test-drb May 2008

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

199 participants
350 discussions

Help with PDP-11 Unibus Map Hardware / Software under RT-11

by jhfinedp3k＠compsys.to

Hopefully, this request is clear enough to be understood. Both the software and the hardware portion of the questions are independently important, so please answer one aspect even if you can't help with the other. Over the past 30 years of using PDP-11 software (RT-11 over 95%) and hardware, I have never had occasion to use a Unibus system with more than 256 KB of memory (such as a PDP-11/34). I would appreciate help in understanding the Unibus Map hardware which (if I understand its purpose correctly) is to convert 18 bit addresses given to a Unibus controller into 22 bit addresses for real physical memory for systems like a PDP-11/84 and perform DMA from / to the hard drive. Also helpful would be an explanation of the related software used under RT-11 along with exactly where the Unibus Map hardware is located on a real DEC system (on the CPU board I presume) since the identical CPU board is used for both the Qbus and the Unibus with both the PDP-11/84 and the PDP-11/94. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING if you don't use RT-11!!!!!!! By way of context, I have successfully modified the HD0: device driver originally written by John Wilson which obviously executes ONLY under E11. Last week, John mentioned in a private e-mail that it is possible to direct the HD0: "controller" (all references to hardware in quotes refers to E11 software) to ignore the "Unibus Map hardware". Since I execute under E11 using Qbus emulation in order to stay totally compatible with the real DEC PDP-11/23, PDP-11/73 and PDP-11/83 systems (all Qbus and all with 4 MB of physical memory) which I have available for comparison testing, user buffers in physical memory above 256 KB are often a situation which can't be avoided. Consequently, it had always been a high priority to have a 22 bit device driver for HD0: under E11 BECAUSE HD0: is TWICE as fast as MSCP (DUX.SYS device driver). In addition, I have also been able to write code that avoids the overhead of using the HD0: device driver which makes HD0: FOUR times as fast as MSCP and also allows for direct access of 2 TB of disk space via a 32 bit block number. Since I have an immediate application for a data base of 32 GB (I have a disk drive of 160 GB, so 32 GB is only 20% of its capacity - although under RT-11 15 years ago in 1992, 32 GB would have been only a dream), the code which I have written will actually be used quite soon. However, I would very much like the HD0: device driver to be able to execute under both "Qbus" and "Unibus" hardware. And while I can test the code for a "Qbus" and for a "Unibus" without a "Unibus Map", I am not clear about what is required for a "Unibus" with a "Unibus Map" such as a PDP-11/84 running under RT-11. Megan are you still watching the list? Allison, if you can't answer, can anyone but Megan help? Is anyone else familiar enough with the "Unibus Map" that you can suggest what RT-11 actually needs to do with the "Unibus Map"? A solution is to check the "hardware" configuration and refuse to allow the HD0: device driver to LOAD or .Fetch if the modified version is not executing under "Qbus hardware". By the way, if anyone who is thinking of a controller for the Qbus which is able to use SATA drives, I would be happy to modify an RT-11 device driver to an HD0: type device that is able to handle drives up to 2 TB in the same manner that DU(X).SYS can handle drives up to 8 GB. Anyone interested?? Sincerely yours, Jerome Fine -- If you attempted to send a reply and the original e-mail address has been discontinued due a high volume of junk e-mail, then the semi-permanent e-mail address can be obtained by replacing the four characters preceding the 'at' with the four digits of the current year.

16 years, 2 months

Making an RT-11 boot disk

by dbetz＠xlisper.com

I'm trying to use simh to create an RT-11 bootable RX50 disk and am following some instructions posted by Megan Gentry a while ago. I've created the disk image but am having trouble making it bootable. The copy/boot command claims it can't find the RT-11 image but it is clearly on the floppy (du0). Any idea what's going wrong? .dir du0: 10-Apr-99 RT11XM.SYS 106P 20-Dec-85 DU .SYS 8P 20-Dec-85 TT .SYS 2P 20-Dec-85 PIP .SAV 30P 20-Dec-85 DUP .SAV 47P 20-Dec-85 DIR .SAV 19P 20-Dec-85 RESORC.SAV 25P 20-Dec-85 EDIT .SAV 19P 20-Dec-85 MACRO .SAV 61P 20-Dec-85 CREF .SAV 6P 20-Dec-85 LINK .SAV 49P 20-Dec-85 LIBR .SAV 24P 20-Dec-85 FILEX .SAV 22P 20-Dec-85 HELP .SAV 132P 20-Dec-85 BATCH .SAV 26P 20-Dec-85 FORMAT.SAV 24P 20-Dec-85 SETUP .SAV 41P 20-Dec-85 SPEED .SAV 4P 20-Dec-85 DATIME.SAV 4P 20-Dec-85 LET .SAV 5P 20-Dec-85 SPLIT .SAV 3P 20-Dec-85 CONFIG.SAV 7P 20-Dec-85 SWAP .SYS 27P 20-Dec-85 23 Files, 691 Blocks 95 Free blocks .copy/boot du0:rt11xm.sys du0: ?DUP-F-File not found DU0:RT11XM.SYS

