- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Geoffrey G. Rochat <geoff(a)pkworks.com> >If you want to lose one of those 11/2s, please get in touch! Is that for me or Jerome? If I have a spare I can arrage to give one away. I'd have to check as Qbus stuff I like to keep spares of. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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Compaq Deskpro 286

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Looking for information about a Compaq Deskpro 286. I have two of > them. Would like to know some specs, how to get into the BIOS, etc. When painted gray (any shade you choose), they make an excellent anchor for the bass boat, although the bass (and EPA) may disagree... ;-) -dq

25 years, 10 months

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The Zoran ZR34325 Vector/Signal Processing CPU

by rmeenaks＠olf.com

Hi, Does anyone have ANYTHING on this processor? Development tools, documentations, datasheets, etc? It is the coprocessor on the Inmos IMSB420 Vector Processing TRAM. Thanks, Ram

25 years, 10 months

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Another PDP-11 available: Wisconsin

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Jerome Fine <jhfine(a)idirect.com> >>Dave McGuire wrote: > >> There's nothing anyone here can say that would convince me that this >> message is anything but a very enthusiastic and rather caustic TROLL. > >Jerome Fine replies: > >Thank you for the compliment - was it? What does TROLL stand for. >If you are going to pay me a compliment, at least have the courtesy >of explaining it. Thank you. > >Sincerely yours, > >Jerome Fine Troll, funny little doll with a stupid grin and as a character in strories known for propensity to start or fan trouble into a really big fire. Not a compliment. Usually reserved for those that hit a group causing a flash fire and running. On the other hand the posting was rather strong. There is nothing wrong with an 11/2. True an 11/23 has more oomph and all but an 11/2 is configurable as a very nice small machine. Paying 100$ for one is questionable in my mind on because they were so common (over 100,000 cpu boards made). I have a few. Allison

25 years, 10 months

2
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Moving a Microvax II

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Haha, ah yes... gotta love Virgil Rice.. I bought something from him once and even though I picked it up from his house, he still wanted me to pay like 30 bucks shipping.. He has lots of cool stuff that I'd love to buy, but not at the kind of prices he wants for it.. It would be far less irritating were he not only about 40 minutes from me... He has an HP 21MX that I've drooled over but he wanted like 700 dollars for it... Hell, he wanted 200 bucks apiece just for empty HP racks... Sorry for the rant, but people who would rather throw stuff out because they can't get what they think its "worth" truly irritate me... I'm not asking people to give everything away, just to be reasonable about negotiating... Will J _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

4
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48v dc power

by dburrows＠netpath.net

Only a few UPS's use 12 volts. Many use 36 or 48 volts. Then you get into the 3KVA units that have 96 volt bank of batteries. The real nice 10+KVA boxes have 180 to 300V battery banks. Some day I will get a new battery bank for my 10 KVA box for the office. In the meantime I make do with a few 1 to 3 KVA boxes. Also some of the 12v UPS's will not start from just battery. They have to "fail over to battery" I do have a 1KVA Triplite that is 12V and does start >from just battery. So keep your eyes open for those. Dan -----Original Message----- From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 8:52 PM Subject: Re: 48v dc power >Why not buy a "dead" UPS that can over the wattage of your system and >install a 12V in plug on the back. Most of these use a 12V DC input and >provide acceptable power on the output. Its cheaper than simply buying a >12V -> 120V inverter @600Watts or so. > >--Chuck > > >"Shawn T. Rutledge" wrote: >> >> On Sat, Sep 16, 2000 at 05:25:23AM -0800, Mike Ford wrote: >> > I have some 48-57 vdc input, otherwise PC normal output power supplies for >> > about $5 each. Ask now if anybody wants some, basically I "think" new units >> >> What I could really use is a couple of 12V input supplies. I want to >> put a PC in the car and also run a couple of servers from a battery/ >> solar panel system. I know they are available new for $120ish if memory >> serves but they shouldn't have to cost so much. >> >> -- >> _______ Shawn T. Rutledge / KB7PWD ecloud(a)bigfoot.com >> (_ | |_) http://www.bigfoot.com/~ecloud kb7pwd(a)kb7pwd.ampr.org >> __) | | \________________________________________________________________ >> Free long distance at http://www.bigredwire.com/me/RefTrack?id=USA063420

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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Mac IIsi memory

by spectre＠stockholm.ptloma.edu

I found some memory specifically for my poor little Mac IIsi. Does memory need to go into the system in matched pairs or can it go singly? Sorry for the slight OT. -- ----------------------------- personal page: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ -- Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University * ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu -- To err is human -- to forgive is not company policy. -----------------------

25 years, 10 months

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$700 C64 on ebay, P500's

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

>Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 10:25:12 -0500 >From: "FBA" <fauradon(a)mn.mediaone.net> >Subject: Re: Moving a Microvax II >Speaking of ebay: here is a $700 commodore 64 with the reserve not met >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=454431985 >Francois Pfffffft! <wipes monitor> Clearly someone who hasn't done any research. As a CBM-related aside, having found one of the rare/ultra rare/not rare at all/discuss P500s a while back I get a phone call from an ex-collector who's found the stable-mate to mine in his loft, in identical condition, serial numbers only 32 apart, another one appears on eBay and sells for ukp300 then someone ELSE offers me ANOTHER P500 with a couple of chips missing, Highest serial number seen so far: 1296. I don't know whether to be pleased with mine or not! BTW, big site update at www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk (or www.fop.i12.com/museum-frame.htm if that doesn't work). Many new pictures, all pong carts catalogued and some info added on some of the more uncommon machines, eg Enterprise 64, P500, BBC Domesday etc. Come along and don't forget to stand on the antistatic mat on the way in. :) -- Adrian Graham MCSE/ASE/MCP C CAT Limited Gubbins: http://www.ccat.co.uk (work) <http://www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk> (home) <http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk> (80's computer collection) "Missing you already" - Mark Radcliffe

25 years, 10 months

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ZDNet article

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

ZDNet has actually published something interesting for a change. An article on "Why the world needs reverse engineers." Here's the link. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2636304,00.html I read it through, and thought it was pretty decent. There's space for talkbacks as well. Enjoy! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 10 months

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Intel iPSC/1

by ip500＠home.com

This sould just make the 10 year rule.... Ran across one over the weekend at a local University auction. Anyone have pointers to Doc's on these cool Hypercubes? Did a fair bit of surfing over the weekend and didn't turn up much. Lots of parallel processor info but all too new. Obvious questions---- what did it use for a console & storage? I know it ran their version of UNIX [ZENIX?] As I'm not wired for 220 yet it will probably sit but I would like to complete a static display at the very least. [couldn't talk my wife into using it for a lamp table in the living room...although it is pretty cool & "modern" looking] Any info appreciated. Thanks, Craig

25 years, 10 months

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Another PDP-11 available: Wisconsin

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On October 10, Jerome Fine wrote: > > There's nothing anyone here can say that would convince me that this > > message is anything but a very enthusiastic and rather caustic TROLL. > > Jerome Fine replies: > > Thank you for the compliment - was it? What does TROLL stand for. > If you are going to pay me a compliment, at least have the courtesy > of explaining it. Thank you. Oh, it was intended neither as a compliment or as a derogatory remark. A "troll" is an opinionated statement on a volatile subject intended to start a flame war. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 10 months

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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Don't forget the main thing that UNIX needs... Useful error messages! _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

7
8
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Geekdom vs the Fourth Estate

by jpl15＠panix.com

Here in India, because of my previous association with MGM Studios, I find myself cast (rather unwillingly on my part) as a bit of a celebrity, and so I have been interviewed by several different reporters from various media. During an interview with a fellow from The Hindu, the largest paper in India, we got into a discussion of my own personal recording studio and collection of vintage electronic instruments. I had been asked to provide photos, which I brought. In the pack pf pictures, two or three of my computer collection were intermingled, and the discussion turned for a few minutes to the preservation of technology in general, and why anyone would want a house full of PDP11s, etc. They took several of the photos to run with the article; I gave them a brief description of the studio and it's equipment, and... they ran the picture of am DEC stuff, over the caption for the music gear, after we all agreed *not* to. I'm *still* getting calls from tech-heads who can't figure out just what model Moog Synth takes up 11 linear feet of 6' racks with a Kennedy 9100 stuck in the middle of it. sigh. This, more or less, has happened each and every time I have given a press interview on a technical subject in the last 15 years. This one just happens to be classiccmp-related... Cheers John

25 years, 10 months

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Another PDP-11 available: Wisconsin

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

There's nothing anyone here can say that would convince me that this message is anything but a very enthusiastic and rather caustic TROLL. -Dave McGuire On October 9, Jerome Fine wrote: > Jerome Fine replies: > > First I must admit I am biased since I do not regard PDP-11 hardware > as being very important as opposed to the software. On the other > hand, I have attempted to keep available a reasonable REAL PDP-11 > system at considerable expense compared to that $ US 100 mentioned > above. > > BUT, unless there is some specific reason as to why some of the specific > hardware mentioned is extremely important, I would suggest that the > requested price is in excess of the value by a factor of 100. Old > LSI-11 or 11/02 systems are so inhibited as compared with even an > 11/23 CPU, let alone a 11/73 system, that I can't see why anyone > would want one - except maybe to fill out a full line of PDP-11 > systems. When an emulator on a PC can duplicate most, if not > all of the functions, only a die-hard hardware fan (addict - yes I am > a PDP-11 software addict) would want an 11/02 system. And at > $ US 100, that is so overpriced compared to an 11/73 in a BA123 > box no less about 2 years ago at $ US 10, I can't begin to see why > Tom thinks or feels that such a price is reasonable. If Tom really > wants to see it go to a good home, he should be offering to help > with the shipping as well. > > Anyone willing to suffer through the hardware problems of an old 11/02 > system needs to be encouraged. I actually have a couple of such old > systems which I haven't used in 10 years, but have kept just in case > someone might want then, but if and when they are ever available > (which could be within a year or two since I must start cleaning up > the basement), they will be for free. Anyone who has that in mind, > contact me and I will keep you on a list. Note that they are in Toronto > and local; pickup only. The last time I gave away an 11/34 backplane > and power supply, it took over a year to get someone to pick it up > and almost ended up in the dumptser. > > Sincerely yours, > > Jerome Fine

25 years, 10 months

3
2
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Moving a Microvax II

by ncherry＠home.net

I need to transport a Microvax II (BA-123) and need to know what I should do before it takes this trip. Any suggestions? PS: What is a vax console pc380? Just curious. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)home.net http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only) http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lightsey/52 (Graphics) http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

25 years, 10 months

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Toshiba T1000se

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

Picked this machine up today and it works fine even though i didnt get the ac adaptor. thankfully it uses a 7.2v battery so I used my rc car battery to run it. The only info i can find is that it's a 10mhz 8088 with a 1.44 floppy and 1 meg. it also has a ram drive or DOS in ROM <?>. does this thing have a hard drive or graphic LCD? what about memory expansion? DB Young ICQ: 29427634 hurry, hurry, step right up! see the computers you used as a kid! http://www.nothingtodo.org

25 years, 10 months

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Mac IIsi memory

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 10/10/00 7:36:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time, KenzieM(a)sympatico.ca writes: > > Does the the IIgs doesn't use 30 pin, does the MAC SE? > before I open the case) > that model of the apple // does not use SIMMs although I did find a gs with a memory expansion card that could take 4meg of 30pin simms... DB Young ICQ: 29427634 hurry, hurry, step right up! see the computers you used as a kid! http://www.nothingtodo.org

25 years, 10 months

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4004?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: John Allain <John.Allain(a)donnelley.infousa.com> > >Dwight> I think Kilby's was for the IC, not CPU. It was the basic idea of an IC. >Anybody know the line of products from TI, the ID's, >of the stuff coming from JK's first chip? The most infamous is the 709 opamp. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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Another PDP-11 available: Wisconsin

