28 Aug
2010
28 Aug
'10
7:33 a.m.
On 28 August 2010 01:52, Teo Zenios <teoz at neo.rr.com> wrote:
I finally got some terminals (VT525) and DEC MMJ
cables for my MicroVAX 3100/85. I tuned it on expecting it to be dead and found a copy of
OpenVMS V7.1 is installed on the MicroVAX (well after I tried both serial ports on the
terminal and the screen came up at 9600 baud).
both? There's 4 - 3 MMJ and a 25pin male for modems. Console port
designation depends on the S3 switch at the back next to the halt
button.
I have never owned anything DEC or any computers that
didn't have built in video, sound, keyboards so I have a few questions.
What kind of reading material do I need to understand how these systems and software
work?
VMS FAQ: http://h71000.www7.hp.com/faq/openvms_faq.html
Is there a default login/password for OpenVMS V7.1
Nope, but the FAQ will tell you how to do a conversational boot and
hopefully bypass the password, there's 2 methods, one straightforward
and one more difficult if the previous owners used an alternate
authorisation file.
I assume I can use some old PC or Mac software to
login over the coax ethernet (does it do DHCP?) once I get some ethernet cables and I know
what the heck I am doing.
Your life will be easier if you can get a media converter for the AUI
ethernet port to change it to RJ45 then you can use a crossover cable
to connect to a laptop. DHCP depends on which TCP/IP product is
installed - there are several with the DEC offering being TCP/IP
Services for VMS or UCX.
$product show producd will (should) tell you. Of course, if you have a
VT console you don't need a network connection :)
What kind of server was a MicroVAX 3100/85 anyway
(files, applications, etc)?
Office-sized server for in-house written apps, database server
(Oracle), a metric butt-load of third-party written stuff. I used to
be part of a team that wrote payroll/stock/SOP/POP/warehouse
management and travel agent products. Languages available included C,
FORTRAN, PASCAL, COBOL, DIBOL and the widely used DECforms. The
'famous' office product is ALL-IN-ONE or more often called
ALL-IN-PIECES. Wordperfect was also available for word processing.
What are optimal setting for the VT525 to work with
the MicroVAX (serial settings, color, lines, etc).
9600/8/n/1 for comms, any settings for colours or lines you like but
80x24 is 'standard', 80x25 if you use the host-writeable status line
at the bottom.
You won't get much web stuff for VAXen unless you roll your own though...
--
adrian/witchy
Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home? computer collection?
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk