test-drb February 2016

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

203 participants
239 discussions

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Al Kossow > Have you guys thought about a panel that would connect to the KM11 > connector slots of real rk11/tc11 controllers? Umm, Guy sells KM11 clones? (I just bought a pair, they look really nice.) Or did you mean something else? Speaking of things Guy has, Dave is talking about adding a switch that would turn a QSIC+indicator panel into a QAV-11... :-) Noel

8 years, 10 months

QSIC update

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

So here's a quick update on where Dave Bridgham and I are with the QSIC, since I think we have reached a significant milestone. We have the first of two wire-wrap prototype QBUS motherboards more or less (see below) done, and working to do slave cycles on the QBUS. (I.e. we implemented a simple register, and can write it, and read the contents back.) A test program to write all 2^16 possible values, and read them back and check them, ran several thousand complete passes with no errors. To get there, we (Dave, really - he bore the brunt of the work on this problem, and finally conquered it) had to tackle and fix some major noise issues: the way the prototype is done (a wirewrap QBUS mother-board with bus transceivers, level converters, etc, connected to an FPGA prototyping card with flat cables), we think we had cross-talk problems in the cables (since the connector pinout on the FPGA card, which we can't change, didn't alternate ground and signal lines). Anyway, it's working now; that means the hardware is 'mostly' working; most of the work from here on out will be FPGA, etc, programming. There _are_ a few additional QBUS lines used for bus master (DMA) and interrupts which we haven't used yet, and one of the first things done now is to get those two kind of bus cycles working; a) we have to get them done anyway, and b) that will verify that the QBUS interface hardware is full working. With that in hand, we can do the first controller (RK11), using memory in the FPGA to simulate a small disk. We'll then try and get to the larger RAM on the FPGA, to do full-size RAM disks. Next up after that is probably to hook up some SD cards (we already have produced the small PCB daughter-cards, which will mount on sockets on the wire-wrap mother-board, to hold the SD cards - we still need to add those sockets and wire them up, hence the comment that the wire-wrap mother-boards are "almost done"), at which point we'll have a fully-functional prototype. Dave has also produced prototype PCB's for the indicator panel, and one has been stuffed, and Dave's about to try and hook that up, and get it running; that will require yet a bit more work on the mother-board (install 3 sockets to hold the driver chips for the signal lines in the interface to the indicator panel). Blinkenlitz are a priority because, i) just because ;-), and ii) being able to display data from inside the FPGA will be a big debugging help. Anyway, we think getting slave cycles working was a major milestone (for a couple of software guys :-), And we think (_hope_ :-) that progress will now be pretty rapid, so hopefully more soon. Noel

8 years, 10 months

Real tape drive densities [was RE: Oregon Pascal tape found]

by RichA＠LivingComputerMuseum.org

From: Christian Corti Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 2:28 AM > On Tue, 9 Feb 2016, Pete Lancashire wrote: >> There are a few odd balls in 9-track as well, but the 556 was a typo. > Really? > I actually *do* have a 9 track tape drive (HP 7970) that has 200/556/800 > bpi densities: > http://computermuseum.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pics/hp1000/hp7970_2.jpg > And it is a *9* track tape, I know for sure. Actually, what you have is a *dual-density* tape drive, an HP7970E. It will write 9-track tapes at 800bpi, or 7-track tapes at 200, 556, or 800. See the manual for the 7970 drive family at http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/hp/tape/7970/07970-90885_7… Rich Rich Alderson Vintage Computing Sr. Systems Engineer Living Computer Museum 2245 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98134 mailto:RichA at LivingComputerMuseum.org http://www.LivingComputerMuseum.org/

8 years, 10 months

Front Panels Update

by rodsmallwood52＠btinternet.com

Hi I had an email in from the screeners this morning. She is getting there. I suppose I should not expect automation speeds from a skilled hand process. Twenty boards not all the same with five passes per board, flush out time and drying time with the need for spot on registration aint gonna be that quick. More news as I get it Rod