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

(another mail sent to me @ pdp11.org that I'm not personally able to save/salvage - perhaps someone else here can? --bill ) If interested in this system, please email Tom at the e-mail address given below. He'd like to see his PDP-11 system go to a good home. He's asking $100 plus shipping for the lot. - - - My first home computer was a LSI-11: A Netcom box (card cage) with Diablo emulations of RK05 drives. I ran RT-11 3, then version 4, and I may have actually genned a v5 system for it. Still have it in storage, need to get rid of it. I don't know if the processor is an LSI 11 or 11/02. It's QBUS. I think I have assorted serial and parallel cards installed. I made a 8" floppy subsystem based on a heathkit card, built into the most incredibly ugly plywood box. I have 3 working diablo drives and a 4th that has serious electrical problems, but the heads are good. The original bootstrap/terminator card used a charge pump/inverter chip to provide negative 12v for the boot prom, but it never came up fast enough and you always got dumped to the @ prompt at power-up. Type 173000g and off you go - but that wasn't good enough for me. I hid a little transformer, bridge, and capacitor behind the backplane, and maybe a 7912 regulator (can't remember) and thereafter, it takes off from power-up without help. It has a Digital Pathways TCU-50 clock card, but the batteries are probably long dead, and you have to hard-code the year into the fortran / macro program that reads the hardware clock and sets the RT-11 time/date, which meant a small edit and recompile every January. I have a compiler and assembler. I've got an armload of RK05 packs for it. This pup is a real dinosaur. Please help! Thomas M. Peters <Peters.Tom.M(a)MBCO.COM> (414) 931-3887 -- Bill Bradford * KD5LQR mrbill(a)mrbill.net Austin, TX

25 years, 10 months

3
2
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ID this Data General

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I picked up a small Data General computer this weekend. Can anyone id it? It's about 8" high x 8" deep x 2 foot long. It has a tape drive, one floppy drive, one dummy floppy drive and a (removed) 5 1/4" hard drive. One the back it says "Desktop Series". There are also labels that say "CPU W/FIS" and "CPU 256K" on the back. Four of the sections are labled "E 8712-N", "E 6336", "E 6301" and "e 6270-2" on the back. One of the odd things about it is that it's wired for 220 volt AC power and doesn't appear to be configurable for 110 VAC. (It only requires 5 and 3.15 Amps.) It has two power inputs on the back. I posted pictures at "www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/nova-dt/dg-back.jpg", "www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/nova-dt/dg-frnt.jpg", "www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/nova-dt/dg-c.jpg". Joe

25 years, 10 months

5
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Jumpers Needed: TQK70

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

CC to Port-VAX and classiccmp... If someone's got the jumper setting chart for the TQK70 tape drive controller (M7559 if I'm not mistaken), would you be so kind as to post it in ASCII form, FAX it to me, or perhaps scan it and turn it into a .PDF? Thanks much! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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GRiD 1530 for grabs

by spectre＠stockholm.ptloma.edu

I have a somewhat flaky GRiD 1530 with battery in unknown shape, AC adaptor, charger and docking station. It seems to have some trouble on power up but once it gets going it's fine. 8MB memory and 40MB HD running MS-DOS (I think 4.01?) with a 386 processor. Someone care to make an offer? Contact me off-list. Warning: it's insanely heavy so prioirty will go to someone who can pick it up. I'm in San Bernardino, CA. -- ----------------------------- personal page: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ -- Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University * ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu -- Dihydrogen monoxide -- it may be in your drink right now! www.dhmo.org -----

25 years, 10 months

1
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OT collecting old pinballs

by wrm＠ccii.co.za

10 years old? Foo, that's new :-) I have a 1975 Gottlieb Top Score I'm restoring. Looking to buy a new (1984) Gottlieb Haunted House. And I have half a share in a 1968 Bally Alligator. All of those are considered fairly new pinballs :-) Wouter www.retro.co.za <-- some pictures, not much...

25 years, 10 months

3
4
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Screeching 5 1/4 FDD

by lgwalker＠look.ca

I have a hard to replace dsdd floppy disk that produced a screeching noise while attempting to read it on a win98 box under Dos using a Dos program. I quickly removed it and tried to read it on another Dos box also with a HDFDD. No screech but only the directory was readable, not the contents. I checked the original FDD again using a scrap dsdd floppy and had no trouble with it. Anyone have any thoughts as to what would have caused this ? And whether the disk is salvageable ? I'm reluctant to run the disk again on any box till I explore the options, lest I damage it further. It was an old DRI PC-install master disk for GEM. ciao larry Reply to: lgwalker(a)look.ca

25 years, 10 months

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ID this Data General

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

It's a Desktop Generation, I can find out which model fairly easily. Basically, it's from the early to mid 80's, and it contains both a microEclipse processor and an i8086, it can run both AOS and CP/M-86 simultaneously. I may be able to get manuals and software for it too. Will J _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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An article on the ZX-81 kits still being sold in the US

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

Profiteering at its worst IMO. I got mine for $45 so to see the price double in less than a year is just plain greed. > -----Original Message----- > From: Vintage Computer Festival [mailto:vcf@siconic.com] > Sent: 07 October 2000 20:21 > To: Classic Computers Mailing List > Subject: An article on the ZX-81 kits still being sold in the US > > > > http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/13785.html > > These guys are a bunch of clowns. They used to be selling these for > $29.95 until the eBay phenomenon hit. Then they jacked up > the price to > $99.95. I guess they must be selling these at that price because they > haven't backed it down. > > Is an unassembled ZX-81 kit worth $99.95 to me? Hell no. > > Sellam International Man of > Intrigue and Danger > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ----------------- > Looking for a six in a pile of nines... > > VCF 4.0 is September 30-October 1 > San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California > See http://www.vintage.org for details! >

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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TS05 Tape Drive Information

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

*> * Can anyone point me at a web source of information for a *> * Dec TS05 tape drive. *> *> It's a rebadged Cipher F880. I don't know of any web sources of *...and a crippled Cipher F880 as well. :-( Does anyone here know why *DEC changed it to not work at 3200BPI? Not *all* F880's work at 3200 BPI; a good chunk of them have the "HI DENS" button on the front panel, but it doesn't do anything. (Well, in diagnostic mode it has some functionality, but otherwise it doesn't.) 3200 BPI was never particularly common anyway. And the TS05/F880, while cheap, was *never* a performance star. Many of the minicomputers they were hooked to were hard-pressed to keep them streaming at 1600BPI, much less 3200BPI. And once you drop out of streaming, there's a huge performance loss. Tim.

25 years, 10 months

2
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Archive of Weekend Edition VCF segment online

by vcf＠siconic.com

You can hear the segment about the VCF on the Weekend Edition show by going here: http://search.npr.org/cf/cmn/cmnpd01fm.cfm?PrgDate=10%2F8%2F2000&PrgID=10 Scroll down to "Vintage Computers". Requires Real Player, unless there's a way to get the lame Windows player to work with .RMM files. Now I have to go download another crappy application just to listen to this. Sellam International Man of Intrigue and Danger ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for a six in a pile of nines... VCF 4.0 is September 30-October 1 San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California See http://www.vintage.org for details!

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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TS05 Tape Drive Information

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

* Can anyone point me at a web source of information for a * Dec TS05 tape drive. It's a rebadged Cipher F880. I don't know of any web sources of information, but you might look in any minicomputer rag like _Processor_ to search the dozens of places that repair Cipher 1/2" tape drives and see if one of them is geographically near to you. Tim.

25 years, 10 months

3
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TS05 Tape Drive Information

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> * Can anyone point me at a web source of information for a > * Dec TS05 tape drive. > > It's a rebadged Cipher F880. I don't know of any web sources of > information, but you might look in any minicomputer rag like > _Processor_ to search the dozens of places that repair Cipher > 1/2" tape drives and see if one of them is geographically near to > you. You can find the document: Cipher F880 Magnetic Tape Transport Volume 1 Operation and Maintenance at this link: http://www.retrobytes.org/docs/cipher/F880/ hth, -doug q

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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TS05 Tape Drive Information

by kevin＠xpuppy.freeserve.co.uk

Can anyone point me at a web source of information for a Dec TS05 tape drive. A scanned copy of the manuals would be wonderful :) Kevin

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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FS/FT: DEC Server

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

More specifically, an 'ApplicationDEC 433MP.' This is a two-CPU 1990/91 vintage 486 system, EISA bus for expansion, and a somewhat weird proprietary bus for the two CPU boards made by Corollary (bought out by Intel some time ago). The system's in clean shape, both electrically and cosmetically, and is known to be runnable on at least NetBSD/i386 (if in single-CPU mode). Has twin SCSI buses inside. Includes 16MB RAM (maxed out), a CD-ROM drive, and a QIC cartridge tape drive that, if I recall, is a 525-MB capable. Accepts standard SCSI hard drives, but you'll need to either find the goofy little feet that DEC used for those keyholed trays, or invent something yourself. First person to hand me $20.00 cash gets it. I'd prefer not to ship: This one's big, bulky, and fairly hefty. Would also be willing to trade for MicroVAX III (KA650) or higher CPU and memory board(s). Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 (Extra class as of June-2K) "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates to me that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Gym Z. Quirk, aka Taki Kogoma).

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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PDP-11 Energizer bunny :-)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

Found while sorting through a box of old papers: http://www.trailing-edge.com/www/pdp11rabbit72.gif Can anyone identify which magazine/issue it was originally published in? Since it references the introduction of the Alpha, I'm guessing early-mid Lasnerian 1990's, and I seem to recall that the "upgrade" mentioned is the PDP-11/93. Tim.

25 years, 10 months

1
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Free in DC area: Unibus BA11's, Tape rack

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

Cleaning out the basement, so the following are available: 1. Two 10.5" high BA11 Unibus expansion boxes, with power supplies and some sorts of backplanes. Very clean condition. Weight is 70 pounds or so each. 2. A large floor-standing tape storage rack. Base is about 60 inches by 24 inches, stands about 36 inches high, has hangers for a few hundred magtapes. Does *not* disassemble. You can pickup either or both in the Bethesda/Rockville MD area (on the edge of the I-495 beltway), first-come, first-served. Email for details/ scheduling. If you get here and I'm in a good mood, you'll probably be offered lots of other stuff :-). Tim. (shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com)

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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New find - OSI Challenger 4P

by apple＠cmc.net

Your message reminded me of a common mod that was done on OSI machines to avoid inadvertant resets caused by accidently hitting the "break" key. Many people installed a capacitor across this keyswitch so that it had to be held down for a couple of seconds to reset the machine. The screen would contain random gibberish at power up and pushing the break key should give you the "C/W/M" or "H/D/M" depending on the ROM pages selected for start up. -----Original Message----- From: Robert Stek <r.stek(a)snet.net> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Saturday, October 07, 2000 4:34 PM Subject: New find - OSI Challenger 4P >Wheeee! I got an OSI Challenger 4P today (does this complete my collection >of early micros with walnut sides? I now have my Sol and NorthStar Horizon >and Challenger.) Of course it would be even better if it worked or at least >I had some documentation. A shielded cable terminating in an RCA phono plug >exits the cabinet. The fan turns and apparently something is being output. >I tried a mono composite monitor with no luck, but channel 11 (?) seems to >give what could be a screen image with several inverse video blocks >scattered down the left side (we have a STRONG channel 3 here, and 4 is >garbage). Pressing "return" shows no change in the screen, nor does >pressing a momentary-contact switch (home-brewed?) above the keyboard >labeled "Break Enable." > >Since I never even saw one of these in the 70's, I could use some help. >Does anyone have docs they would be willing to copy for a reasonable fee? >Any other advice cheerfully accepted. > >Bob Stek >Saver of Lost Sols >

