> I found myself in the mood for revisiting the macabre side of
>classic computing and decided to search for Therac stuff. See:
>
>http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/~adamd/essays/rts3.html
>
> Now it seems to me that the fellow who wrote this article was
>pretty full of it. If you can get past his overuse of passive voice and
>continual nominalization, you may note that many of his points are far too
>theoretical and not supported by direct observation, knowledge, etc.
It's clear (to me, at least) that he's never directly worked with
any of the Therac machines, nor did he even bother talking to the
folks at AECL before writing his article. It's entirely a bunch of
opinions of his after he read Nancy Leveson's article on Therac.
> For
>example, he claims that this [perhaps] regenned rt11 monitor supports
>multi-threaded execution to the degree of its enabling things like race
>conditions, etc.
Heck, he also believes that PDP-11 assembly is *difficult*!
>just throwing it out there as discussion bait...
Again, don't take what he writes too seriously (after all, the author didn't -
look at all the "I believes" and "I feels" in there). I've worked with
several of the Therac machines, and any of the AECL engineers involved
knows a lot more about the methodology involved than the third-hand
opinions on someone's web site.
--
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/
7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927
I found this earlier today, and figure there are people around here that
might be interested in it. http://sun3arc.krupp.net/ If you've got a Sun3
system you're trying to get up and running this looks like the place for
you! It seems to have a very slow network connection, but looks to have a
lot of good info, including Y2K patches and software.
After finding this resource I won't run away so fast when I see a Sun3 :^)
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
Just got myself a pdp-8e and i was wondering if anyone out there had or knew
where to get software for it ??? It came with 8" drives and no dec tapes or
a papertape reader....... so i'm limited to floppy media. The system seems
to work fine and cannot wait to get it set up!
mark
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Try looking on the net under PDP-8
sites of note:
DBIT.com
update.uu.se
Hightegate.comoak.oakland.edu
There is plenty of software out there including at least three versions
of os/8 (both source and binaries). There are also copies of SRT/RTS-8
and images of many papertapes as well.
Allison
I came across a letter from someone who needs one of these to fix a valuable
piece of equipment.
Are there any still in existence?
Neil Morrison
email:morrison@t-iii.com
I recently received this mail and thought someone on the list might be able
to help this guy. The topic of his request predates most of my collection
(and knowledge, for that matter).
Thanks to anyone who can help him - please reply to him directly.
Bill
>From: Curt Repka <curtr(a)dbsgmachines.com>
>To: "'wvh(a)gethip.com'" <wvh(a)gethip.com>
>Subject: UNIVAC 1610 Print Element
>Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 14:48:16 -0500
>X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3)
>
>I have a couple of old UNIVAC keypunch work stations - Model 1610. They
>work fine, but they will not print the data on the card. Do you have any
>leads on a possible source for technical support, parts, etc.? I have
>tried the Tech Support Dept of UNISYS @ 1-800-328-0440, but they
>couldn't help. I need the print element and the ink roller. Any help
>would be appreciated!!!!
>
<Just the other day I happened to notice that 'show version' or some
<similar 'show' command in UCX indicated I had a 3100 with GPX graphics.
<Now I'm no longer sure what's what.
<
<Could somebody set me straight?
First off you have to identify the 3100 variation they started with the
3100m10 through the current 3100m90 or it is 95... in all about 15-25
different systems with different graphic capabilites. Some graphic
systems were unique to specific models.
So saying you have a 3100 is sorta like saying "I have a car"... ;)
We do need to know more.
Allison
>> For
>>example, he claims that this [perhaps] regenned rt11 monitor supports
>>multi-threaded execution to the degree of its enabling things like race
>>conditions, etc.
>Heck, he also believes that PDP-11 assembly is *difficult*!
A few folks asked me in private E-mail how *I* feel about the
issues involved. I've worked with AECL folks in the past, and I
continue to support some RT-11 based medical systems using some AECL
hardware and firmware in components. Leveson's article is, I think,
much more on target - it doesn't blame the failure and resultant
casualties on any technical decisions made wrong, but on much higher-level
decisions - the organizational components that failed.
It's like answering "What was the cause of the Challenger Disaster?"
Yes, the easy answer is to point at the technical decisions made which
caused the explosion. But the real causes - and what we have to pay
attention to in order to prevent disasters in the future - are the
organizational and institutional systems that prevented, on multiple
occasions, the problem from from receiving its due attention (and solution).
--
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/
7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927
Hullo.
Could somebody give me a quick rundown of the differences in capabilities
between GPX and SPX graphics on a VAXstation 3100, and how I might tell
which I've actually got?
According to the emblem on the front of the machine, I have an
SPX-equipped unit. As I understand it this is what passes for
'top-of-the-line' graphics on the 3100.
After the initial mix-up when I received the machine without any add-on
graphics card, I was sent what was supposed to be the proper SPX card for
the unit.
Just the other day I happened to notice that 'show version' or some
similar 'show' command in UCX indicated I had a 3100 with GPX graphics.
Now I'm no longer sure what's what.
Could somebody set me straight?
ok
r.
Anyone have any technical detail (schematics) for the Northstar Advantage
that you're wiilling to copy for me? i.e. everything or at least tube
driver circutry...
Thanks
- Mike: dogas(a)leading.net
