17 Jan
2016
17 Jan
'16
6:19 a.m.
On a VAX, there is an application (named EXCHANGE if I remember
correctly) which reads and writes the first partition of any RT-11 disk
Err, yes... This implies I have a working VAX. Until I repair ths TU58 and get
it to load the CPU microcode, I don't.
Sure...
If you have a PDP-11 system with a serial DL port,
don't forget that
it must also be set at the same speed as the TU-58 tape drive. While
it seems unlikely that you have not made sure with the VAX and the
TU-58 tape that they both have the same baud rate, check just in case.
Now I am confused.... I suspect it's 'near enough' but not spot on. The
TU58 is running at 38400 baud, which I understand is correct for the
VAX11/730 internal drive. In any case it's the unit that was inside my VAX
CPU when I got it and there is no reason to assume the controller board
was swapped out, The rate is set by wire-wrapped links on the TU58
controller board and those are right. I've also checked the frequency at
the clock pins of the UART chip.
But while the printset for the 11/730 CPU claims a 38400 baud rate clock
(acutally 16 times that at the input to the serial chip, of course), I can't for
the life of me work out how the 10MHz CPU clock oscillator is divided down
to give this. I get it running at around 39kbps. I guess as it's async it will
work, but....
I do not think this is the problem. I am sure the VAX console processor and
the TU58 are communicating.
-tony