25 years, 10 months

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CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <richard(a)idcomm.com> >Allison, what I have tried to put as clearly as I know how, is that the >objective is to read THIS diskette. I'm not trying to replicate the BIOS or >its functions, beyond the simple task of getting the data from THIS >diskette. While it's true, one might want to write diskettes of a format >compatible with a foreign system, that's not what I want to do. > >Let me explain: Dont bother. I understand. I will even repeat it if you dont think so. WHAT I'M SAYING is "THAT DISK" if you do successfully do this will likely be the only one (or only ones like it) to work. THere are formats that resist and defy your assumptions. >diskettes, of which most are written on controllers I no longer have, nor >want. Many of the diskettes I retained were copies of materials downloaded >from various RCPM sites in the early '80's, from the BDS CUG, and other >organizations whose work product was worthy of note, and a bunch of other been there done that and then some. I only retain masters, clearly marked copies and others. Much of the non commercial stuff is on the WC CP/M CDrom and there is my personal archive. AS I read disks I also convert them to a standard set of formats and over the years that has kept the accumulation of massive piles to a dull roar. >controller-of-origin. While some are clearly marked as to their content, >the format remains a mystery. My Systems Group machine won't read them. Likely because they are ISIS, DD CP/M written on Intel (using M^2FM). Some of the soft sector controllers used USART in sync mode and have really odd formats that the 177x can munge. >Does that make my objective clear enough? It was all the time. You haven't heard the why nots. >I'm not trying to automate out of existence the "black-art" of creating a >floppy disk BIOS for CP/M, since there are already enough of them out there, >all different because nobody seems to have gone beyond just "getting it to >work, sorta ..." If you dont understand the odd things of BIOS design you can't possibly understand how some of the truly strange formats result. >OTOH, I WOULD like to see an automatic procedure for generating the >parameters for a hard disk of a given configuration, striking a resonable >balance between efficient use of capacity and directory space. I've only I've done it a lot and it's not innate that I apply a lot of experience to doing what must be a black art to some. it's not. most of what you do will be highly biased by the controller, drive and CPU. >others, but have concluded that it's possible to do that automatically given >the geometry of the drive. The only issue is integrating the deblocking >code seamlesly so it can handle both floppy and fixed disks sharing the same >memory buffer. That introduces plent of opportunity for errors. Ah now we are getting to something far more practical. deblocking can easily be automated but your dealing with a BIOS and the automation has to be incorperated at build time. IE: the BIOS has to be built to permit adding MODULES that do functions with standardized interfaces so adding a floppy or hard disk is easier. Of course somethings can be handled easier if you have memory to burn. For example if you have 4k of ram you can copy as many sectors as will fit regardless of their physical size and the code will figure out how to accomodate the geometry by calculation. In the end you will be reproducing a PC bios without plug and play and limited to SCSI and IDE drives (not so bad) as they are the only ones that can be queried directly for geometry or better yet addressed as blocks. Older non IDE controllers are harder as their register or parameter passing schemes are a PITA. Examples of controllers that are awkard and different from each other in some or many ways. Teltek S100, basically two addresses with a packet messaging interface. requires a drive specific setup based on geometry and other low level drive specific functions. It will also deblock for you if you pass logical sector info. Compupro Disk 3A S100, DMA interface to ram, local z80 for processing and has involved setup. requires a Buffer space in ram of sector size minimum, system has to deblock. WD1002-HDO (host interface) like the others requires drive specific setup and does not deblock. Interface differs. local sector buffer only WD1002-wxa ISA-8 Not like WD1002-HDO but does have setup requiremnts and also deblocking is not done. has local sector buffer only. SCSI --> host board is like the WD1002hdo save you now have to deal with the SCSI layer. SCSI --> SCSI drive (over 40-50mb) block addressed at 512byte sector level, supplies geometry on query, larger drive have cache. IDE (larger than 40-50mb class) caching or at least sector buffers, respond to geometry query on most. Interface on later designs have variable geometry and block mode addressing to simplify matters. Likely the easiest and most consistant to interface. Thats a can of worms and worrying the right deblock, alloc or directory size are the most trivial of problems to work out. Now if you want ot make interfacing them easy and faster build the bios so that it KNOWS NOTHING about the disk save for a generic idea of a 8mb hard disk. dpblk1: DEFW 256 ; SPT pass a ALLOC size chunk DEFB 5 ; BSH Values for 4k alloc DEFB 31 ; BLM blkmask DEFB 3 ; EXM extent msk DEFW 2047 ; DSM disk size in blocks (4k) -1 (8mb) DEFB 512 ; DRM allocated directory entries (512 8k files =4mb) DEFB 11110000b ; directory alloc DEFB 00000000b ; byte 2 DEFW 00 ; check size (fixed disk) DEFW 0 ; track offset (do partitoning elsewhere) chk1: DEFS 0 alv1: DEFS 256 ; 2048 bits are needed to store alloc map for 8mb. dirbuf1: DEFS 128 this will pass as Setsector a binary value of 0-256 and in set track a binary value that is also in the range of 0-255. If these two are concatenated the result wil be a 16bit value that is the relative sector for a 8mb disk. If it is right shifted twice the result will be a block address (512byte) and a index to the correct 128 byte sector within the block. For a drive that can accept block (physical sector) addresses this will be all you need other than commands around it. To partition that likely large drive do some 24 or 32 bit math and add 65536(8mb partition) to it to find the start of the next partition. If the disk is only CHS addressing take that resulting 14bit block address and divide by # phys-sectors to get the sector wanted. Then divide the residue for the cylinder and head. For partitioning just add to the track number the required tracks to clear the 8mb space prior. For deblocking anything works and the floppy deblocker is used. There is no reason to deblock the hard disk seperatly from the floppy save for one thing, by keeping it seperate you will not slow the apparent floppy access due to thrashing. This is a consideration of available space (ram) and if banked ram is avalable it's a good place for it. DEBLOCKING IS caching at the physical sector level. so if you deblock groups of sectors of a total size that equals the ALLOC size you will get performance. the BDOS does directory access minimally at the alloc level, a single read captures an alloc address so your committed access is alloc/128 sectors. If the sectors happen to be sequential on the media so much the better(there is a hint there about interleave). All you need is space. If your doing that make SPT equal to ALLOC (32 for 4k) and just read the block starting at the address passed as track and use sector as the index as the index into the deblock buffer. Works better for floppies if you buffer and deblock whole tracks. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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An article on the ZX-81 kits still being sold in the US

by vcf＠siconic.com

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/13785.html These guys are a bunch of clowns. They used to be selling these for $29.95 until the eBay phenomenon hit. Then they jacked up the price to $99.95. I guess they must be selling these at that price because they haven't backed it down. Is an unassembled ZX-81 kit worth $99.95 to me? Hell no. Sellam International Man of Intrigue and Danger ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for a six in a pile of nines... VCF 4.0 is September 30-October 1 San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California See http://www.vintage.org for details!

25 years, 10 months

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CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com> >He's not proposing to figure out the parameters by looking at tables in >the BDOS. As you correctly point out, that stuff is in the BIOS. True the BIOS is the repository of the disk information but it's not all as I've repeatedly said in the "tables". It can be deeply embedded in the code. >Richard's point is that on a bootable disk, some set of sectors contain >the BDOS code, which has known contents (for any specific DRI CP/M release). >The point is that some of the disk parameters can be worked out by matching >what sectors on the media contain what pieces of the BDOS code. Sorry but the BDOS is usually in reserved tracks where things like skew (aka intereave) is not always there or even the same density. The BDOS other than being a known block of code contains none of the disk specific code or layout. Putting that in the bios is what made cpm portable to different platforms. >It may not tell you everything about the disk format, and it obviously >only works on bootable diskettes, but I think it is a good start. It's only a start. to me as an bystander to this it's a interesting exercize but one fraught with exceptions and limiations for it to work reliabily. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

-----Original Message----- >> he uses as example. It is a defective assumption. >> >I'm not convinced that the structure of the BIOS matters at all if one uses >the BDOS to fetch or point to whatever he's after. I do believe it's fair His utilities break on three of my systems as I do some things like bank part of the bios and in one case part of the BIOS is resident and executed by a seperate cpu. >> >In those cases, among which one finds the CCS example, wherein a simple, >> >"dumb" BIOS is loaded into a 20-K CP/M requiring a 32K memory in which >> >to run, and subseqeuently used to run a "smarter" and more fully >developed >> >> Not really. >> >What do you mean, Allison? I can assure you that it works fine as a larger I didn't mean you cant load a smarter bios. Only that in the case of the CCS if you want a nice system loading a smarter bios is a good thing to do. >> Yes it is. I have floppies that use 1k (most SD though some are DD!), >> many that use 2k and even some nut case using 4k(not me honest!). >> >Yes but that's easily recognizable if you check the directory entries and >disk parameters. Remember, I propose extracting this information from the >physical medium, not from some speculation. Suit yourself. There are a few programs outthere that "image" the disk and they didn't have it easy either. >The stepper-driven Rodime 204E (1982) was about as fast as that Quantum and >had 640 cylinders instead of the Q540's 512. I used one for years and am I presume the rodime was larger than 31mb as well so more cylinders are not amazing. Was it an 8headed disk? >be posted sometime soon, I hope) was 3 ms. It would do the job for sure, in >3 ms. I checked many of them. The Tandon equivalent and the Shugart >equivalent both did the same. Others came later. There is no dispute about that and I still have the spec sheat and all for mine. But to go from track 71 to track 0 still takes 213Ms, you can go faster if you ramp the step rate to 2.2mS and look for track 000. >So, what did you do when you wanted to use 17 512-byte sectors (commonly >used) and a 5-head drive, like the ones form Miniscribe that plagued us now >and again? Or, for that matter, the 6-head ST225, which was somewhat later. >How about 1K sectors? You could get 9 of them per track. People were after >capacity, even though they hadn't yet figured out how to waste it. did that too sector(s) is a 16bit value though most bios will truncate it on assumption that it will be 256 or less. The only effect doing to the miniscribe ( have two) was I had to divide out using non binary integer math rather than shifts, no biggie. it was much faster drive too. >I'm not sure it helped much, but since the early ('506-class) HDD's stepped >at 3 ms regardless, and since the controllers didn't take advantage of >momentum, I put the logical zero track of every partition in the physical >middle of the corresponding region of the drive. That made the worst-case >directory-seek half as long. Once drives capable of buffering step commands >became available that stunt wasn't necessary. Avoiding the use of physical >track zero was an important trick, however, since almost every drive homed >to that track on power-on, and if anything went wrong, it took a "rest" >there. I had a lot less trouble with drives once I learned not to use >physical track zero for anything that mattered at all. Yep you can do that. You can take multi platter drive and designate each platter or head as a drive. In some cases thats faster. For a 5mb st506 partitions were sorta pointless as I was going for something bigger than the 1mb floppies I already had. A 2.5mb partition was not considered or desired. For the larger 31mb drives I went to 8mb partitions and let them fall on cylinder boundaries and left it at that. By then caching was in use and directory caching as well so where things were was not much of an issue. >> Memorex 102 I gave away working, CTRL-C was a real wait and >> a kick to watch the head creap back. >> >If it truly "crept" back, it was probably because it was being stepped too >fast and got lost, finally having to do a recal, which it did slowly. No 512 tracks or so and a really slow step rate it crept. the controller was doing step out, are we at 000, repeat. Morrow disk jocky and controller with their code... very slow. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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S100 stuff

by Innfogra＠aol.com

I hope I don't get flamed too much. I just posted most of my remaining S100 cards on eBay. Seller name is Innfosale. Sorry for this but I need to maximize my income. Boards from Northstar, Compupro, Vector Graphic, Alpha Micro and some oddities. Also some Quantum 8" disk drives. Paxton

25 years, 10 months

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PC/XT and Kaypro 4

by vcf＠siconic.com

Please reply to original sender. Reply-To: badger(a)netwalk.com ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2000 14:46:41 -0400 From: Butch Clodfelter <badger(a)netwalk.com> To: donate(a)vintage.org Subject: Re:Find Home I am looking for a new home for my old IBM PC XT. It was manufactured in the early 80's with the 8088 processor. IT has two HD's (10MB & 20MB) and two 360 Floppy Drives. I have the original manuals for it. The monitor has a 12' VGA color. DOS 3.1 was the operating system, with WP4.2, MP80. My copies of the licenses were damaged and so only have copies, not originals! If I find a museum where they will be used I also have a Kaypro 4 with 2.2 CPM OS I will sell for $100.00. The Kaypro 4 has all the original manuals and Disks. Original cost = $3645.00 in 1984. If you know of who I can contact, or of a home for the IBM please let me know! Thanks Butch Sellam International Man of Intrigue and Danger ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for a six in a pile of nines... VCF 4.0 is September 30-October 1 San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California See http://www.vintage.org for details!

