Imaging DEC uVAX MFM drives - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

30 Aug 2006

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Subject: Re: Imaging DEC uVAX MFM drives
   From: "Dan Williams" <williams.dan at gmail.com>
   Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:36:48 +0100
     To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>

<snip>
  If the 3100 is running VMS it can netboot VMS to
a target VAX system so
 long as there is a network between them.  Though Netbsd may be easier for
 those more familiar with Linux/unix.

 Allison

 I think VMS must be the fastest and easiest setup for netbooting out
of any OS I have used. Just one program type in a few details and it
works. I have spent far to long trying to figure out what went wrong
with netbooting to find I had an extra ";" or similar somewhere it
shouldn't be, or didn't have one where it should. 
I do too but if your not somewhat familiar with VMS it could be a 
minefield.  I pointed out the unix path for those that know it and 
are most comfortable there.

Myself I just cluster boot systems that have empty disks or I want
to see what's on the disks.

The best way to get at the VAX disks is a working VAX.  Archiving 
them is a different propisition.  Myself I have a boatload of RZ56s
(5.25" full height 680mb SCSI disks) and a few BA42 boxes to put 
them in and a CMD SCSI controller for Qbus.  This allows me to 
image from any Qbus VAX I can fit the controller into or use one
of my pack of uVAX3100s SCSI interface.  With eight RX56s on hand
 and a few 1gb Baracudas I have a solid image and backup archive.

Allison