16 years, 2 months

TU-58s (was Re: Some progress with my PDP-11/73 system)

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: TU-58s (was Re: Some progress with my PDP-11/73 system) > From: "Ethan Dicks" <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:54:24 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On 4/11/07, Jerome H. Fine <jhfinedp3k at compsys.to> wrote: >> But I once had a project that >> used a real DEC TU-58. Not the fastest "random" >> access device!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > >They work better as "sequential" access devices - being long and thin >and travelling in one dimension, go figure. We used to optimize file >order on our console TU58s to speed up the boot times on our 11/725s >and 11/730s. Since the file order doesn't change, one just builds a >TU58 with EXCHANGE with each file following the other. The console's >8-bit-micro must cache the directory block, since the tape didn't whip >back to the start between each file. > >Using unaltered console tapes from DEC resulted in, IIRC, about 15 >minutes from turning the key to booting the hard disk. Replacing that >tape with one of our own devising shortened that pre-boot time to well >under 3 minutes. > >I'd hate to rely on a TU-58 and no other block-addressable media on a >PDP-11, though. I survived a PDP-8 with a TD8E and TU56, but it was >somewhat tedious (cool to watch, though). TU-58s weren't as cool, >IMHO. So happens one of my "small" pdp-11s uses a Tu58. the system is a BA-11V with an 11/23 256k of ram, DLV11J and MRV11 rom(boot). Takes 10 minutes to boot, setup VM: then copy key files to and reboot. After that it's pretty decent even if I have to access a file on tape. Everytime I runs it with a bunch of kids of the current PC generations they go gaga and comment on how slow then I explain the amount of ram and storage then they are amazed it can be a functional machine with so little. They can't imagine a useful machine with 32kW of ram and 256kb of storage. On the flip side I've used that same Tu58 to bring up iron that had no removable storage. It's slow but very dependable. Allison

16 years, 2 months

lead-free solder (was: Setting up a VAXstation)

by halarewich＠gmail.com

heres a link to some lead solder http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1290635&cp=2568443.2… Chris On 10/2/07, Zane H. Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: > > At 11:37 PM +0100 10/1/07, Tony Duell wrote: > >For the first part, I'd offer to do it for you, but it would be illegal > >to do so. Owing to our totally daft laws, (a) I'd have to use lead-free > >solder, which I don't have, don't trust, and am not set up to use and > > How hard is it to work with lead-free solder, and is it becoming a > problem to get traditional solder in the US? I've been meaning to > pick up a few rolls. As I'm still using a roll purchased in the 80's > from Rat Shack for building a couple things for my VIC-20, I haven't > been going through it that fast. Though I seem to be using it more > often now than. > > >(b) > >it has been said that if an enthusiast (specifically a model engineer, > >but it would apply here too) does jobs for others, then his workshop > >becomes a workplace and is covered by all the daft health-and-safety > >rules that I have no desire to get involved with, and which quite > >honestly, would stop me from getting on with things. > > Does it count as a job if you don't take payment? > > Zane > > > -- > | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | > | healyzh at aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast | > | MONK::HEALYZH (DECnet) | Classic Computer Collector | > +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ > | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | > | PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. | > | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ | >

16 years, 3 months

Vintage Computer and Gaming Marketplace

by mbbrutman-cctalk＠brutman.com

Just a quick introduction - besides being the guy who can't make his IBM 6904-20 Lighted Programmable Function Keyboard work on a serial port and writing a TCP/IP stack from scratch that runs on a PCjr, I am also a moderator at The Vintage Computer Forums web forum ( http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/ ) . Some of you are regulars there too, but it is more PC and smaller computer oriented than most of you on this list are. We have many of the same problems with well known auction sites that many subscribers here have. We also have enough traffic in our 'for sale' section of the forum to finally warrant a more structured auction type service. So we are happy to announce "The Vintage Computer and Gaming Marketplace" at http://marketplace.vintage-computer.com/ . The idea is give vintage computer collectors an alternative to your favorite big site that is more targeted to our specific interests. It is simple to use, it supports auctions and normal fixed price sales, and there is none of this sniping bogusness that happens on eBay. Best of all, it's completely free to use - no listing fees. Thanks for reading, Mike PCjr nutcase and soon to be TRS-80 Model 4 nutcase

