need to get an itemized list of what hardware and cards i have on hand,
and post that here so its understood what i have.
Thanks,
Devin D.