8 years, 10 months

Babes at Bell Labs

by jgessling＠yahoo.com

In honor of Valentine's day and all the great ladies that I've worked with over the years, ?I for one had a small part in a romance by setting up a VMS account for the geologist in our department after listening to his complaints about how useless computers were for years. ?Come to find out he wanted to email with one of my best programmers. ?Love ensued with marriage in a little while. ?Please enjoy. Big computers, big hair: the women of Bell Labs in the 1960s ? in pictures | ? | | ? | | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | | Big computers, big hair: the women of Bell Labs in the 1...In 1967, Lawrence ?Larry? Luckham was an operations manager at Bell Labs in Oakland, California. He brought a camera into work to capture a day in the life? | | | | View on www.theguardian.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | ? | Jim

8 years, 10 months

IBM System z9 available near Ann Arbor, MI

by scaron＠umich.edu

Hi all, I was stopping by a local recycler to pick up a few Cisco switches I bought to add to my lab, and while I was there, I happened to spot a complete IBM System z9 machine out of the U-M Health System. http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Type-2096-S07-System-z9-Enterprise-Server-TESTE… The fellow that I was speaking with indicated that they might accept a little bit less than the tagged price. Perhaps this is a bit on the new side for the list but I figured these don't come around too often and this might be a good place to find it a home... I know there are lots of IBM enthusiasts here. Best, Sean

8 years, 10 months

pdp11/04 : the pics....

by jdr_use＠bluewin.ch

On ftp.dreesen.ch/PDP11 you can find some pics on how the rescued PDP11/04 fits right in next to its cousin, a PDP8/a This 8a, BTW, has more memory (128K x 12) and more oomph ( a FPP8A ) than the PDP11/04.... Jos

8 years, 10 months

Stuck bits on 11/73 Clearpoint 4MB memory - how to repair?

