14 Apr
2016
14 Apr
'16
12:31 p.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mike Ross
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 11:54 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: Xerox Alto on eBay
On Apr 14, 2016 1:34 PM, "Josh Dersch"
<JoshD at livingcomputermuseum.org>
wrote:
No, I copy from an image file on the 2.11BSD filesystem on the 11 to a disk pack on the
Alto -- the Alto's disk controller and Diablo drive do all the actual
formatting/writing. The RK11 controllers have a completely different format from the
Alto.
So we copy disk images to/from the PDP-11/44 over
3Mbit Ethernet to
the
Alto :).
- Josh
Quite a hack! So you copy in real time as it were? Direct from packs on a
running Alto to packs on a running 11? Would it be practical to hack it further
to capture the data to an image file so anyone with an 11 / RK combo could
write packs?
I have 6085s and Stars; I'd love an Alto to round out the collection - but not at
$40k! Crazy prices these days; I've never paid more than a couple of grand for
anything - and usually a lot less.
Me too, but I think I'll just have to dream about it. I've been working on a
project though...
- Josh
Mike