15 Oct
2015
15 Oct
'15
4:38 p.m.
I bought a set of five DEC RX01 8" floppies (for the disks, since I have an
RX01 hooked up to my PDP-8/A) but I thought the contents might be of
interest to someone before I wipe them.
They are labeled VAX PSI V3.0 1/5 thru 5/5, (c) 1984. In order they are
AS-L154G-BE, AS-L155G-BE, AS-L156G-BE, AS-DC36B-BE, AS-DK35A-BE.
I did email Al Kossow about archiving but maybe he didn't receive the
message.
Anyhow, if anyone is interested, please contact me off-list. I don't have a
VAX so I can't read them.
Perhaps we can trade for blank SSSD disks?
thanks
Charles
15 Oct
15 Oct
5:53 p.m.
I'd expect you could still read them sector by sector - an RX01 is
standard single density format.
Regardless, you can find software to image them here:
http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/pdp8/
In particular:
http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/pdp8/software/dumprest.tar.gz
(I had my own version of that sort of thing that used XMODEM protocol -
I need to look at the above myself to see if I like it better).
VAX PSI is software for packet switched networks (e.g. X.25). I don't
have any use for that software myself.
JRJ
On 10/15/2015 3:38 PM, Charles wrote:
I bought a set of five DEC RX01 8" floppies (for
the disks, since I have
an RX01 hooked up to my PDP-8/A) but I thought the contents might be of
interest to someone before I wipe them.
They are labeled VAX PSI V3.0 1/5 thru 5/5, (c) 1984. In order they are
AS-L154G-BE, AS-L155G-BE, AS-L156G-BE, AS-DC36B-BE, AS-DK35A-BE.
I did email Al Kossow about archiving but maybe he didn't receive the
message.
Anyhow, if anyone is interested, please contact me off-list. I don't
have a VAX so I can't read them.
Perhaps we can trade for blank SSSD disks?
thanks
Charles
6:59 p.m.
On 15/10/15 21:38, Charles wrote:
I bought a set of five DEC RX01 8" floppies (for
the disks, since I
have an RX01 hooked up to my PDP-8/A) but I thought the contents might
be of interest to someone before I wipe them.
They are labeled VAX PSI V3.0 1/5 thru 5/5, (c) 1984. In order they
are AS-L154G-BE, AS-L155G-BE, AS-L156G-BE, AS-DC36B-BE, AS-DK35A-BE.
I did email Al Kossow about archiving but maybe he didn't receive the
message.
Anyhow, if anyone is interested, please contact me off-list. I don't
have a VAX so I can't read them.
Perhaps we can trade for blank SSSD disks?
I'm in the UK so trading probably isn't worth it.
I used to work in the group that produced those (well, wrote the
software, someone else cut the media, I guess).
I have a set of PSI floppies of roughly that era but mine are RX50s (I
think: they're in the attic somewhere right now ...).
I don't think I've ever seen PSI software on 8" floppies before.
If you do manage to image them, I'd certainly be interested in a copy.
--
Antonio Carlini
arcarlini at iee.org
16 Oct
16 Oct
2:14 a.m.
I have some unused 3M blank preformatted RX02 diskettes. Would those be usable in an RX01
drive?
I don't know what the VAX PSI software is, but I'm guessing it must be for the
11/780 based on the media type. I have zero use for it, but the thought of 11/780 bits
being returned to the entropy pool disturbs me a bit. :) Can anybody fill me in on what
these disks likely contain, to help me decide whether I might like to trade blank floppies
for them?
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
3:21 a.m.
If memory serves me correctly PSI is the X.25 packet switching software. If
it exists I would like a copy, assuming I can get the matching version of
VMS...
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mark J.
Blair
Sent: 16 October 2015 07:15
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: Contents of DEC 8" floppies
I have some unused 3M blank preformatted RX02 diskettes. Would those be
usable in an RX01 drive?
I don't know what the VAX PSI software is, but I'm guessing it must be for
the
11/780 based on the media type. I have zero use for
it, but the thought of
11/780 bits being returned to the entropy pool disturbs me a bit. :) Can
anybody fill me in on what these disks likely contain, to help me decide
whether I might like to trade blank floppies for them?
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
4:07 a.m.
On 2015-10-16 08:14, Mark J. Blair wrote:
I have some unused 3M blank preformatted RX02
diskettes. Would those be usable in an RX01 drive?
Yes. The RX01 and RX02 is the same format. It's only the data part of
the sector that differs.
I don't know what the VAX PSI software is, but
I'm guessing it must be for the 11/780 based on the media type. I have zero use for
it, but the thought of 11/780 bits being returned to the entropy pool disturbs me a bit.
:) Can anybody fill me in on what these disks likely contain, to help me decide whether I
might like to trade blank floppies for them?
Yes, most likely a distribution intended for people with an 11/78x. The
software was probably available on several different media.
PSI is (as others have mentioned) the packetswitch interface software.
So X.25 for DECnet.
Johnny
4:08 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Johnny
Billquist
Sent: 16 October 2015 09:07
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Contents of DEC 8" floppies
On 2015-10-16 08:14, Mark J. Blair wrote:
for
I have some unused 3M blank preformatted RX02
diskettes. Would those
be usable in an RX01 drive?