by jacob.ritorto＠gmail.com

Hi, Seems I have bits 4 and 3 sticking on my Clearpoint QRAM-2-SAB-1 88b 4MB memory in my pdp11/73. Can anyone offer hints as to how to identify which component is broken and how to go about repairing this? It's the only memory board in this machine, so I guess the problem might actually be a bus or processor board, right? I have no other q-bus memory to test with, so can't do swapping / process of elimination to be sure. Here's the manual: http://www.arclightindustries.com/docs/Clearpoint-88B.pdf (which I probably should add to manx or archive.org or something). Here's a snippet of the VMJA diags run illustrating bits 4 and 3 sticking. During the next VMJA run, all addresses were showing up as errored instead of just the ones ending in xxx000xx, so I guess it's getting worse! @173000g Starting system BOOTING UP XXDP-XM EXTENDED MONITOR XXDP-XM EXTENDED MONITOR - XXDP V2.5 REVISION: F0 BOOTED FROM DL0 124KW OF MEMORY NON-UNIBUS SYSTEM RESTART ADDRESS: 152000 TYPE "H" FOR HELP ! .R VMJA?? VMJAB0.BIC CVMJAB0 ECC/PARITY MEMORY DIAGNOSTIC 11/83 CACHE AVAILABLE SWR = 000000 NEW = 000040 CSR MAP CSR 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F MEMTYPE P CSR NUMBER 0 CONTROLS TOO MANY BANKS 2044K OF Q-BUS PARITY MEMORY 2044K WORDS OF MEMORY TOTAL MEMORY CONFIGURATION MAP 16K WORD BANKS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 012345670123456701234567012345670123456701234567012345670123 ERRORS MEMTYPE PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP CSR 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 PROTECT PP 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 456701234567012345670123456701234567012345670123456701234567 ERRORS MEMTYPE PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP CSR 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 PROTECT 1 7 01234567 ERRORS MEMTYPE PPPPPPPP CSR 00000000 PROTECT MEMORY DATA ERROR PC BANK VADD PADD GOOD BAD XOR CSR MTYP INT PAT 027606 10 060000 01000000 000010 000030 000020 0 P 27 027606 10 060002 01000002 000010 000030 000020 0 P 27 027606 10 060004 01000004 000010 000030 000020 0 P 27 027606 10 060006 01000006 000010 000030 000020 0 P 27 027606 10 060010 01000010 000010 000030 000020 0 P 27 027606 11 060000 01100000 000011 000031 000020 0 P 27 027606 11 060002 01100002 000011 000031 000020 0 P 27 027606 11 060004 01100004 000011 000031 000020 0 P 27 027606 11 060006 01100006 000011 000031 000020 0 P 27 027606 11 060010 01100010 000011 000031 000020 0 P 27 027606 12 060000 01200000 000012 000032 000020 0 P 27 027606 12 060002 01200002 000012 000032 000020 0 P 27 027606 12 060004 01200004 000012 000032 000020 0 P 27 027606 12 060006 01200006 000012 000032 000020 0 P 27 027606 12 060010 01200010 000012 000032 000020 0 P 27 027606 13 060000 01300000 000013 000033 000020 0 P 27 027606 13 060002 01300002 000013 000033 000020 0 P 27 027606 13 060004 01300004 000013 000033 000020 0 P 27 027606 13 060006 01300006 000013 000033 000020 0 P 27 027606 13 060010 01300010 000013 000033 000020 0 P 27 027606 14 060000 01400000 000014 000034 000020 0 P 27 027606 14 060002 01400002 000014 000034 000020 0 P 27 027606 14 060004 01400004 000014 000034 000020 0 P 27 027606 14 060006 01400006 000014 000034 000020 0 P 27 027606 14 060010 01400010 000014 000034 000020 0 P 27 027606 15 060000 01500000 000015 000035 000020 0 P 27 027606 15 060002 01500002 000015 000035 000020 0 P 27 027606 15 060004 01500004 000015 000035 000020 0 P 27 027606 15 060006 01500006 000015 000035 000020 0 P 27 027606 15 060010 01500010 000015 000035 000020 0 P 27 027606 16 060000 01600000 000016 000036 000020 0 P 27 027606 16 060002 01600002 000016 000036 000020 0 P 27 027606 16 060004 01600004 000016 000036 000020 0 P 27 027606 16 060006 01600006 000016 000036 000020 0 P 27 027606 16 060010 01600010 000016 000036 000020 0 P 27 027606 17 060000 01700000 000017 000037 000020 0 P 27 027606 17 060002 01700002 000017 000037 000020 0 P 27 027606 17 060004 01700004 000017 000037 000020 0 P 27 027606 17 060006 01700006 000017 000037 000020 0 P 27 027606 17 060010 01700010 000017 000037 000020 0 P 27 027606 20 060000 02000000 000020 000030 000010 0 P 27 027606 20 060002 02000002 000020 000030 000010 0 P 27 027606 20 060004 02000004 000020 000030 000010 0 P 27 027606 20 060006 02000006 000020 000030 000010 0 P 27 027606 20 060010 02000010 000020 000030 000010 0 P 27 027606 21 060000 02100000 000021 000031 000010 0 P 27 027606 21 060002 02100002 000021 000031 000010 0 P 27 027606 21 060004 02100004 000021 000031 000010 0 P 27 027606 21 060006 02100006 000021 000031 000010 0 P 27 027606 21 060010 02100010 000021 000031 000010 0 P 27 027606 22 060000 02200000 000022 000032 000010 0 P 27 027606 22 060002 02200002 000022 000032 000010 0 P 27 027606 22 060004 02200004 000022 000032 000010 0 P 27 027606 22 060006 02200006 000022 000032 000010 0 P 27 027606 22 060010 02200010 000022 000032 000010 0 P 27 027606 23 060000 02300000 000023 000033 000010 0 P 27 027606 23 060002 02300002 000023 000033 000010 0 P 27 027606 23 060004 02300004 000023 000033 000010 0 P 27 027606 23 060006 02300006 000023 000033 000010 0 P 27 027606 23 060010 02300010 000023 000033 000010 0 P 27 027606 24 060000 02400000 000024 000034 000010 0 P 27 027606 24 060002 02400002 000024 000034 000010 0 P 27 027606 24 060004 02400004 000024 000034 000010 0 P 27 027606 24 060006 02400006 000024 000034 000010 0 P 27 027606 24 060010 02400010 000024 000034 000010 0 P 27 027606 25 060000 02500000 000025 000035 000010 0 P 27 027606 25 060002 02500002 000025 000035 000010 0 P 27 027606 25 060004 02500004 000025 000035 000010 0 P 27 027606 25 060006 02500006 000025 000035 000010 0 P 27 027606 25 060010 02500010 000025 000035 000010 0 P 27 027606 26 060000 02600000 000026 000036 000010 0 P 27 027606 26 060002 02600002 000026 000036 000010 0 P 27 027606 26 060004 02600004 000026 000036 000010 0 P 27 027606 26 060006 02600006 000026 000036 000010 0 P 27 027606 26 060010 02600010 000026 000036 000010 0 P 27 027606 27 060000 02700000 000027 000037 000010 0 P 27 027606 27 060002 02700002 000027 000037 000010 0 P 27 027606 27 060004 02700004 000027 000037 000010 0 P 27 027606 27 060006 02700006 000027 000037 000010 0 P 27 027606 27 060010 02700010 000027 000037 000010 0 P 27 027606 30 060000 03000000 177747 177767 000020 0 P 27 027606 30 060002 03000002 177747 177767 000020 0 P 27 027606 30 060004 03000004 177747 177767 000020 0 P 27 027606 30 060006 03000006 177747 177767 000020 0 P 27 027606 30 060010 03000010 177747 177767 000020 0 P 27 027606 31 060000 03100000 177746 177766 000020 0 P 27 027606 31 060002 03100002 177746 177766 000020 0 P 27 027606 31 060004 03100004 177746 177766 000020 0 P 27 027606 31 060006 03100006 177746 177766 000020 0 P 27 027606 31 060010 03100010 177746 177766 000020 0 P 27 027606 32 06000