25 years, 10 months

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CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) <cisin(a)xenosoft.com> >I am NOT saying that it is impossible - it is definitely possible. But I >am saying that the task of automating it would be significant. I have I have said the same thing repeatedly. it's a worthy project but, I've explained there are many formats that are similar that the only way to tell them apart is to know or trial and error. I even gave one set that is common in my room here. Myself, prove me wrong. I have no investment in that and would love to use it if it's a practical and useful tool. Also myself I'm investing time in a project that I consider more valuable. Adding a true heirarchal directories without breaking most reasonable apps. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <richard(a)idcomm.com> >Allison suggests that the disk parameters are obscure and hard to locate, >but CORTESI's book on CP/M, among others, provides a bit of software that In short simple sentences. If you have not done this you will be surprized. Cortesi write with the assumption that all bioses have the structure and form he uses as example. It is a defective assumption. >In those cases, among which one finds the CCS example, wherein a simple, >"dumb" BIOS is loaded into a 20-K CP/M requiring a 32K memory in which to >run, and subseqeuently used to run a "smarter" and more fully developed Not really. >version of the BIOS together with the OS loaded into whatever memory it >finds available thereby making a 64K(actually 61K) CP/M quite attainable, This is not news, nor significant. >one would have to examine the autocommand that's loaded in the "dumb" system >in order to find the image that's going to contain the "real McCoy" with the >full-featured BIOS from which the parameters relating to the directory and >data areas of the diskette can be extracted. Presuming there was an autocommand. >This strategy is particularly important in those rare cases where one has >actually done what the CCS folks recommend and format the first two tracks >of an 8" diskette single-density and the remainder at double density. >Likewise, the remainder of the diskette can be two-sided. The reason THEIR CCS while a decent box is far from being the be all, say all of the bios world. >What puzzles me is that, if this information is so readily available, why >hasn't the entire process been automated already? I know there are lots of Becasue it's is not so readially available. You assume it is and proceed that way but once you get off that CCS box the world changes greatly. Look at the 5.25 formats, look close at the similar but not the same formats. For example I have 5 different 5.25 781kb formats that are not even similar. One uses 1024byte sectors, another has sector 1 on side one and side two ends with sector 18 (512byte!). There is one that numbers the cylinders sero thourgh 79 on one side and 80 throgh 159 on the second. The fifth is like the first save for the skew is appied at format and not in the bios. Funny thing the DPH and DPB is exactly the same for all of them >should be done. There is always a bit of a guess as to whether 4K or 8K >allocation blocks should be used when hooking up a hard disk. That's not an >issue with floppies, however. Yes it is. I have floppies that use 1k (most SD though some are DD!), many that use 2k and even some nut case using 4k(not me honest!). >> I have a fully documented CCS and it clasifies as the early basic CP/M >> bios of low to average functionality. It's robust but closer to a minimal >> example. >> >True enough, but it's compatible with a front-panel and the software's >written for an 8080 so you can use their FDC with an 8080 or 8085 as well as >a Z80. Moreover, it's rock-solid. The fact that it uses a nearly >vanilla-flavored CP/M doesn't detract either. I've run into absolutely no >CP/M programs that won't run on it, while there are numerous utilities that >won't work properly on the more modern MPM-targeted boards I got from >Systems Group. Sorta. It doesn't support type ahead, circular iterrupt driven buffers for fast serial devices and relies on CPU PIO. It's low end. The only thing it does do is double density and SSSD 8" interchange (sometimes). >What you refer to as skew is what I call the interleave, while a sector skew No I'm using the DRI term out of their books. I know its interleave. >is a difference in sector numbering from idex, used by some systems (mostly >early DEC actually, but some truly random-access systems as well) to Actually DEC has a two level one for VT180, interleaved 512byte physical sectors and interleave inside the sectors. It's one of three formats that were used for that though that was least common. >If it's not the stuff from DRI, it's not relevant, since it's not CP/M. Your really looking to ignore progress, and even DRI supplied mods? >I'll admit that's a weakness, but for now, I'm happy to deal with CP/M only. >AFAIK, DRI didn't issue any patches to v2.2. There were several enhanced If you insist. >That's true, BUT, when you have a two-stage boot, you can examine the second >layer boot system, and, in fact, have to in order to avoid getting tangled >up in discrepancies between the boot tracks and the directory and data area. Ok but what systems usually use a two stage boot? Few and nearly none. >> storage. You will have to figure out from that a lot of things that are >variable and can still end up as the same answer. >> >In fact, I don't believe they have to be "figured out" at all. After all >the diskette is in the drive. You just have to look at it. See my example of the 781k disks. Two of them would defy simple inspection. >It does get much more messy when you try to squeeze speed out of the system >in ways the ultra-slow CPU doesn't let you appreciate, but when I said >optimal, I meant for the technology of the time, which meant, at least to >me, getting the most hard disk space to fit into the parameters the system >would allow, without overly restricting either effective space utilization >or directory space. That seems to have been the key tradeoff of the time >... allocation block size versus number of directory entries. One other Not really a big deal was made of it as few had real world expereince and were trying to scare up a few more bytes of the drive they paid so dearly for and then never filled more than 50%. The other half was hard disks were new things to have to deal directly with so there was an aura of mystery to setting values. The only thing that ever and still concerns me is the ALLOC vector as for a 8mb logical drive with 4k granularity there will be 256 bytes of ram for just for that, add 512 for a host buffer, 128 for the directory buffer local variables and you eaten 896 bytes for the first drive and about 256+ per drive and that is non recoverable space. That is the only real problem. Add that to a featureless base driver and it's an easy 2-3k of space for the bios more if it's a real bios. >factor was swtiching heads rather than moving the head stack. The heads >take at least 3 ms to move from track to track, plus 8 ms on the average, to >rotate half a rev, while switching heads took about 40-50 microseconds on More than that as the ST506 didn't do (nor did the controllers of the time) fast seeks. You had to wait for the ST225 for that. Stated average access time is 178mS for st506, St225 was a more resonable 73 and the Quantum D540 took that to a mere 57. The D540 could look faster though with it's 8 heads as you didn't shuffle far and the voicecoil actuator was fairly fast. >the early Seagate ST506's. The trick, to me, was always finding a way to >computer head, cylinder and sector from the CP/M sector number you were >given by the BDOS without having to swallow up half a KByte in lookup >tables. Floggin. One the drive was filled to about 30% and had been in use for a while you were moving around a lot and there was little trickery that helped at the drive level. I didn't kill space in lookup tables. It was simple to me. The 4 heads and the 16 512 byte sectors per track were handled as SPT of 256 in the DPB so the BDOS would hand back a logical sector on a track with head number in there too. I treated the four sides as one logical track. A few right and left shifts would give me a head (upper two bits) physical sector (middle 4bits) and logical sector index into the physical sector (lower two bits). The CYLINDER was passed as track by the BDOS. Obviously it was quite compact. If you build like DRI, Cortesi or Laird said you hit the wall every 16k as where ever you are your going back to the directory where ever it happened to be and that took a long time. The first drive I had(still have turns 20 next summer) was a 506. It was slow, the controllers were slow and the only up side is some would buffer a full sector for you saving CPU timing. I stopped using it when I got my second hard disk a D540, in real life it was much faster and introduced me to the problem of partitions. I moved up as the drive was available and offered speed, even with 6mhz z80s the ST506 was ponderously slow. It was only exceeded by an 8" Memorex 102 I gave away working, CTRL-C was a real wait and a kick to watch the head creap back. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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VCF 1 Midwest

by dburrows＠netpath.net

>Hope to have the event here in the Twicities after the snow leaves ext >spring (2001). Still looking for more volunteers to help with the work. >Also talking with some companies about being cash sponsors for the event >along with prizes to give away. That's about all I want to give out >right now until I have things locked down, but more to come. >John Keys Another words you are planning it for June? I remember when I moved to Duluth MN, I figured I was safe with Memorial weekend. Wrong it snowed while we were unloading the truck. Dan

25 years, 10 months

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scanned manuals

by richard＠idcomm.com

Opportunity knocks! I broke my left (prosthetic) foot last weekend and the replacement didn't make it here today as scheduled, so I'm going to be on my gluteus maximus for much of the weekend. If I've offered to scan a document for you, please remind me, and promptly, because I'm going to be busy catching up on chores, etc, after my broken foot is replaced. I'm looking for a widely accessible site on which to store these documents, but I think the 1 MB/page TIFF's are a mite big for that. Perhaps someone would like to recommend a site? Let's NOT fight about the format, though, all right? Dick

25 years, 10 months

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VCF 4.0

by fauradon＠mn.mediaone.net

> >John Keyes, where are you? I was wondering that myself. Francois

25 years, 10 months

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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

Hehe - I've got another version of this on my wall behind me ATM and it has these extra lines: When you hear the word 'runoff' you don't think of water Your first reaction to a supposed problem is not to reboot the system You can complete a 10-hour EDT session without looking at the keypad but stare at the telephone to dial a number You don't think 'fubar' is obscene To you, the phrase 'NT CLUSTER' is humorous You kow that there's something fishy in the Pacific North-West AND IT SURE AIN'T SALMON. > -----Original Message----- > From: healyzh(a)aracnet.com [mailto:healyzh@aracnet.com] > Sent: 03 October 2000 21:36 > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: You might be a VMS Bigot if..... > > > I was trying to find the order number for the OpenVMS > V7.2-1/Alpha update, > and came across the following little tidbit. With all the > VMS traffic here > the last few days I thought a few people might enjoy this. > I'm sure a lot > of you have seen this before.

25 years, 10 months

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OFF-TOPIC Re: Re[4]: You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> > The lack of so-called "vulgar" language in one's vocabulary demonstrates a > > fundamental lack of maturity. > > I would say that depends very heavily upon one's definition of the word > "mature". I can report, without regret, that I'm unlikely ever to be > "mature" by that definition - and I was born in 1962. > > (I will admit the caveat that a fear of using "vulgar" language, in the > *very rare* situations where it really is appropriate, is also not > necessarily healthy.) In both speech and writing, we're taught that we can use transitional phrases to help the flow. "Alternatively,", "On the other hand,", "As you might expect,", and so on.... Kind funny, Dad seemed to pick up that G-D this and M-F that were transitional phrases, rather than adjectives. This would have been understandable had he been a sailor, but he was an M.P. in the Army. As a small consolation, I always preferred to think that he was reaching for words when he was p-o'd instead of reaching for a club or a gun. Such language is referred to as "intemperate." But at what point does a lack of temper leave off, and righteous indignation begin? Now, without a doubt, when he was p-o'd at my brother and I, this was intemperate, as we could *never* have been guilty of anything that would lead him to "righteous indignation"... ;-) -dq

25 years, 10 months

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Ziatech

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

Did these single board computers run some flavour of u**x? I was putting in a big Alpha Cluster at a very large aluminium manufacturer from Canada's local plant around 3 years ago and I'm sure they were using Ziatech kit to run the monitoring probes on all the potlines....they'll be pleased to hear they've gone bust! > -----Original Message----- > From: Marvin [mailto:marvin@rain.org] > Sent: 06 October 2000 16:45 > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Ziatech > > > > Anyone familiar with Ziatech? I was just checking some back > email and found > a liquidation sale going on last May. They were located in > San Luis Obispo, > CA and IIRC made single board computers. >

25 years, 10 months

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test message - please ignore

by jwest＠mppw.com

Test on new mail server. Please ignore (classiccmp) Jay West

25 years, 10 months

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mac serial pinouts

by Marion.Bates＠dartmouth.edu

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 352 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/20001006/275687ff/at…

25 years, 10 months

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VCF 4.0

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> On Thu, 5 Oct 2000 THETechnoid(a)home.com wrote: > > > How can I get the VCF to hold it's event a bit closer to the East Coast > > than California? I wanted to go, but a 3500mile trek was out of the > > question. How about Montana or the Dakotas? > > Keep making noise. We started looking in to doing a VCF East this year > and it's been on my mind for the past couple years, but it's a lot of work > as you may imagine, and now that VCF Europe is in the Spring we have to > plan it either right after or right before (when the weather isn't too > terrible). > > Once I'm fully recovered from VCF 4.0 and have my day job project well > under way, then I'll start giving serious consideration to a VCF East. I > think 2001 will almost certainly see some sort of east coast VCF event. Cool! Hopefully further East Coast than St. Louis, tho... :-) -dq

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

Not round the dinner table with your parents it might not be (apart from my gf's :) but round here in the office we'd have to use a 5-cab PDP 11/35 as a swear box. > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Ford [mailto:mikeford@socal.rr.com] > Sent: 06 October 2000 08:37 > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Re[4]: You might be a VMS Bigot if..... > > > >The way I see it, it's supposedly an "adult" word. So if > you're an adult > >and don't use it on at least a regular basis, you have some > growing up to > >do. > > I don't want to shock you with an alien concept, but use of > vulgar language > isn't polite. > >

