test-drb August 2000

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

152 participants
352 discussions

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

Ok, so after a day of intermittantly going out to the pile and moving it indoors I've got the final VAX fairy tally: 2 - BA123 Chassis Chassis 1 has a VAXStation II badge a KA630, 8MB (+1) of RAM the DEQNA RQDX3, and TQK50. Peripherals were two RD53's and a "hole" where the TK50 would have been. There are also four "Avalon" boards which are quad width, have a Mot 88K processor on them, something like a 4MB daughter card, one edge connector (26 pin) and a couple of LEDs. No clue what these do. Chassis 2 has that I've been stored in the outside air about it. It had the tighted MV2 system I've seen, KA630, MS630-BA, and a dual width MS630-AA (4MB total) and an RQDX3 all in the first three slots. No ethernet, nothing else. One RD53 and one hole where the TK50 would go. (hope they didn't think they were DLT drives :-) 2 - BA23 chassis Chassis 1 was badged MicroVAX III and yielded a KA655 + two third party memory boards, both with socketed ram chips, one only half populated. Weird. This system also had an Emulex QD32 SMD controller for Q-bus, and an Emulex Pertec tape controller. Chassis 2 (separate rack) was badged MVII and had a KA630 + 8MB, a DEQNA, and an RQDX3. Then on the bottom it had an Emulex UC07 scsi controller, but the board literally had a spiders nest on it. I'm going to clean it up and see if it works. that would be a great deal if it did. The MicroVAX 3 appeared to be complete but the rack it was in had clearly fallen on its side at some point (perhaps during transport or in the parking lot) the damaage actually looked pretty old, but it had to be noisy because the BA23 was _bent_. Now I've done a lot of things to BA23's since I started playing with them and I can tell you it takes a hell of a whack to bend one. The top cards were fine but the bottom card (a DHV11) was bowed from the stresses placed on it. So much for that chassis! Also in this rack was a pair of Fujitsu SMD drives that were on a dual disk sled. Unfortunately there heads were not locked and they had been forcibly bounced out of the rack slides. I'm not expecting them to have survived :-) A couple of Unibus extender boxes (BA11-K) one with switching power supply (about 25 lbs) one with linear supply (about 85 lbs!) The latter however matches the decor on my 11/34a which has no backplane space left so to that rack it goes. One had an M9313 terminator in it. (guess I can replace my 9302 in the 11/34 now) A couple of Sigma Q-bus extenders (labels inside say "do not put a CPU in this rack", I wonder why.) The one in the damaged rack was unsalvagable. These both had the sigma qbus extender pairs. Then there was one rack with a beautiful Kennedy 9400 Pertec tape drive. I'm dying to see if this thing works, it actually looks like it was indoors for most of its life. Tony or anyone else, is there a way to power this up without connecting it up and seeing if it can load a tape? I've got an emulex controller for it but the cables were shredded and so they are of no use to me. I'm wondering if I can plug it in and power it up to see if it works. Then a few misc Unibus boards, docs for various things, the rattiest MicroVAX 2000 I have ever seen, all rusted at the connectors. (Looks like it could have literally been used as a boat anchor!) It was hiding yet another RD53 inside. I've also got a Emulex quad width board that looks like an SMD controller, part number is: QD3510206. I've got no use for it, I'm not crazy enough to try to run every type of disk technology and SMD is right out. Anyway, it was a remarkable thing to find literally on ones doorstep. Now to see how many of the systems can be salvaged, get parts to people who need them and who knows. I'm hoping to have a fully restored MVII in a BA123 available at VCF for sale. Sort of a complete system for the new collector who doesn't have furniture yet :-) --Chuck

23 years, 9 months

ID an emulex Unibus board anyone?

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Bruce Lane <kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com> wrote: > At 16:47 02-08-2000 -0700, Chuck wrote: > I've got three boards that are made by > >Emulex, go in the Unibus and are marked CS2110203/H2B. There are two 50 pin > >connectors on the top (channel 0-7, 8-15), an LED labelled "fault", and two > > <snip> > > Exactly right on your guess that they're comm controllers. The kicker is > that, in order to function properly, I believe they require the specific > Emulex distribution panel. We used CS21s at Software Results. I have a quantity of them with random numbers of busted ports. Depending on the PROMs installed in it, the emulate DH-11s or DZ-11s (TTA0, TTB0, etc., or TXA0, TXB0, etc.) It is possible that they have reused DEC's pinout for the DZ-11 patch panel, but I do not know this for sure. We never used their patch panels. One of our gurus divined the wiring scheme, made a telco-50 pin swabber and plugged them into Nevada Western RJ21 - octal RJ11 patch panels and boxes. We had patch panels grouped by CPU and room. We would connect individual lines with RJ11 patch cables. At the office end, there was a block of 8 RJ11 jacks that the user would connect to VT100s at the desktop through a Nevada Western dongle (like the ones that Rat-Shack currently sells). I wired up one of these at my house - I have an RJ21 cable going from the uVAXII and the 8300 in the basement to a 8-way block in the computer room on the second floor. It's nice to have the option of hooking to various machines without going downstairs to do it (we also had RJ11 switchboxes for "power users" ;-) Now... back to your dilemma... You will need a way to get the signals from the Berg-50s on the CS21 to some sort of breakout board or cable. If all I had was a board and a lot of time, I'd trace out one or two of the 2661 serial chips to the line drivers to establish where TxD and RxD (and ground!) were on the Berg-50, then take a SCSI ribbon cable out to a prototype board and wire up another 50-pin connector to a bunch of 2x5 .1" pin blocks set up with the same configuration as modern PC serial ports (the cables are easy to get and cheap). With that made, plug in DB9 or DB25 PC cables and off you go. I will attempt to find a CS21 manual, but I can't do it until the end of August. -ethan ===== Even though my old e-mail address is no longer going to vanish, please note my new public address: erd(a)iname.com The original webpage address is still going away. The permanent home is: http://penguincentral.com/ See http://ohio.voyager.net/ for details. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/

