Reviving a MicroVAX II

This is the issue of course, cost. I agree with Allison whole heartedly that the _easiest_ thing to do is to slap a SCSI controller in there and then stick a CD-ROM drive and a couple of GB SCSI disk and you're totally up to speed and off to the races. However, SCSI controllers are not common. I've lucked into a couple but that took a couple of _years_ of VAX filtration. (and about 20 vaxes later) The most common one by far is the Viking QTO/QDO/QDT. This is a dual wide controller, widely licensed, with three variants, tape only (QTO), disk only (QTD), and tape and disk (QTD). Most (all?) VAX SCSI controllers come in these three variants. This is probably because the tapes and disks used different protocols (TMSCP vs MSCP). A Viking QTD from a DEC Reseller will set you back anywhere from $250 - $800. A nicer CMD controller like the one Allison recommended I've seen listed for $2000! Contrast that to an ESDI controller that you can usually find for $30 - $50. The cheapest way to get up and running is with an RQDX3 and a couple of MFM drives. However you will need either a VAX2000 or a Microvax Diagnostic tape to format them. The issue with them as that the biggest ones (RD54's) are in such demand that they too command a premium. So that is why SCSI, while nice, is often difficult on a shoestring. And if you find an old VAX that has had a SCSI controller added, that is a good deal. --Chuck At 05:31 PM 7/2/00 -0500, you wrote: