test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by mranalog＠home.com

Anthony Clifton said: > On a disk that Doug Coward sent me, which doesn't boot but can be read > once I boot of one of the disks sent to me by Don Maslin, Sorry, I'm just back from a vacation trip and I'm still not back at work yet, so I'm doing this from memory. It been at least a year since I sent that disk, but I seem to remember that I sent you an email after I sent the disk saying something like "Oops, by the way, by mistake the NSDOS disk I sent you is a special version compiled to load at 0100 hex not the normal 2000 hex." Look at the label, if this is the case it should say North Star DOS (version something) AT 100. So (if this is the case) you would need RAM starting from 0000, and BASIC on this disk would expect to find the DOS I/O vectors starting from 0100 hex, but the BASIC programs would work with the normal version of DOS. Without being able to search through my old email, because I'm not at work, thats how I remember it. Sorry, I just seems to have gotten in a hurry and sent the wrong DOS on the disk without thinking. I run CP/M also so I just naturally start RAM at 0000. I hope I'm not thinking of someone else I sent NSDOS to. I'm glad you're having so much success. --Doug ==================================================== Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com (work) Sr. Software Eng. mranalog(a)home.com (home) Press Start Inc. http://www.pressstart.com Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum/ and the new Analog Computer Museum and history Center http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog ====================================================

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On May 27, 0:13, Tony Duell wrote: > Yes, but have you seen the price of IDC DD50 plugs? Last time I needed > some, the standard 'Amphenol' 50 pin plugs (like overgrown Centronics > plugs) were a couple of pounds a time, but the DD50s were \pounds 17.00 > or so... > > I must admit they're (DD50s) a much nicer connector, though. You can get Amphenol IDC ones that take *standard* ribbon cable (not the delicate half-pitch stuff) from Videk, for about a fiver. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<OMTI (SMS) and ADAPTEC made quite a few of these SCSI-HOST to MFM or RLL <devices. It seems to me that NOVELL capitalized on this proliferation of And Xybec. <Has anyone ever used a SCSI-hosted bride controller of this sort with <essentially no problems at all? If so, I'd surely like to know which one <and how it was implemented. I have the following: Adaptec 4070 SCSI to RLL, use that with a quantum D540. Xybec 14xx in a CP/M system (SB180, with SCSI adaptor) (miniscibe 3.5"mfm) DEC TK50Z SCSI to DEC TK50 DLT tape on a Microvax VIA CMD200 scsi card. All work with minimal setup. Allison

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote: > Has anyone ever used a SCSI-hosted bride controller of this sort with > essentially no problems at all? If so, I'd surely like to know which one > and how it was implemented. Um, yeah. I've had several of the Emulex MD21s in service on up to 300MB drives. They worked. Especially after we got the problem child to put his drive cabinet on his desk instead of on the floor. Here's another question for Chuck: if it was purely an economic decision, why did Sun's sd driver require the ACB4000 or MD21? I once tried to get my 2/120 w/SunOS 3.5 to talk to a SCSI disk. No go. So I tried again, with a similar disk (but ESDI) behind an MD21, and it worked just fine. -Frank McConnell

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>I've had decent results with the ADAPTEC 4070's too. What I'm mainly >interested in is having a boxed drive, in this case, complete with bridge >controller, which moves from system to system, as I do with my native SCSI >drives. Unfortunately, there aren't any MFM/RLL drives big enough to be >interesting. Someone should correct me if I'm wrong (I'd be interested in knowing that I'm wrong!), but the largest capacity MFM geometry is that of the Maxtor XT2190 (1024 cylinders * 15 heads), giving you just under 150 Mbytes (M=10**6) after formatting at 19 sectors/track. And the RLL version gets another 30% or so of capacity. Hitachi ESDI drives are available up to 1.5Gbytes or so, and work well on Emulex ESDI<->SCSI controller. All the above was assuming you meant size=capacity. If you meant size=cubic feet or pounds, I'm sure you could put a 14" CDC SMD drive on the other side of a SMD<->SCSI controller. Of course, large embedded-controller SCSI drives are readily available on the surplus market these days. 9 Gbyte drives start below $150.00, and 2 Gbyte drives seem to get around $40. -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by edick＠idcomm.com