23 years, 9 months

FW: FREE Working Vax 4000-200

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Found on Usenet: Anyone up for a rescue in the Pasadena area? Why don't these things ever happen in WA? :-( -=-=- <snip> -=-=- In article <9ekhos0urqlvn47uhn6obaqvq8j9bui2bi(a)4ax.com>, you say... > Path: news.uswest.net!news-out.uswest.net!newsfeed.direct.ca!look.ca!nntp2.giganews.com!nntp3.giganews.com!news4.giganews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail > From: Charles Shartsis <cascas(a)earthlink.net> > Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro,comp.sys.dec > Subject: FREE Working Vax 4000-200 > Organization: Logicon > Message-ID: <9ekhos0urqlvn47uhn6obaqvq8j9bui2bi(a)4ax.com> > X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.7/32.532 > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Lines: 11 > NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 21:57:32 CDT > X-Trace: sv2-SgZHCPRPJjcUxRO9XKJE7j/u/LGP3MdtuQCXJujyl4aejFfxXf+YmgV0yGoBQ8d30UV0Umn6lFZjAqf!kF+vR4j5iWNq > X-Complaints-To: abuse(a)GigaNews.Com > X-Abuse-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers > X-Abuse-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly > Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 20:05:09 -0700 > Xref: news-out.uswest.net comp.sys.dec.micro:1210 comp.sys.dec:11527 > > Free Vax 4000-200 with 3 disks, 32MB memory, cabinet-type enclosure. > It boots, it runs VMS. What more do you want? Also tape drive (don't > know if this works) and other stuff. This was abandoned by a bank. > We took it. Now we don't want it. The catch: it weighs around 200 > pounds. You pick it up and its yours. Please don't ask me to pack it > and ship it. I want to do as little work as possible here. We are in > Pasadena, CA. Respond by E-Mail or call me: > > Charles Shartsis > H 310-379-8630 > W 626-351-0089 x13 > > -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner/Head Honcho, Blue Feather Technologies (http://www.bluefeathertech.com) kyrrin [a-t] bluefeathertech {d=o=t} com "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma)

23 years, 9 months

PDP-11/34 & RK05 Questions

by djg＠drs-esg.com

One more thing I thought of (and since I get the digest probably has been said) When I first spin up the pack I run a program which quickly seeks seeks through each track and then repeats. This hopefully does a couple of things, if a defect/dust is still on the platter it won't sit on that one spot long, and it lets you quickly know how the pack it while you are standing next to the drive to hit the load switch if it starts sounding too bad. Even with the best cleaning effort I sometimes have some faint pings >from certain areas of the disk but after a couple of passes they frequently go away. I assume the head manages to knock the contaminate away. If it doesn't clear I either give up on the pack or take it apart again using where the head positioner was to figure out where to look more. I was working with a bunch of packs which were not stored in bags so they were pretty dirty to start with. I can't tell you how to figure out how to tell when a ping is too loud, but I would be conservative, especially if you got plenty of packs. Start with one that doesn't have anything valuable on it, I got better with practice. After unmounting a pack that made noise I always inspect the heads and then clean them anyway. I found oxide on them once with a pack that sounded enough different I didn't let it finish its pass. David Gesswein http://www.pdp8.net/ -- Old computers with blinkenlights

23 years, 9 months

HP 35401 protocol extensions ?

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Jarkko Teppo <jate(a)uwasa.fi> wrote: > Does anyone know of the autochanger extensions for HP 35401 eight tape > jukebox ? It's based on an HP 9144 cartridge drive and is compatible > with it in normal operation, but I can't find the autochanger extensions > *anywhere*! Hmm, I wonder if that's what the CS/80 "Set Volume" command is for. The command is 0x40, with the volume number (0-7) or'd into the three least significant bits. > If nothing helps I'll just chuck it back to my screaming dual-processor, > WIN/TCP enabled HP 9000/550:) You know with a hook like that I can't resist, right? I'm (or was, anyway, TWG is pretty much gone now) the last maintainer of WIN/TCP for the HP9000 series 500. How does the changer work from HP-UX on the 550? Can it be told to pick a specific cartridge, or does it just step through cartridges as each is unloaded? We didn't have a changer; well, we did, but it was either me or the guy who did the backups. -Frank McConnell

