2 Sep
2000
2 Sep
'00
9:34 p.m.
Hi all,
I just managed to get hold of a Data General Eclipse MV9000. I think it
has
been upgraded since the processor card says MV9300. I has over a hundred
serial ports, three hard drives (ZetaCo), 9 track tape drive, five D211
terminals
and three printers.
I'm looking for documentation and software of any kind for this machine
but I
have not found anything substantial searching the net yet.
Any ideas?
This machine was apparently the target of a search by the local HAM
radio
clubs for the source of a 125Mhz signal that was triggering the
emergency
signal receivers in Russian satellites. I'm trying to get more info on
this little
bit of history this week.
The machine looks at home next to the PDP8/i. I'm running 240Vac to the
machine this week so I'll get to see if it works.
Any DG AOS/VS people out there?
Mike
3 Sep
3 Sep
6:48 a.m.
On Sat, 2 Sep 2000, Mike Cruse wrote:
I just managed to get hold of a Data General Eclipse
MV9000. I think it
Nice find! I used to work with an Eclipse MV-10,000 and an MV-2,000; they
were fun systems to play with.
I'm looking for documentation and software of any
kind for this machine
but I
have not found anything substantial searching the net yet.
IIRC, unfortunately, Data General, from what I understand, isn't like
DEC was when it comes to allowing OS software to be used at home for
free.
This machine was apparently the target of a search by
the local HAM
radio
clubs for the source of a 125Mhz signal that was triggering the
emergency
signal receivers in Russian satellites. I'm trying to get more info on
Neat! Let's all give that a try! Generating a 125MhZ signal sounds
easy enough. ;-) Why are the ruskies' satellites so sensitive to
low-level signals generated over here? Dang, I wonder how many false
alerts my Jacob's ladder has triggered via harmonics? Mabye it needs
a transformer with a higher voltage and more current and longer spark
rods...
The machine looks at home next to the PDP8/i. I'm
running 240Vac to the
machine this week so I'll get to see if it works.
Good luck!
--
R. D. Davis "The best way to gain a true understanding of
rdd(a)perqlogic.com Wile E. Coyote on the Roadrunner cartoons is to
http://www.perqlogic.com/rdd fly, head-first, off a horse into something like
410-744-4900 a fence or a tree; trust me, this works." --RDD
5:24 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Cruse" <mcruse(a)acm.org>
To: "Classic Computer Mailing List" <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2000 4:04 PM
Subject: Data General Eclipse
Hi all,
I just managed to get hold of a Data General Eclipse MV9000. I think
it
has
been upgraded since the processor card says MV9300. I has over a
hundred
serial ports, three hard drives (ZetaCo), 9 track tape drive, five
D211
terminals
and three printers.
There is still a newsgroup frequented by such types. Don't have any DG
stuff myself,
(I'd like some) but if you were to post in comp.os.aos you will
certainly get some responses.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie,
South Australia
geoffrob at stmarks dot pp dot catholic dot edu dot au
ICQ: 1970476
4 Sep
4 Sep
1:25 a.m.
On Sat, 2 Sep 2000, Mike Cruse wrote:
I'm looking for documentation and software of any
kind for this
machine but I have not found anything substantial searching the net
yet.
Any ideas?
I've managed to get hold of a DG MV2500 with a number of hard drives (some
didn't work, so it's running on only 2 instead of 4). It's running AOS/VS
7.something (can't remember offhand), and used to run Brunel University's
Library system. I'd also be interested in any documentation as, also, I
couldn't find anything on the net :-(
Regards,
Dan
--
dankolb(a)ox.compsoc.net Oxford University Computer Society Secretary
--I reserve the right to be completely wrong about any comments or
opinions expressed; don't trust everything you read above--
7:04 a.m.
I can help with just about anything you need. Operating system tapes,
diagnostics, docs, and experience. I feel for the both of you two.
It took me five months of sweat and hard research to get my MV4000DC up
and running. It would gratify me greatly if I could impart some of what I
learned to you two gentlemen.
In <Pine.OSF.4.05.10009041121180.4823-100000(a)sable.ox.ac.uk>uk>, on 09/04/00
at 12:04 PM, Dan Kolb <daniel.kolb(a)corpus-christi.oxford.ac.uk> said:
On Sat, 2 Sep 2000, Mike Cruse wrote:
> I'm looking for documentation and software of
any kind for this
> machine but I have not found anything substantial searching the net
> yet.
>
> Any ideas?
I've managed to get hold of a DG MV2500 with a
number of hard drives
(some didn't work, so it's running on only 2 instead of 4). It's running
AOS/VS 7.something (can't remember offhand), and used to run Brunel
University's Library system. I'd also be interested in any documentation
as, also, I couldn't find anything on the net :-(
Regards,
Dan
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey S. Worley
President
Complete Computer Services, Inc.
30 Greenwood Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
828-277-5959
THETechnoid(a)home.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
8:29 a.m.
Ya know, we should start a DG looking for info mailing list. I have a DG
MV5000DC that I am looking for info on, also. I would love to hear from anyone
who has any serial cables for this machine (MV5000DC). The cable I'm looking
for is the big 50 or 60 pin job that goes on the back of the machine on the
top row of the connectors. (If that makes any sense).