I've had decent results with the ADAPTEC 4070's too. What I'm mainly interested in is having a boxed drive, in this case, complete with bridge controller, which moves from system to system, as I do with my native SCSI drives. Unfortunately, there aren't any MFM/RLL drives big enough to be interesting. Nevertheless, it's a pregnant vehicle for modularity in system functionality. (almost sounds like gov-speak, doesn't it?) The idea is that I want to house software packages in boxes of their own so they can be run wherever there's a spot open. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 5:28 PM Subject: Re: non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier) ><OMTI (SMS) and ADAPTEC made quite a few of these SCSI-HOST to MFM or RLL ><devices. It seems to me that NOVELL capitalized on this proliferation of > >And Xybec. > ><Has anyone ever used a SCSI-hosted bride controller of this sort with ><essentially no problems at all? If so, I'd surely like to know which one ><and how it was implemented. > >I have the following: > > Adaptec 4070 SCSI to RLL, use that with a quantum D540. > Xybec 14xx in a CP/M system (SB180, with SCSI adaptor) (miniscibe 3.5"mfm) > DEC TK50Z SCSI to DEC TK50 DLT tape on a Microvax VIA CMD200 scsi card. > >All work with minimal setup. > > >Allison >

26 years

Interesting thing on slashdot

by zmerch＠30below.com

Rumor has it that Aaron Christopher Finney may have mentioned these words: >For the browser impaired, Dell is hosting a contest to find the oldest PC >still in use in a small business. The winner will receive 15K in computer >equipment. Businesses have to be < 400 employees and you have to show >proof with a receipt, warranty card, or other proof of age/purchase... Actually, I was first thinking of someone who still runs his accounting business primarily on Tandy Color Computers (1's and 2's - tho he might have a 3 floating around)... However, I won't; here's why: From what it looks like on the web page, you have to donate the old computer setup back to Dell so they can give it to a museum. If the person I had in mind actually won, he'd kill me - he doesn't want to upgrade. Pentium Xeon servers won't print the checks any faster >from a daisy-wheel printer any faster than a CoCo can!!! The other downfall to this is if someone was still using 3-4 Altairs for their business setup, with the speculation over these machines the company might actually take a loss thru Dell than selling the machines via auction. Think about it. Disgusting, ain't it? Just a thought, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.

26 years

68020 vs 68EC020

by gareth.knight2＠which.net

Pete Turnbull wrote: >> > An A1200 question: what's the difference between the 68020 and 68EC020? >> >> I believe the 'EC' version is for Embedded Control, and lacks some of the >> functions of the plain 68020 (probably MMU-related or something). > >I'm not sure of the other details, but "EC" = "Embedded Control", as you >say. According to my Motorola cribsheet, it's a 68020 with only 24-bit >addressing, without the dynamic bus sizing, ands restricted speed range. > It does have the co-pro interface, though, and probably most if not all of >the instruction set (the crib sheet doesn't get very detailed). Yup. In real terms the choice of EC by Commodore restricted the standard A1200 to just 10Mb fast RAM. This can be overcome with an accelerator that plugs into the trapdoor. On a slightly related note, a friend of mine in the US has found that his washer machine contains a 020 processor. Those things sure get around. -- Gareth Knight Amiga Interactive Guide | ICQ No. 24185856 http://welcome.to/aig | "Shine on your star"

26 years

Space, the next frontier

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> > The HD controller was 8x300, teh floppy was on the main board and relie <> <> I thought it was a Western Digital chipset, but I can't find a board to <> check at the moment. < <I just looked at one of mine and the major chip is a WD1010AL-00. I was going by the proto (likely) that I have that does have 8x300 like the DECMATE and a few of the other DEC systems. I thought it went WD as well but the board I have was scrounged from a system in the mill back in the crazy days. Allison