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

OT : What is this Monitor

by lgwalker＠look.ca

Don't quite know where else to ask this, my apologies for the OT. I recently acquired an EZC m. sm483c monitor with a DB-9 socket ( sorry I've forgotten Tony D.'s correct designation) Since it was manufactured in Jun 98 it's unlikely to be an EGA. The company seems to be no longer in business and I could find little on it. EZC appears to be a company that made items for the vision- impaired so I expect this is some kind of high-definition monitor. It powers up OK but I don't want to try it on one of my EGA cards or similar 9-pin boxes lest the magic smoke escapes. Anyone with any info/suggestions ? ciao larry Reply to: lgwalker(a)look.ca

25 years, 10 months

4
4
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VCF 4.0 Dr. Dobb's Vintage Computer Exhibition Awards

by vcf＠siconic.com

Here are the results of the 4th Annual Vintage Computer Festival Exhibition (sponsored by Dr. Dobb's Journal, http://www.ddj.com). Home-brew, Kit or Educational Computer 1st: Jim Willing, HERO Robot 2nd: Cameron Kaiser, Tomy Tutor 3rd: Larry Pezzolo, Lawrence Livermore Labs Microprocessor Trainer Manufactured Personal Computer - Pre-1981 1st: Wayne Smith, "Pre-PC IBM Desktop" 2nd: Jordan Ruderman, SOL-20 3rd: David Kavanaugh, IMSAI 8080 Manufactured Personal Computer - 1981 or After 1st: Simon Favre, IBM 3270 AT/GX 2nd: Rick Lehrbaum, Ampro Z-80 3rd: Pete Johnson, HP Integral PC Mini-computer or Larger System 1st: Dwight Elvey, Nicolet 1080 2nd: Chuck McManis, "Qbus VAXen" 3rd: Not Awarded :( Open Class 1st: Derek Peschel, Marchant ACR8M Electromechanical Calculator 2nd: David Weil, "Before There Were Computers" 3rd: Cole Erskine, Friden EC-130 Electronic Calculator Special Awards Best Presentation - Research Dwight Elvey, Nicolet 1080 Best Presentation - Completeness Simon Favre, IBM 3270 AT/GX Best Presentation - Display Curt Vendel, "Atari Historical Society" Best Presentation - Creative Integration with Contemporary Technology Jordan Ruderman, SOL-20 (used a CD player to store Cassette-based programs) Best Preservation - Original Condition Rick Lehrbaum, Ampro Z-80 Best Preservation - Restoration Dwight Elvey, Nicolet 1080 Best Preservation - Recreation Not Awarded :( Best Preservation - Simulation Cameron Kaiser, Commodore 64 Tomy Tutor Emulator Best Preservation - Obscurity Hans Franke, Juku (Estonian computer) Best Technology - Analog David Weil, "Before There Were Computers Best Technology - Non-Electronic Derek Peschel, Marchant ACR8M Electromechanical Calculator People's Choice Award Dale Luck, "Lorraine - The First Amiga and Her Sisters Daphne, Agnus, and Portia" (Original Amiga Prototype) Best of Show Simon Favre, IBM 3270 AT/GX Congratulations to Simon Favre and Dwight Elvey who both came away in a tie of the ribbon count with 3 ribbons each!! Start thinking about what YOU could exhibit at VCF 5.0! The rules for the exhibition can be found at: http://www.vintage.org/2000/exhibit.html Sellam International Man of Intrigue and Danger ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for a six in a pile of nines... VCF 4.0 is September 30-October 1 San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California See http://www.vintage.org for details!

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <richard(a)idcomm.com> >For some time, I've pondered what it might take to divine the various format >features from a CP/M boot disk. It seems to me that if one has a bootable >disk, it has to have sufficient information on the boot tracks to allow one >to find a copy of the BDOS, which, so long as it's the right version of >CP/M, should disclose the details of what formatting has been used for those The bdos can't tell you much other than it's version. >tracks. What's more, given that one can find the BDOS, byte for byte, one >should also be able to find enough of a BIOS to make it possible to extract >the necessary disk parameters used to boot the system. If a second-tier >system is loade, one should be able to find that by examining the autcmd. >That should then yield the data necessary to read the diskette in its >entirety. the key parameters are the DPH, DPB and SKEW... also you need to know how big the sector is and if there is embedded skew within the sector. Then you need to know the disk layout, things like what side/sector numbering was used. For example I've seen two sided media where sector one occured on both sides and where identically formatted, also I've seen side one as 1 thru 9 and side two as 10 through 17... It is possible to devine all that from a bootable disk (I have a few that would never give you that as the core bios is not on the disk at all) but it's a lot of processing and at last count there were some 80 formats for 5.25media alone. >Have you ever run into a utility that handles this? I'd think someone would >have done this by now. Yes, Media Master, Uniform, Multidisk, Eset are a few I use and they all work from tables and have expectations of a bios having a standard configureation so they can "drive" the bios. I also use a modular bios that runs on a slave cpu for the S100 crate and dropping in different drive parameters is straightforward. I tend to treat devices as interchangeable peices by using a abstraction layer. To me the BDOS calls the BIOS and the BIOS if it needs to calls a device driver. One common misconception is the BDOS calls a FDC (simplification). It doesnt and that why the BDOS called the jump table at the start of the BIOS. >Another item I've wanted for some time to automate is the setup of a hard >disk BIOS. Since it's dependent not so much on CP/M quirks but often more >on decisions made on the basis of folklore, I thought it might be >interesting to examine the process as a candidate for automation. The answer is yes it;s doable and it's not worth it from where I sit. One reason, I have the tools needed and there are plenty of freeware out there if I dont. Me, I use my kaypro and my s100 crate (3.5, 5.25 and 8") for this and a copy of multidisk (table driven) and a version of Eset, used to hand feed parameters to the parameters for oddballs. In the general scale of things these do the job well and are more than enough. Some things deserve a simple solution. Allison

25 years, 10 months

6
5
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ASCI u68 System X computer

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Does anyone know anything about the computer above? They appear to be educational single board computers. A strip along the frond edge, lists a number of commands to set breakpoints, jump in memory, examine memory, etc. I found a pile of them at an auction preview. They're single board computers that are mounted in a wooden boxs that measures roughly 10" x 12" x 2". The box has a smoke colored plastic lid that's hinged in the back. When it's closed, everything is covered except for a 3 x 4 keypad. The CPU board appears to use the Motorola EXOR-bus and has a Motorola 6800 CPU. There is a smaller card on the RH side that has the keypad and six digit seven segment LED display. The ICs are dated 1979 and 1980. These appear to be part of a system. I found several other boxs that were also made by ASCI. One of them has a micro-cassette drive. Another is a switch box that switchs between a printer, punch, etc. Another larger box has relays and a bunch of terminal strips on it. It appears that it's meant to be controlled from the CPU box and can operate a good number of external devices. I need to know what they are before Saturday. Joe

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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CP/M BIOS setup

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

>the adjacent ones. The BDOS doesn't change, generally, though there may be >changes in the BIOS. By finding each sector of the BDOS, one learns about >the format of the boot tracks. My CCS system, for example, requires, at >least for the distributed boot EPROM, that the boot tracks be SSSD. That I have a fully documented CCS and it clasifies as the early basic CP/M bios of low to average functionality. It's robust but closer to a minimal example. >> the key parameters are the DPH, DPB and SKEW... also you need to know >> how big the sector is and if there is embedded skew within the sector. >> Then you need to know the disk layout, things like what side/sector >> numbering was used. For example I've seen two sided media where >> sector one occured on both sides and where identically formatted, also >> I've seen side one as 1 thru 9 and side two as 10 through 17... >> >These parameters are all there on a boot diskette. It's just necessary to >find them. Not all and they may be very hard to find. DPH, DPB ahve pointers to them as a result of the BIOS call to Seldisk. The SKEW however may not be used in the SECTRAN call at all! Often the skew translate is a table but it can be calculated and for DD the SECTRAN call is applied at the logical sector level and doesn't apply well for double density who have sector sizes larger than one logical sector. So skew in that case will likely be burried in the raw read/write routine. Or possibly even at the logical sector level inside the the physical sector. So wome things are not guarenteed and also not easily found. >The Multidisk and Eset that I have are not for this purpose. They want to >be passed the information that I'm suggesting could be extracted. Oh like I said I can be... but if you know it's easier as even with 33mhz z180 your going to flog a while getting to the same answer. >That's exactly the problem I'm trying to circumvent. The interleave, skew, >sector size, etc, are all accurately represented on the boot diskette. The Ah, no. Most boot sectors are not skewed and like you observed may not be the same density or sector size. >BDOS is the BDOS, i.e. shouldn't be different on different boot diskettes, Likely but not always true. >so long as the CP/M version is the same. Consequently, it should be There were patches and the CP/M version can be misleading. Many of the clones use base 2.2 ID so apps will run normally, most all are written using z80 unique instructions where DRI used only 8080. >possible, having once determined the sector size, to extract, automatically, >the relative locations of sequential sectors of this known file. Since we >KNOW and RECOGNIZE the BDOS, shouldn't it be possible to find its beginning, BDOS is not part of the CP/M file system! It's in the boot tracks. >paramters from the system BIOS and verifying them against another known file >e.g. PIP.COM, should provide the necessary information about the directory >and data areas of the diskette. Isn't that so? You would be forced to do that and huristically that will be a PITA! PIP is in the file system whereas BDOS is out on the boot tracks. the boot tracks in the CCS case is SSSD and the system tracks can be DSDD! The bios entries for DPH, DPB do not say if the disk is DSDD or even if it's floppy. It will tell you how many logical sectors per track, If skew is used. If directory is checked, allocation size and the size of the area used ofr data storage. You will have to figure out from that a lot of things that are variable and can still end up as the same answer. >> >Another item I've wanted for some time to automate is the setup of a hard >> >disk BIOS. Since it's dependent not so much on CP/M quirks but often >more >> >on decisions made on the basis of folklore, I thought it might be >> >interesting to examine the process as a candidate for automation. it's been done but the usual is to hook the disk IO routine and lod a mini hard disk bios in high memory. Teltek, Konan and a few others did that. A better way is to provide slots that can be filled with an address of the driver(s). The reason for the difficulty is the wide assortment of controllers and the varied protocals to talk to them. If it was always IDE or SCSI it would be simpler. >Well, I don't see hand-feeding a set of parameters that one has to determine >by guessing on the basis of lots of conflicting folklore as particularly >easy. Authors who wrote about the process e.g. Laird and Cortesi seemed to No folklore. There are detailed tables out there for every drive and disk going if one care to look. What do you think Multidisk does/is? >equivocate considerably about this, and, while it's straightforward to come >up with a set of parameters that work, it's not easy to come up with the >optimal ones, at least where the HD is concerned. Both of the authors I Optimal ones for hard disk in the timeframe they wrote in was simple. hard disks are FAST and Z80s (pre 1990) are NOT. No amount of optimization is possible. Actually if you have banked memory caching is the solution as it steps neatly around the problems. FYI: the problem is that CP/M does a lot of realatively small transfer with lots of references to the directory. the true limiter to performance is not data rate but latency (mostly from shuffling the head). When Laird wrote a fast drive was a Quantum D540(31mb MFM 5.25 FH) with a average latency of around 30mS. >is in hand, it's easy, certainly, but what should one do, given a known >bootable but otherwise undefined boot diskette? The reality of the data >present on a boot diskette defines all the parameters necessary to recreate >it, doesn't it? No. the boot tracks are always written by a specialized utility like SYSGEN (which is not generic code) that is always system specific. >I get emails from people all the time, asking about how to build a boot >diskette for a system they can't boot because they don't have a BIOS on the >diskette for the I/O ports they use. Most of those I converse with with that set of questions have no sources to work from and find 8080 or Z80 asm code scary to terrifying. Often they dont know the ports in use nor what they mean. Rare is the one with Docs for their system at the time the question is launched. They often think it's just like a PC where dos boots on all if the disk fits. >Likewise, I get frequent questions >about how to formulate an optimal configuration for a hard disk. While it Like Laird said and I'll say _optimal_ for what? I"d never use the word optimal. Again, expereince most want a drop in replacement like a PC. Most do not code at that level or dont wish to try. Many dont have docs needed. So what they want is not optimal, just something that works. >may not be a terrible thing, it is something many people, including myself, >though I've done it several times, find daunting. In the absence of a >rigorous method it's hard to find peace at the end of the task because so >many less-than optimal solutions will work quite well. How's a person to >determine what's best? Lesse, I have five systems with hard disks all were added later two with code supplied. I find peace with the fact that they work and are reliable. Only one have I applied rigorous and experimental methods to the extreme to see what was possible and effective... Occams razor won most often. Here it is: hard disks and performance. Assume nothing about the hard disk used rare is the old drive/controller that can really help you. DMA or a seperate processor will help if the CPU is loaded or memory is short. Caching at the track or cylinder level with a LRU method really helps if you have space (64-128k is good). You will cache(call it host buffer if you like) anyway as most hard disk have sector sizes larger than 128 bytes requireing deblocking. Caching the directory seperate from the data area cache really pays as it saves head thrashing. Achieve the above or subset with direct and efficient code. I've tried this using a IDE drive (still working the code out) and most decent over 100mb drive have caching (quantum PRO AT series does). use it as it isolates you from things like skew and all. If you using a an old SA4000, forget all this as making it work is three quarters the battle. Allison

