20 Jan
2014
20 Jan
'14
4:12 p.m.
On 20/01/2014 19:44, Tony Duell wrote:
I worked at Salford University on X.25 software for IBM Mainframes. As
far as I know all of that has disappeared and mention of it generally
results in derision. However we were able to transfer files and send
e-mails between IBM Mainframes, running MVS, MTS, & VM, DEC Vax,
Honeywell L66, Prime Primes, Sun and I think we had a port for 3B2 but I
never worked on that...
The IBM VM Version was used at around 20 Universities in the UK but as
far as I know no copies of the software remain. IBM pretty much refused
to sell it outside the University as they would sell the x.25 interface
code that ran in a Series/1....
In fact worse than that, there is no mention of thos software at my
local museum, MOSI (www.mosi.org.uk) even though it has a communications
gallery..
I know this was all "dead end" but its interesting to note that some of
the issues we hit , such as where do the "[" and "]" characters go on
EBCDIC still cause issues today as recent posts on the IBM Assembler
demonstrate...
Now that brings me round to IBM Networking , there are several distinct
phases of IBM "Networking", so the third computer I programmed back in
1972 was the IBM 360/67 and Newcastle Upon Tyne University. We accessed
this from an IBM1130 running the RJE system. The 360/67 was later
upgraded to a 370. This was a bi-sync link. Interestingly almost all the
bits of software used to run this is preserved.
IBM had a huge bi-sync network called VNET. This used store and forward
networking to transfer files, but also a program called PVM that allowed
terminal sessions to hop across mainframes. This was all before SNA . I
don't think any of this software is preserved. The problem is that both
PVM and VNET(now RSCS) are current Program Products so old versions
can't be obtained. The same goes for the IBM SNA software.....
Of course the rest of the BUNCH also had similar networking systems. On
the Honeywell L66 we had equivalents to the IBM 2780 and 3780 RJE work
stations....(RNP-707 perhaps).....
Any way Al sorry to ramble , but that doesn't help you develop a
collections or acquisition policy. There is so much and it goes obsolete
so quickly. I think in your case perhaps you should look at collecting
to support the main items in your collection....
Dave.
On 01/20/2014
10:06 AM, William Donzelli wrote:
I am a mmeber of of the (UK)
Telecommunications Herritage Group, and the
number of memebrs interested in old datacomms stuff can be couned on the
fingers of one had -- in unary.
I think part of the reason is that an old telepohne is stil luseful. You
can connect it to a modern POTS line and make and receive calls. Yes, you
can conenct up a 300 baud modem i nthe same way, but good luck in finding
somehtign to call. And if you do, well, broadband is, I am told, many, many,
times faster...
I have a few older modems, etc, and I am keepign them. Heck, I even use
them sometiems on my line simualtor.
Another thing that should be preserved IMHO is the X25 networking stuff
that was used for the UK JANET netowrk. I have a JNT--PAD somewhere too.
And a 'York Box' (X25 interface for machines withotu synchronous serial
ports -- it consistes of a DEC BA11-V with a Falcon, 28K words of DRAM,
DRV11 and DPV11 cards. The DPV11 is the X25 port, the DRV11 (parallel)
or a port on the Falcon (serial_) are the host interface).
-tony Some day the telephone people with get serious
about their history (or
at least the history of what happens beyond the kitchen wall), so I
would suggest CHM lets them deal with their documentation and
knowledge. I see hope - there are more and more guys that have started
real work in old central office and long lines technology, and the
number seems to be growing. They just need to be "shown the way".
I was
surprised the other day by an inability to locate an online photo
of a Bell 208 modem. A few 208 compatibles, yes, but not the seemingly
ubiquitous Western Electric model found everywhere.