26 years

Space, the next frontier

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> All rainbows had both that was the base configuration. The later B and B < <Sure. I was commenting about Tim's comment of a dedicated Z-80 for the <FDC. AFAIK there isn't. There is a Z80, but it can run user programs. The z80 when not running user programs is dedicated to floppy IO. When it is running CPM80 code it's still servicing the Floppy. <The colour graphics card was pretty nice as well. It's got a 7220 <graphics copro on it... I know... I was at NEC when we sold it to DEC. we were trying to get them to use the 765 floppy but the alreay had to many WD chips. Allison

26 years

Interesting thing on slashdot

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<For the browser impaired, Dell is hosting a contest to find the oldest PC <still in use in a small business. The winner will receive 15K in computer <equipment. Businesses have to be < 400 employees and you have to show <proof with a receipt, warranty card, or other proof of age/purchase... I gotta go collect... I'm running a 286 for an oven control system and also a XT turbo clone for a measurement test and logging system. Being ISO 9001, PMA, and FM those system are well documented (and have to be eco'd if a part is replaced!). Allison

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by edick＠idcomm.com

It's odd that SUN, then, having declared the SCSI on the skids, would have been the ONE with the most sensible and least fragile connector on their external cable harnesses. If I had $1 for every time I've had a problem with external SCSI cable connectors, I could retire in luxury. I've NEVER had trouble with the D-types, in this case, the DD-50, breaking off contacts, etc. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 4:13 PM Subject: Re: non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier) >At 02:51 PM 5/26/99 -0700, Frank wrote: >>Sun did this too. [scsi to MFM] ... >>I think I remember reading somewhere that this was done because the >>SCSI-to-whatever interface had the intelligence for bad-block >>remapping. But I wouldn't be surprised to find that the cost of the >>drives had something to do with it; > >Cost has more to do with it than bad blocks, the 4.1BSD disk driver knew >how to remap bad blocks but with Adaptec and Emulex solutions you could put >_two_ cheap drives behind a SCSI interface (logical unit 0 and 1) and when >you did that the costs were significantly less for the scsi+ESDI solution. >Of course Sun was a huge proponent of IPI, claiming it would wipe SCSI off >the planet. > >--Chuck > >

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by edick＠idcomm.com

-----Original Message----- From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 4:21 PM Subject: Re: non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier) >OMTI (SMS) and ADAPTEC made quite a few of these SCSI-HOST to MFM or RLL >devices. It seems to me that NOVELL capitalized on this proliferation of >these bridge controllers as well, providing a configuration utility for use >with their SCSI board. I don't know how well they worked, but I imagine >they had "little" problems with them as did nearly everyone else. > >Has anyone ever used a SCSI-hosted bride controller of this sort with OOPS! . . . er . . . that's BRIDGE controller . . . <sorry!> >essentially no problems at all? If so, I'd surely like to know which one >and how it was implemented. > >Dick

26 years

non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier)

by edick＠idcomm.com

OMTI (SMS) and ADAPTEC made quite a few of these SCSI-HOST to MFM or RLL devices. It seems to me that NOVELL capitalized on this proliferation of these bridge controllers as well, providing a configuration utility for use with their SCSI board. I don't know how well they worked, but I imagine they had "little" problems with them as did nearly everyone else. Has anyone ever used a SCSI-hosted bride controller of this sort with essentially no problems at all? If so, I'd surely like to know which one and how it was implemented. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Frank McConnell <fmc(a)reanimators.org> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 3:58 PM Subject: non-SCSI disks on a SCSI disk interface (was Re: Space, the next frontier) >ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: >> Most later workstations had SCSI interfaces for the hard disk (even if >> they then broke that by insisting on an ST506 drive on the other side of >> a SCSI->ST506 interface, as ICL and Torch both did). Some older > >Sun did this too. It wasn't 'til SunOS 4.0 that the SCSI-disk driver >would actually talk to SCSI disks. Before that, it wanted to talk to >an Adaptec ACB4000 or an Emulex MD21 (for ESDI disks). > >I think I remember reading somewhere that this was done because the >SCSI-to-whatever interface had the intelligence for bad-block >remapping. But I wouldn't be surprised to find that the cost of the >drives had something to do with it; I remember Amiga folks scheming to >use ACB4000 boards with their SCSI interfaces because it was cheaper >than buying a SCSI disk, and I've opened a few Mac SCSI hard disk >boxes to find the same sort of thing inside. > >-Frank McConnell >