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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FUBAR and DW780

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> > > > Hearing anyone decode the FUBAR makes me twitch. > > > > > > Uhmm isn't the computer version Foo bar as in Foo bar > blatz zam zow > > > > On some models of VAX there's a hardware register that > stores (part of) > > the address of a Unibus cycle where the selected device failed to > > respond. This register is called, not suprisingly, the > > > > Failed UniBus Address Register This is certainly serendipitous, but not the origin of the epithet. FUBAR dates at least to WWII; I read that in an article about tech terms that we tend to think are recent inventions but which have been around for a rather long time. For example, while Grace Murray Hopper is credited with finding an actual moth wedged in a relay in the Eniac 1 (thus "bug" in the system), the term "bug" has been found in the writings of Thomas Edison, referring to a defect in a design. "HAM", referring to amateur radio operators, is a 19th-century invention; it was previously used to describe self-taught telegraph operators. And "to hack" is supposedly an old Yiddish phrase that refers to the making of furniture with an axe (and although a different usage, "hack" has referred to taxis since they were horse-drawn in the early 1800s). And on and on... regards, -dq

25 years, 10 months

3
2
0 0

mac serial pinouts

by Marion.Bates＠dartmouth.edu

Thanks for the replies! Got it working. -- MB

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

Fix for Telnet bug in VMS TCPIP V5.0

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

Hello everyone, I realize that VMS 7.2 doesn't meet the 10 year rule but the hardware it is running on does :-) To "close the loop" on this one, Zane pointed me to a recent fix posted by Compaq on their support site for TCPIP V5.0A. This update fixes a bunch of different bugs. My bug was the Telnet server went berserk when I tried to connect to it. The problem is in the WILL/WANT negotiation that goes on gets screwed and ends up looping infinitely. You can fix this by installing the TCPIP$TNDRIVER.EXE and TCPIP$TELNET.EXE images from the fix on top of an existing TCPIP 5.0 installation. --Chuck

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

mofo-isms My brother-in-laws C-scow sailboat is sail number MO-4 otherwise known as mofo. mofo go slow or mofo no go Mike mmcfadden(a)cmh.edu

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

FUBAR and DW780

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Uh, where in the Eniac might the relays be? I think you meant > Mark I... BTW, I would be surprised to find out that the Eniac didn't use relays for power distribution... Hell, even the IBM 716 Line Printer I used to have had them for that (it used 220v 3-phase to drive a dynamotor which in turn generated the 50vdc power that was then distributed to the 711 card reader and perhaps other peripherals). regards, -dq

25 years, 10 months

1
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FUBAR and DW780

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Will Jennings [mailto:xds_sigma7@hotmail.com] > Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2000 10:24 AM > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: RE: FUBAR and DW780 > > > Uh, where in the Eniac might the relays be? I think you meant > Mark I... > > Will J > (now where are my car keys again?) > ______________________________________________________________ > ___________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

FUBAR and DW780

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Uh, where in the Eniac might the relays be? I think you meant > Mark I... You are correct... she worked with both systems, the bug was indeed found in relay #70 on the Mark I. -dq

25 years, 10 months

1
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0 0

FUBAR and DW780

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Uh, where in the Eniac might the relays be? I think you meant Mark I... Will J (now where are my car keys again?) _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

Old Agfa Scanners

by ainsinga＠infomation.com

I have 2 old (maybe they fit your definition of classic, maybe not) b&w or grayscale scanners -- Agfa Focus ('Focus S 800 GS') and Agfa Focus II -- which I'd like to get rid of very soon and are available for the first, best offer. (0 is a perfectly good offer from a non-profit group.) They could be picked up in Andover, MA or Nashua, NH. I don't really want to pack and ship them; they're heavy and I'm not sure I still have the carriage locking instructions (but I'll look). They worked when I last used them but I haven't powered them up in a half-dozen or so years, since some release of OmniPage Pro dropped support for them. They have Centronics 50-pin SCSI connectors. I used to have a 68k MacOS driver for them, which Agfa would give away, but their DOS/Windows? drivers were integrated into some software that they sold (and I never got). Reply directly via e-mail to ainsinga(a)infomation.com.

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

IBM System/360 model 30 doc.

by Henk.J.Stegeman＠is.shell.com

Hi, I was lucky to buy a very nice operator panel of an old IBM S/360 model 30. I am now trying to rebuild this IBM S/360 model 30 (using this panel as a base) with modern TTL, EEPROM's IC's etc. With the current information I have, I was able to reconstruct about 50-60% of it's logic diagrams. I am still searching for ANY customer engineering documentation of this old IBM system, specially the small CE reference booklet for the model 30 and the Functional Maintenance Manual. Anyone who can help me ??? I already have a copy of the 'Theory of Operations' and micro-code flowcharts manual. Regards, Henk Stegeman, IBM collector Phone: ++31-70-303 4513

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

It was certainly featured a lot in the orange/grey walls as foo.bar for filenames.....didn't they also use brer.bar as well? > -----Original Message----- > From: Neil Cherry [mailto:ncherry@home.net] > Sent: 04 October 2000 20:55 > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: You might be a VMS Bigot if..... > > > Bill Pechter wrote: > > > > Damn... > > > > I was with you right through the fubar line. > > Spent too many hours troubleshooting flaky Unibus problems on > > 11/780's with semi-fried Unibus or UBA's. > > > > Hearing anyone decode the FUBAR makes me twitch. > > Uhmm isn't the computer version Foo bar as in Foo bar blatz zam zow > (I'm not sure about the last ones anymore). I once named a 3B2 310 > Foobar and thought nothing of it. Management came to me and > requested an > explaination until they saw the spelling (I was on a support hotline, > fubar is a fact of life there). > > -- > Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry > ncherry(a)home.net > http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only) > http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lightsey/52 (Graphics) > http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ > (SourceForge) >

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

Rewiring VAX 6000 for single-phase AC?

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

Anybody have instructions/details on how to re-wire a VAX 6000's three-phase 115V AC power supply for 220V single phase? The only thing I've got so far with any information is this: http://www.decvax.org/vax6000/power.txt However, I cant find any way to get ahold of the author of the text, who mentions: "I you get a 6000 (or similar) machine let me know. I have worked out a very elegant way to do the above mod which entails no soldering , no disconnecting of joints etc , and can be put back to factory standard in about 30 secs." What I need, is that information - but the email is at least 4 years old and the addresses no longer current. I've got a VAX 6000-410 here that I'd love to at least fire up and run some diags on, and I cant do that till it will run on 220V power.... Bill -- Bill Bradford * KD5LQR mrbill(a)mrbill.net Austin, TX

25 years, 10 months

1
0
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VCF 4.0 is in the books ...

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

Well, the dust has settled and I'm trying to re-store all the stuff I dragged out for VCF 4.0... I had a great time, placed a couple of VAXes into very nice homes (and Zane will be happy they both had VMS installed on them) and generally enjoyed meeting everyone again and talking old hardware. This year the exhibit/market space was shared by the California Extreme pinball show/thing and it was, unfortunately, a bit loud. However it was most likely the largest number of 8 and 16 bit micros operating in a single space in all of California! There was a great set of talks this year, I'm hoping to get tapes of the ones I missed. Overall, it was fun but exhausting. Public thanks go to Sellam for "producing" this event, it is really great. --Chuck

25 years, 10 months

8
8
0 0

console multiplexor

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> >Clearly the simplest solution is a 6PnT rotary switch, some cables wired up >with MMJ plugs crimped on their ends. I'm planning to build one of these as >I have all the parts and that will get the console going on the micro-cluster. That would work if you assert RxD to spacing on disconnect. Me, I cheat. I don't bother connecting a tube (unless required like during initial install) and when needed I use the VT1200 to connect via the net once that is up. >However, if you're willing to be really clever then you can do much better >than this. I've got a nice color terminal (the Link MC70 although its color >is a bit unstable these days :-() or I could use a DEC VT340 (probably the >actual version for display) and you could, with a bit of smarts and some >buffering take output from the RS-423 lines, and prior to forwarding them >on to the terminal you could inject ANSI color codes on/off. This would >make the output from each console a different color. (keeping them straight >is of course the challenge) If you are really clever you don't allow one >console to interrupt another mid-line either. I've got an old single board >Z80 system that could probably do this, or I could wimp out and use a CPLD >feeding a Scenix chip. Could be done with Vt125 or better yet.... Like I used to do with a Vt320, the system write a status line (25th) in response to a simple request "@who" which runs a DCL script. the request was stored as the "respones line" on the terminal or as a simple "w" [set W*ho="@who.com". Also other defined commands terminate with a call to who. The status line also has current directory and account. the switch box was a LQPX2-SW and MMJ to DB/P25 cabling. Allison

25 years, 10 months

2
1
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WTB/T: VLC drive mounting bracket?

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

I'm looking for two VAX 4000/VLC drive mounting brackets. I can trade a TZ50 tape drive or the bridge board from a TF86. (Or async multiplexor boards, either s-box or regular) --Chuck

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

Counterworks workstations

by dburrows＠netpath.net

Has anyone heard of them. I have been sent a bid sheet that has 2 pallets worth of them and hard drives. Are they rebadged something's? Is anyone interested in them? I think they meet the 10 year rule by all the PDP etc. related stuff that is also on the sheet. Dan

25 years, 10 months

1
0
0 0

Console Servers (was: cluster stuff [was Re: Changing lo)

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com> wrote: > I've got several DECserver 200/MC boxes available for sale or trade. No > idea if they do reverse LAT (or, for that matter, normal forward LAT). Yes, both. Don't ask me how to set it up, though; it was over 10 years ago and on the other side of the continent, but I had one providing print service using reverse LAT and I convinced another one to provide access to an HP3000/70 via a serial connection to an ATP port on the 3000. You do need a MOP server from which the DECserver can download its software. -Frank McConnell

25 years, 10 months

4
3
0 0

WANTED: (Xerox) ViewPoint Scavenger software

by yoda＠isr.ist.utl.pt

I'd like to bring a Xerox DayBreak (6085) workstation back to life, but I'm unable to do it because it requires a so called VP Scavenging software. Can anyone send me an electronic version of the disk/tape image containing such software? If anyone has at least Xerox 6085 software, in any form, PLEASE contact me: maybe we could arrange a way to convert it to an electronic format. Furthermore, if anyone has any bootable software for such a beast, please contact me. Cheers, -- *** Rodrigo Martins de Matos Ventura <yoda(a)isr.ist.utl.pt> *** Web page: http://www.isr.ist.utl.pt/~yoda *** Teaching Assistant and PhD Student at ISR: *** Instituto de Sistemas e Robotica, Polo de Lisboa *** Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisboa, PORTUGAL *** PGP fingerprint = 0119 AD13 9EEE 264A 3F10 31D3 89B3 C6C4 60C6 4585

25 years, 10 months

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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