Thanks...
Mike N.
Dan Kolb wrote:
On Sat, 2 Sep 2000, Mike Cruse wrote:
I'm looking for documentation and software of
any kind for this
machine but I have not found anything substantial searching the net
yet.
Any ideas?
I've managed to get hold of a DG MV2500 with a number of hard drives (some
didn't work, so it's running on only 2 instead of 4). It's running AOS/VS
7.something (can't remember offhand), and used to run Brunel University's
Library system. I'd also be interested in any documentation as, also, I
couldn't find anything on the net :-(
Regards,
Dan
--
dankolb(a)ox.compsoc.net Oxford University Computer Society Secretary
--I reserve the right to be completely wrong about any comments or
opinions expressed; don't trust everything you read above--
6:32 p.m.
Mike Nealey wrote:
Ya know, we should start a DG looking for info mailing
list. I have a DG
MV5000DC that I am looking for info on, also. I would love to hear from anyone
who has any serial cables for this machine (MV5000DC). The cable I'm looking
for is the big 50 or 60 pin job that goes on the back of the machine on the
top row of the connectors. (If that makes any sense).
A mailing list would be a great idea. By the way I have about 10 of those cables
now assuming that they are the same as the ones on the Eclipse. The ones I
have connect to a row of eight serial ports. Actually two cables seem to be
necessary since my machine uses IAC16 serial cards. I saved everything.
You are welcome to have one if you think it is the right one. I'll check the pin
count
tomorrow.
Mike
9:42 a.m.
You are right about the cpu expansion to a 9300.
The machine does not NEED 240vac to operate. Nearly all MV's were 120volt
except for the very very largest ones. Your's has a set of jumper wires
in the back of the power supply which 'tells' the ps which current to use.
Internally the power pack will split the 240 into 120volt so be careful
and ask before you power it up. I'd hate to see the supply smoke before
you got a chance to play with the machine.
The Eclipse is OCTAL which takes some getting used to....
You are very lucky to get the machine. The other two fellows in the group
who have MV2000dc and MV5000dc machines have thier work cut out for them.
Your machine is a 'standard' eclipse and so can share parts with most
other MV's.
You can also read/write the standard 9track tapes which is very fortunate!
Just let me know and I will be glad to run off a set of install tapes for
networking and AOS/VS II.
The machine is OCTAL! This is really important because the device codes
for boot are octal. usually the machine will boot from device code
(octal) 22 or 24 which usually references the first 9track tape unit. It
will boot from hard disk once you have the OS set up.
You need microcode to get anywhere. I should have the code in my
collection. Getting it on the machine is another story entirely.
Verifying the machine is pretty easy. You boot a diagnostic operating
system called Adex or Ades - they changed the name when AIDS became a
medical issue.... I have several versions. The adex/ades tape contains
microcode for your machine as well as lots of utilities and diagnostics.
I can also run a copy of ADEX for you.
If you can provide the tape media for the copies it would be a big help.
I would need three 7" reels such as the Scotch 700 or blackwatch 700 from
3m, and one 'short' tape. (Two 700's for aos/vs II, one 700' for TCP/IP,
and the shortie for Adex.)
If you don't have media, I'd guess about $20.00 should be enough for tapes
from CPB. I don't have enough blanks to spare. I
have several spare
'short' tapes but no 700's to spare.
Because your's is a normal MV, I have several spare cards for it; a
working 2mb ram card, a non-working but fixable 8mb ram card, and a
working 16line serial terminal controller card (IAC16) - not that you need
any more terminal lines ;-) I also have a spare, working tape controller
for a 9track drive. Does your 9track have the reels side-by-side or
over/under? There is a difference between the capacities of the two types
though tapes can be interchanged to a degree.
In <39B1F104.A066CBFB(a)acm.org>rg>, on 09/04/00
at 02:42 PM, Mike Cruse <mcruse(a)acm.org> said:
Hi all,
I just managed to get hold of a Data General Eclipse
MV9000. I think it
has
been upgraded since the processor card says MV9300. I has over a hundred
serial ports, three hard drives (ZetaCo), 9 track tape
drive, five D211
terminals
and three printers.
I'm looking for documentation and software of any
kind for this machine
but I
have not found anything substantial searching the net yet.
Any ideas?
This machine was apparently the target of a search by
the local HAM radio
clubs for the source of a 125Mhz signal that was triggering the emergency
signal receivers in Russian satellites. I'm trying to get more info on
this little
bit of history this week.
The machine looks at home next to the PDP8/i. I'm
running 240Vac to the
machine this week so I'll get to see if it works.
Any DG AOS/VS people out there?
Mike
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey S. Worley
President
Complete Computer Services, Inc.
30 Greenwood Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
828-277-5959
THETechnoid(a)home.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
8671
days inactive
8672
days old
7 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
daniel.kolb＠corpus-christi.oxford.ac.uk -
geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au -
mcruse＠acm.org -
mlnealey＠earthlink.net -
rdd＠smart.net -
THETechnoid＠home.com