28 Oct
2001
28 Oct
'01
2:22 p.m.
Hi,
O.K. I am delighted! I did boot VMS 5.4 from that RA90 labeled
as unit 0. I changed the system password and am now copying
ULTRIX filed off the TK50 tape onto disk in order to write them
on 9-track trying to boot from there. Of course I will have
all sorts of grief because of the weird VMS blocked file
formats. For instance, what I read from the tape should look
like this on UNIX:
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 17408 May 12 03:44 file0
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 2091208 May 12 03:45 file1
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 6594560 May 12 03:47 file2
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 727040 May 12 03:47 file3
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 8826880 May 12 03:48 file4
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 3143680 May 12 03:48 file5
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 2007040 May 12 03:48 file6
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 522240 May 12 03:48 file7
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 665600 May 12 03:48 file8
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 286720 May 12 03:48 file9
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 2949120 May 12 03:45 file10
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 2160640 May 12 03:45 file11
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 1249280 May 12 03:45 file12
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 1024000 May 12 03:45 file13
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 1495040 May 12 03:45 file14
...
-rw-r--r-- 1 operator 276480 May 12 03:47 file38
and what I have copied from TK50 so far looks like this:
$ dir /size
Directory SYS$SYSROOT:[GUNTHER]
FILE.000;1 0
FILE.001;1 0
FILE.002;1 12880
FILE.003;1 1420
FILE.004;1 17240
FILE.005;1 6140
FILE.006;1 3920
FILE.007;1 1020
Total of 8 files, 42620 blocks.
O.K. seems like we have file sizes reported in 512 byte blocks.
But file 1 didn't come up right. May be that was because of
this read error that keeps the tape from booting?
Anyway, before I go to bed I will have copied the first set
of filed to disk and back to a tape. Either a TK70 or a
9-track and will try to boot. It looks like I'm making
progress, finally.
However, I ask myself what to do with that VMS 5.4 system
disk. Should I keep it and get another drive downstairs for
my Ultrix attempts? Should I rather keep this running 5.4
VMS or should I make a fresh install of a VMS 6.1 of which
I have tapes? I am a curious person, so I could first dig in
the disks for interesting stuff, but then, I rather want to
get away from VMS and onto Ultrix and finally NetBSD. So
how much are old filesystems worth keeping? I don't have
enough tape to back it all up, and even if I had, how would
I do this?
How can I find UCX on this VMS 5.4 filesystem? It appears as
absent. Is there something like find(1) on VMS? Did UCX not
exist for VMS 5.4? Could I install it from a VMS 6.1 bin tape?
Do I have any chance of using my ethernet for anything like
file transfer or NFS without having UCX?
thanks much for helping me accross the VMS river :-)
regards
-Gunther
--
Gunther Schadow, M.D., Ph.D. gschadow(a)regenstrief.org
Medical Information Scientist Regenstrief Institute for Health Care
Adjunct Assistant Professor Indiana University School of Medicine
tel:1(317)630-7960 http://aurora.regenstrief.org
28 Oct
28 Oct
2:56 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gunther Schadow" <gunther(a)aurora.regenstrief.org>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 2:52 PM
Subject: VAX6460: VMS 5.4 how to move on?
Hi,
O.K. I am delighted! I did boot VMS 5.4 from that RA90 labeled
as unit 0.
Ok! What was the problem that prevented it working earlier?
I changed the system password and am now copying
ULTRIX filed off the TK50 tape onto disk in order to write them
on 9-track trying to boot from there. Of course I will have
all sorts of grief because of the weird VMS blocked file
formats.
Yeah it's different.
For instance, what I read from the tape should look
like this on UNIX:
$ dir /size
Directory SYS$SYSROOT:[GUNTHER]
FILE.000;1 0
FILE.001;1 0
FILE.002;1 12880
FILE.003;1 1420
FILE.004;1 17240
FILE.005;1 6140
FILE.006;1 3920
FILE.007;1 1020
Total of 8 files, 42620 blocks.
O.K. seems like we have file sizes reported in 512 byte blocks.
Correct.
But file 1 didn't come up right. May be that was
because of
this read error that keeps the tape from booting?
Could be, certainly doesn't look right to have a zero length file, it has to
occupy at least one block.
Anyway, before I go to bed I will have copied the
first set
of filed to disk and back to a tape. Either a TK70 or a
9-track and will try to boot. It looks like I'm making
progress, finally.
Indeed.
However, I ask myself what to do with that VMS 5.4
system
disk. Should I keep it and get another drive downstairs
Should I rather keep this running 5.4
VMS or should I make a fresh install of a VMS 6.1 of which
I have tapes?