8 years, 10 months

IBM 3290 terminal

by kevin.bowling＠kev009.com

I'm looking for an IBM 3290 to complement my z800 mainframe and third party 3174-22L establishment controller. I can't imagine these were particularly rare, but am sure many of them have been destroyed in the waning years since it takes special equipment/know how/desire to even use. Any leads on on for a reasonable price? Regards, Kevin

8 years, 10 months

VAXen and minimal memory (was Re: The PDP11/04 has landed..)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 9:48 PM, Jon Elson <elson at pico-systems.com> wrote: > On 02/08/2016 03:23 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >> >> I don't know if you could use the 256K boards (populated with 4116s) in >> the 11/730 due to the tri-voltage 4116s, but even if they worked, you >> wouldn't want to - 5 of them just isn't that much RAM. > > We ran our first 11/780 with 2 memory boards. I THINK we had a total of 256 > KB, and one Friday afternoon one of them died and we had to run over the > weekend with only one board, so that would have been 128 KB. Yes, it was a > bit tight on memory, but we got a LOT done on that machine. As I mentioned our first 11/750 was delivered with 512KB (we upgraded it pretty quickly to 8 boards for 2MB, where it ran for years). The 11/750 first shipped with IIRC VMS 2.0. My first encounters with VMS was around mid-1984 and VMS 3.4. We had 8MB of memory in our second 11/750 but it was supporting 50+ users. That 11/750 went off-lease, we sent it back. That's why I had to upgrade the other one, so we'd still have an 8MB VAX in-house. It ran VMS 4.7 at the end of its days 23 years ago (we had quite a bit of software that wasn't available for/wasn't licensed for/wasn't under paid-maintenance for 5.x). I haven't powered it up since we left that building (I do occasionally power up the 8300 that we got for product development). So I'm fairly confident that 512MB is enough for VMS 2.0 but I _think_ by 3.0, you had to have a megabyte or two. 1.25MB would be the most you could stuff in a 11/730 if you could use the boards populated with 16Kbit DRAMs. I don't think VMS 2.x runs on an 11/730 (but I could be wrong there). We ran Ultrix 1.1 and VMS 5.0 on one of ours (with 5MB). VMS 5.0 barely fit - we mostly used that to link our product binaries under 5.x for distribution to our customers. I do know someone in Ohio who ran VMS 5.0 on a VAX-11/725, but they did it by cutting a slot in the skin and running a BC11 cable out to a BA11 box next to the 11/725 and stuffing a UDA50 in the BA11. With an external disk, there's no practical difference between an 11/725 and an 11/730... same CPU, same backplane, same memory... just a packaging difference. -ethan

8 years, 10 months

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test-drb February 2016