23 years, 9 months

classiccmp list archive, digest changes, and a free offer

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

That list, plus some related classiccmp stuff, is still here: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~yakowenk/classiccmp/ Guess I should advertise more. I'm still maintaining the Classic Computer Rescue Squad list, albeit without the quick response time of the good old days. If you need a change, just drop me a line. If the change hasn't been plugged in within a week or so, you may want to write again and remind me about it. :-/ Cheers, Bill. On Tue, 1 Aug 2000, "Jay West" <west(a)tseinc.com> wrote: > Subject: Re: classiccmp list archive, digest changes, and a free offer > > John wrote... > - ----- Original Message ----- > From: John R. Keys Jr. <jrkeys(a)concentric.net> > To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> > Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 8:39 PM > Subject: Re: classiccmp list archive, digest changes, and a free offer > > > > How does one go about updating their address and for phone number on the > > rescue list ?? Thanks > > You mean the classic computer rescue squad? :) > > That's a different site. It's at http://www.cs.unc.edu/~yakowenk/classiccmp/ > > on that page it says to change your info email to > mailto:yakowxenk@csx.unxc.edu (remove all 3 x's)?subject=CCRS > > HTH > > Jay West

23 years, 9 months

ID an emulex Unibus board anyone?

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Chuck, Well I tried emailing you direct, and it bounced sooo... anyways, the CS21 is, according to the Spring 1988 Emulex Products Catalog, a multiplexer which comes in three flavors. Yours is the /H, which would make it a DH11 equivalent. It is indeed a 16 line, asynchronous mux, 19.2Kbps max speed, full duplex transmission, partial modem control, 50,000cps throughput, and receive fifo of 64-256Kw per 16 lines. Hope that helps some... Will J ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

23 years, 9 months

Pointer to commercial site for microfiche scanners

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

I found this on the Web www.mekel.com Makes microfiche and microfilm scanners OT: Most unusual use of a scanner, scanned x-ray film images of chicken legs, to determine bone density. Mike mmcfadden(a)cmh.edu

23 years, 9 months

Computers available in Portland, Oregon

by fauradon＠mn.mediaone.net

Sorry I ignored the first line of your post. Wow Lots of good stuff.... Unfortunately for those of us not in the area. Anyone in Portland willing to do some brokering (sp) Francois -----Original Message----- From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Wednesday, August 02, 2000 2:16 PM Subject: Computers available in Portland, Oregon >NOTE: If you can't pick up in the Portland, Oregon area don't bother >reading. I really do not have time to deal with shipping I'm afraid. > >OK, the time has come for me to part with a *LARGE* chunk of my collection. >I'm plaining on retaining basically all the DEC stuff and a few other >systems. However, that still leaves a LOT of systems that need to go. >There is a lot of Apple ][ systems of various models, as well as several >Apple ][ clones. A whole pile of Amiga stuff, and lots of other systems. > >A fairly complete list, that doesn't mention how many of each type I have >can be found at http://zane.brouhaha.com/healyzh/MuseumNoFrames.html The >list also doesn't mention all the manuals and other bits and pieces that >I've got for the systems. > >I'm interested in interesting trades, as I'm still looking for additional >DEC stuff (nothing to big though). I'd also be interested in cash. >Basically make an offer. I'm willing to part with just about anything in >the collection, with a few exceptions, IF the price (or trade) is right. > >Unless you can pick it up during the week in the morning, I won't be >available on weekends until the 26th most likely, though I might be able >squeeze something in on the 12th or 13th. > >There will be some DEC stuff available at a later date most likely, and I'd >currently not mind getting rid of my collection of DECmate III's, and the >Rainbow. Plus I've got a DECstation 5000/133 that I want to get rid of, >and I'd intertain offers on the PDT-11/150, PDP-11/03's, Pro380, and a >basically new TU81+. > >Basically I've been thinking about doing this for nearly a year, as my >interests have shifted from the various home systems to PDP-11's and >systems running OpenVMS. > > 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/ |

23 years, 9 months

Subject: Re: Scanning microfiche? (Long)

by bobcaar＠cyberdude.com

This seams like a great idea to me. If you disconected the internal light, you would have no problem doing this. You could even rig up an autoloader for it. T.H.x. Devon >>At 10:12 AM 8/1/00 -0700, Chuck McManis wrote: >>However, if you "think analog" you'll see that you can in fact scan >>these with a cheap scanner but you will need to optically expand them >>to get the gain. Using a standard darkroom enlarger with a 10x >>enlargement to a piece of onion paper on the bed of the scanner would >>work. > >Is that a day dream, or have you actually tried this >enlarger/onionskin >approach? I know using a scanner for 2D-ish 3D objects works great, >but scanning a projected image? When a transparency-adapted scanner >scans, doesn't it turn off the internal light and rely on the >transmissive light? Wouldn't you want to do the same with the >projected image? > >- - John

23 years, 9 months

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test-drb August 2000