15 Nov
1998
15 Nov
'98
3:31 p.m.
I found a VAX 3100 Model 40 for $40...
It comes with 16MB memory and 2 100 MB Hard drives (the owner isn't sure
about this)
No monitor or mouse...
I think I could figure alot out, since I am used to Unix from my use of
Linux and I program a mainframe by profession...I know VMS is different,
but I plan to get a hobbyist license.
Ok...my question is...is this a good deal? What about the
monitor,...all I have is SVGA monitors...can I just hook up a terminal
or a serial cable to the PC and run via a terminal?
Can the OS be installed this way? Is there an adapter so I can use a
VGA monitor?
What about CD player...got a Sanyo SCSI, and alot of IDE...can I install
via this?
Sorry for all the questions, but I was hoping someone would be familiar
with VAXen...
Thanks,
Bill
15 Nov
15 Nov
4:14 p.m.
I found a VAX 3100 Model 40 for $40...
It comes with 16MB memory and 2 100 MB Hard drives (the owner isn't sure
about this)
No monitor or mouse...
Throw a terminal on it. Or if you don't have a VT you can use an old PC
and software such as TELIX to emulate a VT100.
I think I could figure alot out, since I am used to
Unix from my use of
Linux and I program a mainframe by profession...I know VMS is different,
but I plan to get a hobbyist license.
You already know about the Hobbyist license, good.
Ok...my question is...is this a good deal? What about
the
monitor,...all I have is SVGA monitors...can I just hook up a terminal
or a serial cable to the PC and run via a terminal?
Can the OS be installed this way? Is there an adapter so I can use a
VGA monitor?
Yes, it's a good deal, for a nice machine. As I said above, you don't need
the terminal. Note, if it's a MicroVAX 3100 m40 you can't put a monitor on
it, if it's a VAXstation 3100 m40 you can. It's got a speed of 2.8 VUP's,
and with 16Mb the Hobbiest version of VMS will run very nicely. You might
want to see about picking up a DEC RZ24 or RZ25 Hard Drive if you can. The
RZ23's you describe are a little on the cramped side. Not sure what you
can use generic SCSI wise for hard drives, I do know that with the 3100's
your boot drive MUST be 1Gb or less (the actual number is somewhere around
1027Mb).
What about CD player...got a Sanyo SCSI, and alot of
IDE...can I install
via this?
Ah, this is a little bit trickier. The 3100's are SCSI, and you'll need a
CD player that does 512k blocks.
Sorry for all the questions, but I was hoping someone
would be familiar
with VAXen...
This would be one of the places to find such people :^) There are also a
couple of good USENET newsgroups, including some dedicated to VMS. VMS is
nothing like UNIX, but it's a blast!
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
4:44 p.m.
On Mon, 16 Nov 1998, Doug Yowza wrote:
On Sun, 15 Nov 1998, Zane H. Healy wrote:
I like that quote that says something like, "VMS is a text adventure. When
you win, you get to use UNIX." I used to have the url for a page that had
all kinds of nasty quotes from both sides of the fence; man, I wish I
could find it again...anybody have something like that bookmarked?
I have a couple of hobby VMS machines for fun too, my favorite is the
VAXStation 3100 m38. Nifty mouse. But I tend to get a little edgy when I
don't have a $ prompt for more than a few minutes, even with four-feet
of shelf occupied with VMS manuals behind me. To each his own, I guess...
Aaron C. Finney Systems Administrator WFI Incorporated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"UNIX is an exponential algorithm with a seductively small constant."
--> Scott Draves
VMS is nothing like UNIX, but it's a blast!
No, UNIX is a blast! VMS is a BL.AST;1
16 Nov
16 Nov
1:45 a.m.
Thanks to everyone who replied...this list seems to be a great source of
info...
Okay, so if I get this machine...it looks like from some FAQs that I
ought to be able to hook up generic SCSI drives to the machine...
Maybe my Sanyo CD-ROM will work? Anyone know of a good place for info
on using 3rd party SCSI CD-ROMS with a VAX or with where I could buy a
cheap VAX CD-ROM?
Will I be able to network this thing in with my Linux, FreeBSD, and
Windows box? Currently I am using thin coax and sticking it in there
with a terminator on the end ought to do it? I guess VMS uses TCP/IP
Any places via the internet that anyone knows about with good prices on
old VAX equipment?
Anyone know of a place to get manuals for a VAXStation or some good
beginning VMS books?
Lastly, found the hobbyist CD for $30 at Montagor(?) Is this the
standard deal or can I get it cheaper...I am kinda on a small
budget...all my money goes to paying of college debt and saving up for a
house for my wife and I :)
Thanks again,
Bill
1:55 a.m.
New subject: VAX/VMS Hobbiest License?
I have noted the last couple of days a reference to a VAX/VMS "Hobbiest
License". This is not something I was aware of, and I have a couple of
MicroVAXen that could use VMS.
Is there a web site or other source someone could refer me to?
Thanks.
Lastly, found the hobbyist CD for $30 at Montagor(?) Is this the
standard deal or can I get it cheaper...
4:16 p.m.
At 09:45 AM 16-11-98 -0600, Bill Vinson wrote:
Thanks to everyone who replied...this list seems to be
a great source of
info...
Okay, so if I get this machine...it looks like from some FAQs that I
ought to be able to hook up generic SCSI drives to the machine...
Maybe my Sanyo CD-ROM will work? Anyone know of a good place for info
on using 3rd party SCSI CD-ROMS with a VAX or with where I could buy a
cheap VAX CD-ROM?
Well my usual approach is to plug a SCSI device in and then see if it's
visable from the console (>>> prompt). In general, if you can see it from
the console VMS will make it work.
Will I be able to network this thing in with my Linux,
FreeBSD, and
Windows box? Currently I am using thin coax and sticking it in there
with a terminator on the end ought to do it? I guess VMS uses TCP/IP
TCP/IP is an add-on. There are nice (ie pay for) implementations from
Digital and other vendors - my personal favorite is Multinet. If you don't
want to spend money then the version written at CMU is more than adequate.
Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au
Information Technology Services | Phone: +61 3 9479 1550 Fax: +61 3 9479 1999
La Trobe University | "If God had wanted soccer played in the
Melbourne Australia 3083 | air, the sky would be painted green"
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6 comments
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participants (6)
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aaron＠wfi-inc.com -
cube＠msn.fullfeed.com -
H.Davies＠latrobe.edu.au -
healyzh＠ix.netcom.com -
tech99＠mindspring.com -
yowza＠yowza.com