[cctalk] Re: MicroVAX 3100 ( was: Re: Re: VAX and OpenVMS)

On Dec 7, 2025, at 14:25, Wayne S <wayne.sudol@hotmail.com<mailto:wayne.sudol@hotmail.com>> wrote: Anything interesting software on the system? Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 7, 2025, at 14:20, Peter Ekstrom via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org<mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> wrote: > > Yeah, both ideas are good ideas. I am considering replacing the rz25, or > adding a ZuluSCSI, that way I could assign one of the devices for backups. > For now, I am just trying to preserve what's on the disk now. I want to do > a fresh install once the CDROM arrives. It is an interesting exercise to me. > Right now that RZ25 is running nicely without much noise so no rush I don't > think, but still. > > - Peter > >> On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM Hans-Ulrich Hölscher via cctalk < >> cctalk@classiccmp.org<mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> wrote: >> >> ... and the resulting backup will be much more reliable than the one >> written by an old tape drive (which model, by the way?) on a possibly old >> tape, if that ever succeeds. >> I made especially frustration experiences using the once famous TK50 >> drives, and even (a little) more recent DAT drives tend to fail very often >> nowadays. >> One disadvantage, however, is the necessary struggle with licensing, >> although that can be managed with a little help. >> Another option is a backup over network WITHOUT using an operating system >> running on the system to be saved. Unfortunately it has up to now been >> tested on MicroVAX I and MicroVAX II systems using a DEQNA or DELQA network >> adapter only. It uses a simh VAX to send a special machine language program >> to the backup target computer, on that the program in turn uses MSCP >> commands to send a bit-wise disk copy back to the simh VAX. It is new, it >> is unconventional, but it has been successfully tested on several MicroVAX >> I and MicroVAX II computers. I think it is time to get out one of my >> VAXstation 3100s (won't make any difference) and test it there. But you >> will need to be patient – other projects have priority for the time being. >> To be honest - I expect the program will need adaptation to the newer >> hardware, especially the network adapter - MSCP hasn't changed I think. >> >> Am So., 7. Dez. 2025 um 22:27 Uhr schrieb Antonio Carlini via cctalk < >> cctalk@classiccmp.org<mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>>: >> >>>> On 07/12/2025 20:27, Peter Ekstrom via cctalk wrote: >>>>> I managed to reset the system password so now I can login as well. It >>>> runs >>>>> pretty well. >>>>> I tried to make a tape backup of what's on the disk but it seems all my >>>>> tapes dirty-up >>>>> the head of the tape drive. Anyone know of a way to clean an actual >> tape? >>>> Pull all the >>>> tape out and wipe it with a dry cloth? >>> >>> One option would be to create a SIMH VMS host, configure it to be in a >>> cluster, configure your real HW uV3100 to be a satellite node (booting >>> off a root on the SIMH host system disk), boot the uV3100 into the >>> cluster, mount the uV3100 disk and back it up with BACKUP. >>> >>> That might be easier and quicker than cleaning a tape. >>> >>> >>> Antonio >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Antonio Carlini >>> antonio@acarlini.com<mailto:antonio@acarlini.com> >>> >>> >>