Help identifying a PDP-11

From: mcguire at neurotica.com> Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:39:18 -0400> To: cctech at classiccmp.org> CC: > Subject: Re: Help identifying a PDP-11> > On Sep 15, 2007, at 4:01 PM, Tobias Russell wrote:> > Can anyone help me identify my latest PDP-11 rescue. Not been able > > to get a good look at it yet as it is in a room packed (and I mean > > packed) with junk. Machine consists of a DEC Datasystems cab (about > > 35-40U with a blue bottom panel, pretty similar to light blue cabs > > here: http://www.computermuseum.li/Liste/Digital/PDP11.70.4.html)> >> > I'm not familiar with the DEC Datasystems versions of PDP-11s. Does > > anyone have any background information on them?> > I have one of those. It's simply a PDP-11/70 in a different type > of cabinet with a different front panel...nothing else weird about it.> > > Also, I'm pretty sure I've not lucked out and found an 11/70 as no > > toggle switch console, any ideas on what other models were fitted > > to these cabs. I'm guessing 11/34.> > I don't know offhand what other systems came in that type of > cabinets, but what you have is definitely a real 11/70. Your has the > remote maintenance panel, which replaces the lights-and-switches > front panel and allows DEC Field Service to dial into the machine's > console and perform standard front-panel operations remotely.> > As I understand it, nearly all 11/70 systems were originally > shipped with standard lights-and-switches front panels. Later in > their life cycle, though, DEC swapped out many of those "real" front > panels for these remote access panels like the one you have. Now for > the important part: The lights-and-switches front panel was the > property of the customer, and the policy was to leave them at the > customer site. If you got this machine from the original owner, it's > likely that the real front panel is stuck in a box in the back of a > rack, or in a closet somewhere. Try to find it...it can easily be > put back into place.> > When Brian Hechinger and I scored three 11/70 systems from a > publishing house in Pennsylvania years ago, they had these remote > panels installed. We found the real front panels and put them back > the way they were supposed to be. Incidentally, two of those three > systems were of the DECdatasystem-570 ("corporate cabinet") variety > like yours.> > > Machines is fantastic condition having been stored for last 30 > > years. Comes with 2 x RK07s (in floor standing cabs) and a tape drive.> > Fantastic! Umm, the drive to the left of the 11/70 in your > picture looks more like an RM02/RM03 than an RK07 though...? Can yo > confirm?> > > Any advice on moving RK07 drives? Do I need to lock heads?> > They are top-heavy, so be careful there. If memory serves, > RK06/07 drives don't have a manual head locking mechanism.> > Congrats on that really nice system. It is very similar to mine > here.> > -Dave> > -- > Dave McGuire> Port Charlotte, FL> Farewell Ophelia, 9/22/1991 - 7/25/2007