Docs for DRV-11? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

12 May 2001

From: Richard Erlacher &lt;edick(a)idcomm.com&gt;

...
 I didn't know it was practical to use mass storage
devices under VMS without
...
 using the MSCP.  Gee ... I didn't think I'd
ever learn anything more about DEC

MSCP was not the only mass storage interface.  IT was most commonly
used on smaller Qbus VAXen.  The 780, 750, 730, MV2000, 3100s and
many others didn't use it or didn't even provide for it.

FYI: The grey wall provides the basic information and even examples for
doing
device drivers.

The best example was some russian chap that did a PIO interface (simple)
for a PDP-11 or Microvax (qbus).  Even had drivers for both if memory is
working.
It was not the fastest way to go but cheap.

...
 experience, though not DEC's fault.  It's too
bad the PC folks didn't think of a
...
 way to hook an external device to the PC internals
without direct access to the
...
 bus the way this board does things.  That allows you to
aviod the "broken" I/O
...
 device from making the system "broken" as
well.  I still have the doc's for that
...
 I/O board around somewhere. 

ADAC and CSC to name a few make boards very similar to DRV11 some 8255
based, others Z80 PIO  or TTL..  I've used several to hang custom IO on
PCs
without doing a bus interface.

Allison