I was trying to find the order number for the OpenVMS V7.2-1/Alpha update, and came across the following little tidbit. With all the VMS traffic here the last few days I thought a few people might enjoy this. I'm sure a lot of you have seen this before. BTW, does anyone have the order number for the OpenVMS V7.2-1/Alpha update? I still can't find it. Zane You know you're a VMS bigot when: You think case sensitivity is some ones idea of an April Fools joke You keep trying to use the EDT keypad in Word. You know why the SHOW SYSTEM display had to have the "system uptime" field increased beyond 999 days. You have the complete VMS docset on display in your living room. Your mail file doesn't grow to the size of the national debt. You expect upper AND lower case to work the same way You wish your car was as reliable as your computer You keep wanting Digital to produce "Visual DCL" You don't think about the Milky Way when you hear the word "Galaxy" You travel to Nashua twice a year, to get the newest fashion in T-shirts and jackets You know where NT stores its data if they really need it to be saved You know what Wes Melling was talking about, saying: "When you absolutely can't tolerate down-time" If you think that the word "legacy" refers to the next generation of Lego toys that your kids want. You remember the VAXworks group PATCH is your favorite text editor You can cite chapter and verse in the docset You know what the bars on the wall in front of ZKO spell The first thing you think of when you see a dollar sign isn't money You refer to Unix as the only commercially available computer virus When you know that the console sequence to force quorum recalculation without crashing the cluster. When your Exchange mail is set to auto-forward to STAR When you know the boot file sequences to make an efficient TU58 console boot tape. You insist on typing SET DEF [-] at your PC's DOS prompt Your LOGIN.COM exceeds 200 block and is on its thousand-something version Your LOGIN.COM file contains its own debugging language Your LOGIN.COM is written in Macro When you need to discipline the kids at home, you refer to it as CMKRNL time You think that "grep, awk, yacc" sounds like a death rattle When you hear ICBM's you don't think of nuclear warfare You know what happened November 17, 1858 You wonder why folks spend extra for a BACKUP tool You feel like you're using a crayon when you're working on a PC You still have a VAX architecture manual You can retrieve a file from another system with a one-line command instead of running a program, logging into the remote systems, and getting the file. None of your hardware uses PCI You tend to type a dollar sign in front of most verbs You think EXCHANGE is an OpenVMS utility for manipulating mass storage volumes You don't understand why e-mail needs to be in a format that uses half a megabyte of disk space for a one-page document. You maintain OpenVMS accounts on your workstation for coworkers who have migrated to PCs You think a form with one page of information should fit on your screen without scrolling You know what INSQTI means You know that fork queue is not an insult When you type $show dev d at the c:\> prompt and expect it to work You need a mouse with three buttons and the middle button is useful You turn 40 and tell friends that your are 28 hex A normal date is written as dd-mmm-yyyy You never saw the euphemism in "VAX Headroom" You expect all machine instruction to work left to right You can solve any problem with a TECO macro Your favorite "portable" language is TECO You see the movie Spawn and keep thinking about sub-processes You think Carl Sagen was wrong about "Galaxies" The only question about restoring a backup is finding it You believe a computer might handle more than one user at a time You feel Robert Frost was talking about quotas when he said: "Good fences make good neighbors" You presume that calling between languages "just works" You do not expect the previous version of your file to be destroyed by the new one You still measure performance in VUPS You understand that 'open' is a silent prefix You know there is more to bliss than ignorance You know RMS does not mean 'root mean square' The concept of a blue screen of death is foreign to you You think that a command line interface is better than a GUI You're surprised to find out that "cluster" is a new concept You have forgotten how to reboot because your system's been up so long You reboot your desktop station once every 15 months (and only because a tornado caused a city-wide power blackout) You don't have to reboot your workstation daily You know you can find out how to use a command by typing help and get it You use your VMS system to backup important files from your PC You don't need the UNIX for Dummies and Windows for Dummies to perform simple functions You want nothing to do with eunuchs You choke on your coffee when someone tells you Microsoft does clusters You Laugh when someone tells you they are certified for PC systems programming. You use SDA as your CLI Your debuger is Delta or xdelta You have no difficulties with using Debug in six windows on a VT100 You know for sure that you will never meet a TPU macro virus You really can't think of anything Bill Gates actually invented The most useful app on your PC is Telnet. the second most useful app on you PC is the CD player You never thought I was that bright to begin with. You know why the VMS development machine is named STAR You are still seeking "Compose Character" key on your PC keyword You answer 52.444 when someone asks your address You can talk about clusters with over 10 nodes You have to drive your car to ready the other Cluster nodes You have used patch/abs to patch an Alpha image and it worked The Pacific Northwest is still best known for its trees. You know what PMDF stands for You don't exit your editor when you leave for a two week vacation You actually expect your mail to work You don't follow up an email with a phone call and a fax You think that Microsoft is a new type of softserve ice cream You see no reason at all for a _minimum_ password lifetime. You know that the kernel is part of the operating system not Mr. Sanders first name You can use threads for more than sewing You can convert your phone number to hex You can use SDML You know what SDML stands for

25 years, 10 months

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Console Servers (was: cluster stuff [was Re: Changing lo)

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com> >Zane writes: >> Have you looked into doing Reverse LAT with a DECserver? I've heard it's >> possible, but haven't tried. Don't think it's quite what you want anyway. > >I've got several DECserver 200/MC boxes available for sale or trade. No >idea if they do reverse LAT (or, for that matter, normal forward LAT). the do both with the right host software. They were _the_ LAT box for serial lines via Eithernet. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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cluster stuff [was Re: Changing logicals on VMS?]

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 1:48 PM Subject: cluster stuff [was Re: Changing logicals on VMS?] >At 11:13 AM 10/3/00 -0700, you wrote: >>Actually this is more or less the solution I was thinking of (using a >>vax) if I couldn't find an off the shelf solution. Is there any console >>server software for VMS? > >There isn't a VMS solution but that other OS (NetBSD) ... Wasnt Unicenter (polycenter?))a vax console product? I know there was a common console product to allow single point management. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Amusingly, that website of those lawyers currently says "MoFo among Working Mother Top 100" or something like that.. heh Will J _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

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OSI model 600 find

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

It's been a while since I have picked-up any _digital_ computers, but I just could not resist this. I found someone selling a Ohio Scientific Model 600 on eBay, and when I went to check was it sold for, I discovered that no one wanted to bid the $20 minimum bid. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=37585 7886 So I asked for a picture of the computer to make sure it wasn't just a baggie full of spare parts. http://www.best.com/~dcoward/osi600.jpg I paid for it and it arrived today. There seems to be only one empty dip socket that looks like it should not be empty. It looks like the key caps for the numbers were removed on purpose. Without taking it apart, I can see one ROM labeled "BASIC 3", and two EPROMS labeled "BASIC 4 modified 12/21/81" and "SYN 600 MOD". I found one web site that also calls this a SuperBoard II. The main board says: "Ohio Scientific Model 600 CPU @1978 Rev B" The large daughter board says: "@1980 AARDVARK". And it contains a MC6821 PIA. The small daughter board contains three 2716s labeled "REV 94 I", "REV 94 II", and "REV 94 III". All in all it looks to be in very good condition, but powering this up is going to have to wait. My wife wants my current projects off the dinner table and the analog flight simulator and the paper tape punches out of the dining room. --Doug =================================================== Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com (work) Sr Software Engineer mranalog(a)home.com (home) Press Start Inc. http://www.pressstart.com Sunnyvale,CA Visit the new Analog Computer Museum and History Center at http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog ===================================================

25 years, 10 months

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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

Real programmers use DCL and FORTRAN. I used to work for a large engineering firm which used VAXes and VT220's for everything. Mostly we used 11/750's and 11/780's for CAD/CAM. We tried PRO 350's and 380's for engineering applications. I originally programmed structural design of pipe hangers on a PRO 350. For word processing they purchased AT&T 6300's with 10MB HardCards to replace all of the typewriters. All of a sudden everybody could create a document and send it out. File copies were never created or lost. Some people used WordPerfect, MultiMate, WordStar, and IBM DisplayWrite 3. Fonts, margins, and layout all went crazy. How would you like to pay 4 million dollars for a set of Coal fired power plant manuals and end up with a mess? We standardized on IBM DisplayWrite 3 and I was given the task of capturing all of the printing and filing it. We used a MicroVAX II to drive Xerox 2700 laser printers on each floor. Every time you printed we captured and archived a copy. I then created a FORTRAN77 program on the VAX to translate EBCDIC IBM DisplayWrite3 documents to ASCII and then print them. We also included the ability to take HPGL plot files and scale them to fit into an area in a document. We also added special symbols, foreign characters and logos. Engineering companies only believe in FORTRAN. We had a bad experience with a programmer who wrote lots of code in "C" and then left. Most of my support time was spend proving that my software was not at fault when the PC's were not working, the network was hosed or the printer was out of paper. Computer viruses were not a problem, only game players, and wierd spell checkers. I still have my copies of the FORTRAN version of a word processor print spooling application. Mike mmcfadden(a)cmh.edu

25 years, 10 months

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Need a copy of TI TMS320C40 C Compiler

by rmeenaks＠olf.com

Hi, I just received a TI TMS320C40 DSP + Inmos T805 transputer TRAM module. Quite a neat board. Does anyone have a C compiler for it? I havent tried out GCC yet, but according to the manufacturer, it was specifically designed for TI C compiler... Ram

25 years, 10 months

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Looking for ASR33 in SoCal

by chris＠routerguy.com

Hello. I need spare parts for my ASR 33 and/or looking for enough to refurb another unit. Preferably one now with the "internal" acoustic coupler modem. If you are in SoCal and have one, let me know. Chris Johnston chris(a)routerguy.com

25 years, 10 months

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Apple I Auction

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Does anyone know what the selling price was for the Apple I at VCF4 this past weekend ? John Keys

25 years, 10 months

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3
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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Will Jennings <xds_sigma7(a)hotmail.com> >Don't forget the main thing that UNIX needs... >Useful error messages! Ow come on compared to winders they are positively inspired even useful! Allison

25 years, 10 months

1
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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: R. D. Davis <rdd(a)smart.net> >work their way up to VMS and eventually be given access to the 'net >after demonstrating an ability to send e-mail using macro-32. Back in the dark ages when people could barely say print servers one of the local characteres took an apple laser writer and put it on a serial port of the local vax and wrote a DCL script so that you could either mail or print to the printer. Worked pretty good for VMS-3.6! >from Macro-32 you have reall power available! Allison

25 years, 10 months

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RL02 question

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Clint Wolff (VAX collector) <vaxman(a)uswest.net> >Ahhh, I see... If the cartridge is subjected to excessive shock, the >disk pops loose from the magnetic holder in the bottom, and rattles >around. I wish I remember which ones made 'clunking' sounds as I >unboxed them. > >Thanks for all the answers! Almost but not quite. the hub is a very sturdy bolted up structure as it has to hod on to a 14" disk spiining at high speed. However, The disk is 14" and only 1/8" thick aluminum so a shock in the wrong direction can warp it just like an only vinyl record in the sun. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Hmm.. "You have the complete VMS docset on display in your living room." Only one docs set? I have 2 complete ones and several incomplete ones... "You keep wanting Digital to produce "Visual DCL"" Eh? I'd imagine that would look really weird on my LA120... "You still have a VAX architecture manual" Which one would you like? 80-81, 82, 86, or the big expanded 8.5" x 11" one? And which rev of the instruction set reference do you prefer? "You need a mouse with three buttons and the middle button is useful" Mouse? Whazzat? "You believe a computer might handle more than one user at a time" Maybe, but they have to bring their own chair and their own terminal "The concept of a blue screen of death is foreign to you" Well, in theory, I suppose I could make a text page entirely composed of the word "death" and somehow get a blue ribbon made for the LA120.. but where does the screen part come in? "You think that a command line interface is better than a GUI" A GUI? Was someone drinking pop around the computer again? "You reboot your desktop station once every 15 months (and only because a tornado caused a city-wide power blackout)" Hah, my station is being used *AS* a desktop "You know you can find out how to use a command by typing help and get it" I think I'll just look it up in the doc set, that'd be a lot of printing _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

25 years, 10 months

5
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You might be a VMS Bigot if.....