26 years

Space, the next frontier

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<All my 'bows have 2 processors. An 8088 and a Z80. The Z80 runs the VT100 <emulation from ROM, etc, _but_ it's also possible to run user programs on <it (CP/M on a rainbow will run CP/M80 or CP/M86 programs). All rainbows had both that was the base configuration. The later B and B+ versions were allabout adding hard disk and hard disk booting, IE firmware. IT did run CPM80/86, that was the base OS and the system was set uyp so that you could run z80 or 8088 code. in z80 mode the 8088 was idle. In the 8088 mode the z80 was doing IO processing. Obviously the 8088 mode hard far more performnce than many turbo PCs as the z80 is a pretty good io processor. <I don't recall there being any processors on the disk daughterboard (and <I think I'd remember that), unlike, say, the Pro where there's a <microcontroller between the system bus and the FDC chip. The HD controller was 8x300, teh floppy was on the main board and relied on the z80. Formatting was possible on all models. Only that the early OS packages didn't include the formatter(Pournelle got a first off the line). For a long while Rainbows were popular for formatting rx50s. That and people that had them really liked them. Allison

26 years

confidential info on old harddrives.

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

On Wednesday, May 26, 1999 5:39 PM, Chuck McManis [SMTP:cmcmanis@mcmanis.com] wrote: > So what's the problem? Any responsible adult would simply delete/erase the > personal data and move on. Yep... That's what I do. Besides, I've never seen any info that was any particular interest to me. I'll admit, I don't generally erase other peoples source code without inspecting it. I find it invaluable when trying to learn a new OS or the specifics of a programming language. Steve Robertson - <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

26 years

confidential info on old harddrives.

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

So what's the problem? Any responsible adult would simply delete/erase the personal data and move on. Anyone who would consider invading someones privacy by riffling through their old data files is simply rude and uncivilized. When someone gives me a computer I offer to copy off any data onto an archive disk for them, but I then delete it after doing so. I'm sure that lawyers are the worst because they know that if you did anything with the information or even made it public knowledge that you had the information they would successfully sue you for everything you own. --Chuck At 04:32 PM 5/26/99 -0400, Colan wrote: > I repeatedly come across personal and confidential information on >discarded computers. I sit and shake my head in shock. Lawyers seem to >be the worst.

26 years

FA on Haggle: MultiBus Prototype boards

by edick＠idcomm.com

It would be interesting to know more about these cards. Is there a picture or something to specify the configuration of the boards? Dick -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Lane <kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 9:28 AM Subject: FA on Haggle: MultiBus Prototype boards >Hi, folks, > > I just posted a pair of unused MultiBus wire-wrap prototyping boards on >Haggle (I can't stand Ebay) in the 'Antique Computers' section. I've >started them off at $5.00 each, and I figure that, if anyone, at least some >of you would be interested. ;-) > > I also inserted a proviso in the description that I won't sell these to a >gold scrapper even if they're the high bid. I want these beauties to go to >someone who can actually use them in a project. > > If you want to have a look (sorry I couldn't arrange a picture): > > http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=202018178 > > Enjoy! > > >-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- >Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies >http://www.bluefeathertech.com >Amateur Radio:(WD6EOS) E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com >SysOp: The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272, 253-639-9905) >"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own >human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