Yes. The RX01 and RX02 is the same format. It's only the data part of the
sector that differs.
> I don't know what the VAX PSI software is, but I'm guessing it must be
the 11/780 based on the media type. I have zero use
for it, but the
thought
of 11/780 bits being returned to the entropy pool
disturbs me a bit. :)
Can
anybody fill me in on what these disks likely contain,
to help me decide
whether I might like to trade blank floppies for them?
Yes, most likely a distribution intended for people with an 11/78x. The
software was probably available on several different media.
PSI is (as others have mentioned) the packetswitch interface software.
So X.25 for DECnet.
From what I remember it does not need DECnet....
Johnny
6:37 a.m.
On 2015-10-16 10:08, Dave Wade wrote:
You might be right. I partly based that comment on the RSX P.S.I
product. Not sure how you'd handle this without DECnet, but I obviously
don't the know any VMS specifics. In RSX, you can certainly communicate
over X.25 without the DECnet overhead, but you use NCP to configure your
X.25 links. So you need at least the CEX subsystem, but not the full
DECnet stack.
Johnny
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Johnny
Billquist
Sent: 16 October 2015 09:07
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Contents of DEC 8" floppies
On 2015-10-16 08:14, Mark J. Blair wrote:
for
I have some unused 3M blank preformatted RX02
diskettes. Would those
be usable in an RX01 drive?
Yes. The RX01 and RX02 is the same format. It's only the data part of the
sector that differs.
> I don't know what the VAX PSI software is, but I'm guessing it must be the 11/780 based on the media type. I have zero
use for it, but the
thought
of 11/780 bits being returned to the entropy pool
disturbs me a bit. :)
Can
anybody fill me in on what these disks likely
contain, to help me decide
whether I might like to trade blank floppies for them?
Yes, most likely a distribution intended for people with an 11/78x. The
software was probably available on several different media.
PSI is (as others have mentioned) the packetswitch interface software.
So X.25 for DECnet.
From what I remember it does not need DECnet....
7 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Johnny
Billquist
Sent: 16 October 2015 11:38
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Contents of DEC 8" floppies
On 2015-10-16 10:08, Dave Wade wrote:
You might be right. I partly based that comment on the RSX P.S.I product.
Not
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of
> Johnny Billquist
> Sent: 16 October 2015 09:07
> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Contents of DEC 8" floppies
>
> On 2015-10-16 08:14, Mark J. Blair wrote:
>> I have some unused 3M blank preformatted RX02 diskettes. Would
those
be usable
in an RX01 drive?
Yes. The RX01 and RX02 is the same format. It's only the data part of
the sector that differs.
> I don't know what the VAX PSI software is, but I'm guessing it must
> be
for
the 11/780 based on the media type. I have zero
use for it, but the
thought
of 11/780 bits being returned to the entropy pool
disturbs me a bit.
:)
Can
anybody fill me in on what these disks likely
contain, to help me
decide whether I might like to trade blank floppies for them?
Yes, most likely a distribution intended for people with an 11/78x.
The software was probably available on several different media.
PSI is (as others have mentioned) the packetswitch interface software.
So X.25 for DECnet.
From what I remember it does not need DECnet.... sure how you'd handle this without DECnet, but I
obviously don't the know
any VMS specifics. In RSX, you can certainly communicate over X.25 without
the DECnet overhead, but you use NCP to configure your
X.25 links. So you need at least the CEX subsystem, but not the full
DECnet
stack.
From what I remember VAX PSI has its own programs to
configure the X.25
links.
Certainly in the early days the only connectivity that was supported was
X.3, X.28 and X.29 terminal access.
So there was an X.29 terminal program, and you could connect to the VAX from
an X.29 PAD.
The problem was as the VAX kind of insists on sending one character per
packet the overhead was horrendous.
In the UK we had coloured book protocols that ran on top of X.25 to provide
mail and file transfer.
I think Reading University wrote the VAX version but Digital marketed it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloured_Book_protocols
The poor performance due to the character mode terminals and other aspects
of the software meant it was pretty much universally hated by DEC lovers as
this tirade shows...
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.os.vms/QU1svFCgAkM
In fact DEC had little option. If they had not provided the X.25 software
they would have been unable to sell large machines to UK Universities as
support of Janet was required to get central government funding.
Johnny
Dave
G4UGM
1:47 p.m.
From: Dave G4UGM
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 4:01 AM
In fact DEC had little option. If they had not
provided the X.25 software
they would have been unable to sell large machines to UK Universities as
support of Janet was required to get central government funding.
"Damn it, Janet!"
Rich
2:29 p.m.
On 10/16/2015 12:47 PM, Rich Alderson wrote:
From: Dave G4UGM
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 4:01 AM
Regarding that last quote, note the program on BBC America at midnight
Saturday.... ;)
In fact DEC had little option. If they had not
provided the X.25 software
they would have been unable to sell large machines to UK Universities as
support of Janet was required to get central government funding.
"Damn it, Janet!"
Rich
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a.carlini＠ntlworld.com -
bqt＠update.uu.se -
charlesmorris800＠centurytel.net -
cube1＠charter.net -
dave.g4ugm＠gmail.com -
nf6x＠nf6x.net -
RichA＠LivingComputerMuseum.org