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

Ah, part of the joke is the people that would be most mystified by VMS is the Winders crowd. Most of them have forgotten what C:> means or never have seen it. -----Original Message----- From: Dan Kolb <dankolb(a)ox.compsoc.net> >> You keep trying to use the EDT keypad in Word. > >Oh, please. Word? Surely it should be vi, emacs or Wordstar. :) See win9x... They meant Word as anyone ued to other real word processors would be clued and maybe even like LSE or TPU. >Hmm...one page...that would be, say, 80x25 for a screen, or about 80x65 for >an A4 page. So that's max. 5k. Why *does* it need half a meg. anyway? Word >attachment? HTML, RTF MIME, anything but plain ascii. >> You think that a command line interface is better than a GUI > >It is, though, isn't it? The only advantage I can (OTTOMH) think of is that a >web browser in a GUI displays pictures :-) So can ghostscript from a command line. >"apropos <keyword>"? VMS Help {type, dir, del, set, show, ... or maybe even ?} >> You really can't think of anything Bill Gates actually invented > >Did he invent anything? Still cant, never did, likely cant. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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RL02 question

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Clint Wolff (VAX collector) <vaxman(a)uswest.net> >I haven't looked at these very close yet, but aren't the heads in the >drive, not the disk pack? > >The only damage I can imagine is the bearings and/or races got munged >up... > >clint The packs consist of a hub assembly (no bearings) that matches up with the magnetic clutch on the spindle of the drive. The platter being nearly 14" is susceptable to warping from high shocks. I'd consider popping it out of the plastic pack and mounting it on a try spindle and giving it a spin in free air to see if the the platter is warped. If the heads make contact it could be catastrophic and a PITA to mount and align a new set. Allison > > >On Mon, 2 Oct 2000, Daniel T. Burrows wrote: > >> >I recently purchased a number of RL02 cartridges. Some are labeled: >> >RL02K-DC and some RL02K-EF. >> > >> >What's the difference between them? >> >> The -EF were error free. >> >> > >> >One had one side of the shock indicator set, a second had both set. >> > >> >Would it be a really bad idea to use either of these, or just a bad >> >idea? >> >> Depends of how brave you are.:) >> Clean the heads first anyway. >> Inspect them closely for any dings. Especially on the edges of the >> platters. Then be ready to spin the drive down if you hear anything when it >> first loads. >> Then inspect the heads again for oxide whether you heard anything or not. >> >> Dan >> >> >> >> >

25 years, 10 months

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Changing logicals on VMS?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Monday, October 02, 2000 11:39 PM Subject: Re: Changing logicals on VMS? >I got in this mess as follows: > >I installed an RF72 drive into my 4000/200 and proceeded to do a 'sho dev' >on it. It showed up on the DSSI bus as $24$DIA264: > >I then installed VMS 7.2 on to this drive, followed by a bunch of layered >products. > >Then I read in the KA660 technical manual how to "talk" to the DSSI drives, >(which is very arcane using the KFQSA but a snap on the KA640 and KA660) >and proceeded to tell the drive to call itself node SYSTEM and unit 0. > >This worked fine, and I noted that I could now boot the system by >specifying DIA0: rather than DIA264: (which I never could remember anyway). > >Then I went to install another layered product. That installation failed >because it couldn't find a file is was expecting in >SYS$SYSDEVICE:[SY0.SYSTEMP] (or something very similar). So I did a dir >SYS$SYSDEVICE: and sure enough there was nothing there, then I did a SHOW >LOGICALS and from there discovered that SYS$SYSDEVICE: was defined to be >$24$DIA264: (the original name of the DSSI drive) Ok, try set(or is it define) sys$sysdevice:[sys0.systemp] == $24$dia264 I may have this off some but it's only a simple necessity in systartup_* to define the system logicals for the devices you wish to be default. >Now I could name it back again. But I'd rather tell VMS where the SYSDEVICE >now sits (for all the system, like on a permanent basis). If I 'define' it, >it changes for the current process but doesn't change universally and more >importantly other things are stuck that way to. > >Nothing is SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM defines these so they must be in a parameter >database somewhere else. That is where I'm looking now ... > check help define logicals. Allison

25 years, 10 months

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Zilog S8000 available in the UK

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

I used to have the rackmount version of this system (I don't recall the /xx number, 41 maybe?)...it was quite a machine. Next to my other main machines of the day (MicroVAX-II and a few 386 systems, this was like 1989) it was a VERY fast box. Lack of networking was what killed it for me. But aside from that, it was a pleasure to use. -Dave McGuire On October 3, Joe wrote: > At 12:10 PM 10/3/00 +0100, Pete wrote: > > > >> I now have it here, its a Zilog S8000/32 Model 130, Ser no. > >> 01871336, sold by Allied Business Systems of Portslade, Sussex. > >> > >BTW what, precisely, is it - does anyone on the list know of them. In his > >original message to me he said that it was big and that it had been used at > >a local college to teach Unix to students. > > > You're in luck. I just happen to have a copy of the '82/'83 Zilog > catalog handy. It lists the S8000/31. I expect the 32 is similar. Here are > some of the specs for the 31; 6 MHz Z8001A CPU and Z8010A MMUs as well as 6 > MHz Z80B CPUs. The Z8000 is a 16 bit CPU with 16 general purpose registers > and an 8 M byte address space and can perform 8, 16 and 32 bit operations. > The operating system is Zeus, a Zilog enhanced UNIX. It includes a screen > oriented editor, a symbolic debugger and more than 180 other utilities. > Other features include a HFS, compatible file, device, and interprocess > I/O, Separate code and data address space, multiple processes per user, > user program address space of up to 8 Mb (C, Fortran 77, assembler. Zilog > offered BASIC, Cobal, C, Fortran 77, Pascal and PLZ/Sys for it. The machine > has up to 4 Mb of ECC memory (1 Mb minimum) and can support up to 24 users. > Optional 9 track 1/2" magnetic tape drive. I *think* it does include a tape > cassette drive as standard. It should have a 3600 RPM 32 Mb hard drive with > 45 ms access time. The standard unit is 33" high and measures 19" wide by > 24" deep and weighs ~ 250 pounds. Based on the picture, it appears to be > made up of four modules stacked on top of each other and has castors > underneath. The unit is white with a vertical black strip about 6" wide on > the left side of the front. There are expansion units that can be stacked > on top of the main unit. Th unit can run off of single phase 100, 117, 220 > or 240 VAC. Maximum current at 220/240 volts is 4 Amps. > > Joe > > > > > > > > > > >

25 years, 10 months

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Got my PDP-11/34! Now what?

by pdp-11＠swbell.net

I recently got a PDP-11/34A, with 2 RK05 drives, about 10 packs with RSTS/E and maybe RSX-11M (not sure about what else). The main cabinet is almost completely full of cards that I know almost nothing about. I powered up the CPU, and it appears to work. I have a lot of manuals also. My question is: What should I do first? I have no idea how to clean this stuff. Right now I really want to know what I should do in preperation for setting everything up. Thanks, Owen

25 years, 10 months

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Recent finds

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

After last weekend's soaraway success this weekend was a little flat! I could only get 2 boxed early 80s electronic games - MB Genius and Cue Ball....red LED snooker anyone? :) http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk if you fancy a look, now fully (I hope) netscape compatible! a > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Ford [mailto:mikeford@socal.rr.com] > Sent: 29 September 2000 19:02 > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Recent finds > > > Sometimes its the little things, sometimes the big ones. > > Items bringing me joy this week (something has to since I > can't go to VCF ;( > > I found two Tandy labeled and two Grid labeled AC adapters, > all with the > same output plug and 16.5 v something amp ratings. > > Later in the week I found a Barco 2846 multidata 28" color monitor > (supports NTSC/PAL RGB, svga, and mac with switches). > >

25 years, 10 months

2
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Zilog S8000 available in the UK

by agraham＠ccat.co.uk

Dammit - that's too far for me too :o( > -----Original Message----- > From: Peter Joules [mailto:pgj@ghrs.co.uk] > Sent: 03 October 2000 12:43 > To: 'classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org' > Subject: Zilog S8000 available in the UK > > > I had this machine offered to me, but it is too far for me to > collect it if > anyone else in the UK wants it. Please contact Mike directly. > > BTW what, precisely, is it - does anyone on the list know of > them. In his > original message to me he said that it was big and that it > had been used at > a local college to teach Unix to students. > > -- > Regards > Pete > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Mike W [mailto:mike@corn2.freeserve.co.uk] > > Sent: 03 October 2000 10:57 > > To: Peter Joules > > Subject: Re: You want old computer stuff? > > > > > > no probs abt the delay in replying Pete, feel free to pass on the > > details to whoever you wish. > > > > I now have it here, its a Zilog S8000/32 Model 130, Ser no. > > 01871336, sold by Allied Business Systems of Portslade, Sussex. > > > > It appears to be functional but as yet I hav'nt connected a > terminal > > to it so I can't be certain of this. > > > > If you or any of your fellow devotees would like to have it > > then I'd be > > only too happy to store it until it can be collected. > > Catch you later.. Mike W, Redruth, Cornwall > > > > >

25 years, 10 months

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Need help identifying the following IC/CHIP

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Oct 2, 20:38, Ram Meenakshisundaram wrote: > > [ Attachment (multipart/alternative): 2760 bytes ] [please don't post multipart :-)] > I hope that the firmware is downloaded to the chip each time it is fired = > up, but I am not sure. The chip is labelled as: > > TOSHIBA > TC57H256D-70 > JAPAN 8906YAA > VPP 12.5V > > Does anyone know what type of IC this is and where I can obtain one? It's a standard 32768 x 8 CMOS EPROM, 70ns access time. I have the data sheet if you really need it. Pinout is: Vpp 1 28 Vdd A12 2 27 A14 A7 3 26 A13 A6 4 25 A8 A5 5 24 A9 A4 6 23 A11 A3 7 22 ~OE A2 8 21 A10 A1 9 20 ~CE A0 10 19 D7 D0 11 18 D6 D1 12 17 D5 D2 13 16 D4 GND 14 15 D3 Like many devices of its time, it has an electronic signature, though it's unlikely your circuit checks that. Anyway, the signature is obtained by applying normal read voltage to all pins, except you apply 12V to A9. Then with A0 at logic 1, you get the manufacturer code 0x98 and with A0=0 you get device code 0x45. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 10 months

1
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Login on VMS

by ncherry＠home.net

What are some of the default logins under VMS. Yes this is the first time I've played with the beast. BTW, how long does it take for DECUS to allow membership? I'm dying to get the CD's which I can't until the membership is approved. And lastly can I pop on a 3rd part SCSI drive on the uVax II? -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)home.net http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only) http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lightsey/52 (Graphics) http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

25 years, 10 months

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Looking for VMEbus module manuals

by cfandt＠netsync.net

I periodically poll the list to see if anyone has the following manuals that I'm looking for. Been a long time, so here goes again :-) : I have a couple of Mizar VMEbus Video boards, model 7710. Has anybody an operator's/technical manual? Either an original or decent xerographic copy will do. Has anybody written an OS-9/68K ver. 2.3 or 2.4 driver for this thing? These are 1989 vintage. I'm also looking for the following Motorola VMEbus Module manuals: ** MVME 236-1,2,3 (Publication number MVME 236-1 Dx ), DRAM memory module (x = version or edition number. I'll take any version.) ** MVME 133-1 (Publication number MVME 133-1 Dx ), Processor module ** Support Docs manual for this processor: SIMVME133-1 ** MVME134bug (Publication number MVME134bug Dx ), debugger manual for '134 processor module ** Support Documentation (schematics, etc.) for an MVME147S which is publication number SIMVME147S. Already have the manual. ** Xycom XVME 682 -which is a VMEbus PC/AT (Intel 286) processor module ** I'm also looking for Xycom catalogs and any tech documentation from back in the mid-80's. Thanks for your help! Regards, Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/

25 years, 10 months

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British digital computers in 1944

by rutledge＠cx47646-a.phnx1.az.home.com

Interesting bit of discussion...I know better than to repeat the headline claiming it was the first though. :-) http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/10/01/0042253&mode=thread -- _______ Shawn T. Rutledge / KB7PWD ecloud(a)bigfoot.com (_ | |_) http://www.bigfoot.com/~ecloud kb7pwd(a)kb7pwd.ampr.org __) | | \________________________________________________________________ Get money for spare CPU cycles at http://www.ProcessTree.com/?sponsor=5903

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test-drb