16 years, 4 months

Where to find memory ICs?

by trixter＠oldskool.org

Have a working Intel Above Board Plus 8 with 2MB RAM and would like to populate it to the full 8MB. It will take 120ns or faster 1mbit chips -- but where can one find that kind of thing nowadays? Are those still commercially available or am I going to have to scavenge them from somewhere else? Manual lists acceptable part numbers like: Fujitsu MB81C1000P-xx Hitachi HM511000P-xxS Mitsubishi M5M41000AP-xx Motorola M5M511000P-xx NEC UPD421000C-xx NMB AAA1M100-xx OKI M511000RS-xx Samsung KM41C1000P-xx TI TMS4C1024-xx Toshiba TC511000P-xx ...etc but google searches haven't been very fruitful (that is, the pages returned when I search for IC part numbers don't return vendors with plain pricing/availability info). I just want a few tubes of these to populate the board, I'm not looking for a box of 'em :-) Any pointers? -- Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/ Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/ Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/ A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/

16 years, 4 months

Major House Cleaning

by john＠guntersville.net

Time has come to clear out a major portion of the stash. At my age I will never get around to all of the projects. The following is a partial listing of what is available. I will add to the list as stuff emerges from the pile. Make offers, cash or trade. Pickup only in Guntersville, AL, USA. mVAX II (BA-23) several mVAX II (BA-123) several Vector 3 with mindless terminal DynaByte 8/2 with 8/4 drive box 2 ea. WellFleet (Bay) Router 3 ea. Micom Marathon 1K TI Travelmate LT-220 Hyperian portable PC HP Apollo 710 Atari 1041ST w/monitor Teletype model 43 various DEC Qbus card cages for PDP-11 power supply, blower and etc for RM-03 The following needs to go to someone that can make them available to the group. A lot of VMS gray wall books A lot of VMS orange wall books A lot of component (IC, diode, transistor) manufacture's data books

16 years, 4 months

Bernoulli/Syquest carts available

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

I've more of these than anyone will need and they're all brand new. 3 packs of Bernoulli 5.25 44meg disks KAO 5.25 88meg syquest disks. The label inside says they are formatted for Macs but includes software for wintel machines also. $1 each plus whatever for shipping and they're yours. Just say how many you want. -- I am not willing to give up my privacy for the false promise of 'security'

16 years, 5 months

Vintage Computer Festival/Midwest 4 - Just one week away

by pat＠computer-refuge.org

Just a reminder that next weekend is my 4th annual Vintage Computer Festival/Midwest, held at Purdue University's Stewart Center. The event has speakers from 11am until 1pm each day, and the exhibits are open from 1pm until 5pm. The ticket price is $5 per day, or free if you're 17 or under, or have a valid Purdue student ID. The event is a celebration of the history of computing, and the machine and people that got us to where we are today. There will be lots of neat technology, and this year we have a door prize of an IBM PCjr from 1983! The PCjr was IBM's first attempt at an inexpensive home computer. I've got several exhibitors signed up, but still have room for more; if you want to show up to show off your collection, or have a few things to sell off at the consignment sale, sign up to be an exhibitor at http://vintage.org/2008/midwest/, or send me an email at this address. Exhibitors get one free t-shirt and free admission, which is included in the $10 per table fee. Pat -- Purdue University Research Computing --- http://www.rcac.purdue.edu/ The Computer Refuge --- http://computer-refuge.org

16 years, 5 months

PDP-8 "Introduction to Programming"

by dave.symmes＠hp.com

I tripped across this email link on a Google search. I was the author of the original PDP-8 * "Introduction to Programming", published in either late 1968 or early 1969. I hired onto Digital straight out of college as a tech writer joining a department of four writers for the whole company. Almost 40 years later I am still with HP. Dave Dave Symmes Solution Alliances Engineering (978) 777-6157 - Phone (978) 742-1078 - Fax

16 years, 6 months

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test-drb May 2008