26 years

Misc manuals available

by svs＠ropnet.ru

G'day, Are the following documents of value to listmembers? I could scan them, if so. I will gladly accept scan(s) of certain DEC manual(s) in return. - Control Data 405 card reader, mod D Supplemental Manual, Pub No. 49750900 (Logic Diagrams, Logic Wiring, Logic Chassis, Logic Location) - iSBC 80/30 Single Board Computer Hardware Reference Manual, (c) Intel 1978. - iSBC 501 Direct Memory Access Controller H.R.M., (c) Intel 1976. - iSBC 544 Intelligent Communications Controller H.R.M., (c) Intel 1978. - Univac Series 70: VMOS Executive Program Interface Document No. 77031000, Revision 11, Revision date: 23 August 1972. -- Sergey Svishchev -- svs{at}ropnet{dot}ru

26 years

Unibus cards availiable

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>While visiting the scrapper that bought much of my auction I had him set >aside 4 Unibus cards that I thought the list would be interested in. I >thought they were unusual and old. > >The numbers are G235, G232 (printed with a rubber stamp) and two G114s. There >is some indication that they deal with X,Y positioning. They are 6 wide >Unibus. These are all "XY" drivers for various core planes. Most likely from 11/70 core boxes, though they were also used in other systems. They aren't actually Unibus, though they do plug into hex-height slots. -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

26 years

Space, the next frontier

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<There are dozens of other machines like that. The Xerox Daybreak I have <here has a similar setup. The TRS-80 Model 4 I have has a hard disk box <containing a WD controller card and an ST506 hard disk. That one would be <easier to modify to use a different disk, but still not trivial. the problem is often more than just having a formatter program or even the capability. Many systems the OS may have built in limitations on what drives may be used. CPM typically the bios is set up for only one trivel geometry and changing it is a assembly language project if your lucky enough to have sources. Allison

26 years

Unibus cards availiable

by Innfogra＠aol.com

While visiting the scrapper that bought much of my auction I had him set aside 4 Unibus cards that I thought the list would be interested in. I thought they were unusual and old. The numbers are G235, G232 (printed with a rubber stamp) and two G114s. There is some indication that they deal with X,Y positioning. They are 6 wide Unibus. If anyone is interested the owner would sell reasonably but would want more than scrap value. Paxton PS I also pulled out two Compaq Intelligent Drive Array-2 cards and an FDDI card, all for EISA bus. Does anyone know of a Compaq list that I could post them on.

26 years

FA on Haggle: MultiBus Prototype boards

by Innfogra＠aol.com

In a message dated 5/26/99 8:36:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time, healyzh(a)aracnet.com writes: > I like that, but am curious as to how you intend to identify a scrapper. It is easy. Sell the card for more than it's scrap value. In this case it is about a penny a pin plus the value of the card's fingers (less than 50 cents, more than a quarter). Paxton

26 years

FA on Haggle: MultiBus Prototype boards

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

Hi, folks, I just posted a pair of unused MultiBus wire-wrap prototyping boards on Haggle (I can't stand Ebay) in the 'Antique Computers' section. I've started them off at $5.00 each, and I figure that, if anyone, at least some of you would be interested. ;-) I also inserted a proviso in the description that I won't sell these to a gold scrapper even if they're the high bid. I want these beauties to go to someone who can actually use them in a project. If you want to have a look (sorry I couldn't arrange a picture): http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=202018178 Enjoy! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio:(WD6EOS) E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com SysOp: The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272, 253-639-9905) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

26 years

Interesting thing on slashdot

by af-list＠lafleur.wfi-inc.com

I grabbed the following from slashdot: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/990526/tx_dell_co_2.html For the browser impaired, Dell is hosting a contest to find the oldest PC still in use in a small business. The winner will receive 15K in computer equipment. Businesses have to be < 400 employees and you have to show proof with a receipt, warranty card, or other proof of age/purchase... Aaron

26 years

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