6.1 would be better on that hardware. Make sure you get all the license
stuff from
the 5.4 sysdisk before you init or otherwise clean it, you might have all
sorts of
goodies on there. The distributions are easy to get (relatively) but the
licenses are expensive unless
you get the freeware one from DECUS, which I think covers all the apps and
layered products too now.
If you do have several drives, it wouldn't hurt to keep the working version
salted away somewhere.
I am a curious person, so I could first dig in
the disks for interesting stuff, but then, I rather want to
get away from VMS and onto Ultrix and finally NetBSD. So
how much are old filesystems worth keeping? I don't have
enough tape to back it all up, and even if I had, how would
I do this?
You have to boot Standalone backup either off tape or a disk.
It's a bootable version of Backup, essentially a minimal VMS shell with
embedded backup.
Only proper way to backup a VMS system disk. How many RA9x drives do you
have?
You could do a BACKUP/PHYSICAL onto another RA9x drive. Instant system
disk.
You could also install SA Backup onto another drive, or even to an alternate
system root on the
same drive, you then boot SA Backup instead of VMS and can do full backups
of anything.
How can I find UCX on this VMS 5.4 filesystem? It
appears as
absent. Is there something like find(1) on VMS? Did UCX not
exist for VMS 5.4?
It did, but as an option, and an ugly one at that. Probably not on there,
DECNET was standard and shipped with/as part of VMS usually. UCX was
another extra cost item.
Could I install it from a VMS 6.1 bin tape?
Unlikely to be on the 6.1 tape, you'd need a consolidated software
distribution.
Someone closer to you will have the necessary bits. Or you can get a 3rd
party stack
like Multinet (essentially 3.2 BSD Tahoe TCP/IP ported for VMS)
If you get stuck, get back to me, can help with an old version (3.2 Rev B
that will work with 6.1 ok)
(with a little nudging)
Do I have any chance of using my ethernet for anything
like
file transfer or NFS without having UCX?
Only for things that speak DECNET, or thru a terminal with Zmodem or Kermit
or something.
(Both are avbl for VMS - again can help if you are desperate)
thanks much for helping me accross the VMS river :-)
No prob. I'm a bit the way you are with VMS about Unix. (VMS was the first
'real' OS I played with)
It was on my 6000 when I got it so I had to learn how to drive it.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie, South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
ICQ 1970476
3:43 p.m.
You have to boot Standalone backup either off tape or
a disk.
It's a bootable version of Backup, essentially a minimal VMS shell with
embedded backup.
Only proper way to backup a VMS system disk. How many RA9x drives do you
have?
Standalone backup can be built on and run from the system disk without
any problems.
You could do a BACKUP/PHYSICAL onto another RA9x
drive. Instant system
disk.
I'd recommend against /PHYSICAL. Instead, BACKUP/IMAGE.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman(a)dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
29 Oct
29 Oct
4 a.m.
Eric Dittman wrote:
O.K., may be I should keep the disk for now. Soon I will backup
to a tape. Seems like this disk isn't full, so may be one or
two reels would do for now. What is the correct backup command
for VMS to give to back up the whole system disk to (possibly
multiple volumes of) tape such that I can wipe out the disk
afterwards?
Thanks,
-Gunther
--
Gunther Schadow, M.D., Ph.D. gschadow(a)regenstrief.org
Medical Information Scientist Regenstrief Institute for Health Care
Adjunct Assistant Professor Indiana University School of Medicine
tel:1(317)630-7960 http://aurora.regenstrief.org
You have to
boot Standalone backup either off tape or a disk.
It's a bootable version of Backup, essentially a minimal VMS shell with
embedded backup.
Only proper way to backup a VMS system disk. How many RA9x drives do you
have?
Standalone backup can be built on and run from the system disk without
any problems.
You could do a BACKUP/PHYSICAL onto another RA9x
drive. Instant system
disk.
I'd recommend against /PHYSICAL. Instead, BACKUP/IMAGE.
28 Oct
28 Oct
5:18 p.m.
New subject: A couple old books, 6502 and Mostek
I found a couple books while digging in boxes at TRW.
Beyond Games: Systems Software for your 6502 Personal Computer. Ken Skier
This is a very early book, copyright 1981, covering a series of articles
from BYTE magazine. Lots of low level nuts and bolts
software, a monitor,
assembler, text, printing etc., but with a very basic approach,
and over
half the book are reference listings etc. Has a few specifics for each of
Pet, Apple, Atari, and other 6502 computers.
Mostek, MOS Integrated Circuit Guide. Magazine sized, 138 page, blue and
silver book, copyright is 1975, but the only microprocess it mentions is
the F8, and I was expecting 6502. Covers several early memory chips and
some consumer calculator chips, very nice condition.
I am thinking about $5 for either book, but best offer and postage gets it.
8406
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4 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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dittman＠dittman.net -
geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au -
gunther＠aurora.regenstrief.org -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com