8 Jun
1999
8 Jun
'99
3:13 p.m.
Hello,
Here's my question: I have a VAXstation 3100, and i'm interested in
upgrading VMS. Currently it runs VMS 5.4. Since the VAX doesn't have
a cdrom, and i'm assuming the cost of a DEC CDROM is outrageous (i'm
15, give me a break.), I was wondering if there is a way to install
from a network CDROM drive. Could I setup my Linux box
to share it's
CDROM via NFS? Or is there perhaps any software that would allow
this?
Or am I insane? The questions..
Thanks in advance. :)
-paul
--
paul(a)paul.dragontear.org [a paradigm of a paramount failure]
8 Jun
8 Jun
3:25 p.m.
Here's my question: I have a VAXstation 3100,
and i'm interested in
upgrading VMS. Currently it runs VMS 5.4. Since the VAX doesn't have
a cdrom, and i'm assuming the cost of a DEC CDROM is outrageous (i'm
15, give me a break.), I was wondering if there is a way to install
from a network CDROM drive. Could I setup my Linux box to share it's
CDROM via NFS? Or is there perhaps any software that would allow this?
Or am I insane? The questions..
Find a cheap 3rd party CD-ROM that supports 512-byte blocks, and you'll
hopefully be able to use it. I've used a 2x Mac CD-ROM, and a 4x Panasonic
external on my 3100. I've used the same external and a 4x Toshiba on my
Alpha's. The important thing is it MUST suport 512-byte blocks, most PC
CD-ROM's support 2048-byte blocks.
I got the 4x Toshiba for $15 used, as a price reference.
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.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.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
4:15 p.m.
* Zane H. Healy (healyzh(a)aracnet.com) [06.08.99 21:08]:
Any idea where I could pick myself up one of those? The CDROM is not
the only price factor that i'm worried about, it's also the external
SCSI cable. I looked at a DEC SCSI cable that will fit into the back
SCSI port, and it cost a mere $95. I'm running a incredibly tight
budget, the story of a teenager's life, and $95 is simply out of the
question.
-paul
--
paul(a)paul.dragontear.org [a paradigm of a paramount failure]
Here's my
question: I have a VAXstation 3100, and i'm interested in
upgrading VMS. Currently it runs VMS 5.4. Since the VAX doesn't have
a cdrom, and i'm assuming the cost of a DEC CDROM is outrageous (i'm
15, give me a break.), I was wondering if there is a way to install
from a network CDROM drive. Could I setup my Linux box to share it's
CDROM via NFS? Or is there perhaps any software that would allow this?
Or am I insane? The questions..
Find a cheap 3rd party CD-ROM that supports 512-byte blocks, and you'll
hopefully be able to use it. I've used a 2x Mac CD-ROM, and a 4x Panasonic
external on my 3100. I've used the same external and a 4x Toshiba on my
Alpha's. The important thing is it MUST suport 512-byte blocks, most PC
CD-ROM's support 2048-byte blocks.
I got the 4x Toshiba for $15 used, as a price reference. 
4:50 p.m.
Find a cheap 3rd party CD-ROM that supports 512-byte blocks, and you'll
hopefully be able to use it. I've used a 2x Mac CD-ROM, and a 4x Panasonic
external on my 3100. I've used the same external and a 4x Toshiba on my
Alpha's. The important thing is it MUST suport 512-byte blocks, most PC
CD-ROM's support 2048-byte blocks.
I got the 4x Toshiba for $15 used, as a price reference.
Any idea where I could pick myself up one of those? The CDROM is not
the only price factor that i'm worried about, it's also the external
SCSI cable. I looked at a DEC SCSI cable that will fit into the back
SCSI port, and it cost a mere $95. I'm running a incredibly tight
budget, the story of a teenager's life, and $95 is simply out of the
question.
-paul
5:05 p.m.
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5:28 p.m.
This is exactly what I did. I got a rrd42 from Ebay for cheap and
hooked it on the internal ribbon cable and removed the access panel on the
front of the system. It did not look pretty, but it worked.
Now its on the external bus with a centronics-to-ribbon cable scavanged
from a MV2000.
Paul
On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, Tony Duell wrote:
Is there any reason why you can't plug the CD-ROM
into a spare connector
on the internal SCSI cable (I assume you don't have all the connectors
used). OK, so you can't close the case with the CD-ROM connected, but who
cares about that.
Does anyone know if this will work? VAXstations are a little too modern
for me :-)
14 Jun
14 Jun
2:05 a.m.
At 03:05 09/06/99 +0100, Tony Duell wrote:
Does anyone know if this will work? VAXstations are a
little too modern
for me :-)
It'll depend on the model 3100 - there's a fair few things call
VAXstation-3100s. I'm about to get a 3100/76 so that I can play VMS at
home, given that I'm about to leave my current employer who has lots of VMS
toys I occasionally play with...
I assume the SCSI cable required is the old style 68? pin (female)
connector to a standard Centronics plug. It's been a while since we had a
3100 at work!
Oh, and to answer a question in your other message :
Yes, you're a little
insane/eccentric. But then most of us here are. Good, isn't it :-)
I was more worried that I've been doing VMS longer than Paul's been alive!
In terms of doing a VMS install I think you will need to have the upgrade
savesets on a local medium (although I think you can do the install from an
Infoserver which is a network attached device).
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"
8 Jun
8 Jun
5:23 p.m.
I got the 4x
Toshiba for $15 used, as a price reference.
Any idea where I could pick myself up one of those? The CDROM is not the only price factor that i'm worried about,
it's also the external
SCSI cable. I looked at a DEC SCSI cable that will fit into the back
SCSI port, and it cost a mere $95. I'm running a incredibly tight
Opps, forgot about that gotcha. When I was recommending the 4x, I was
thinking of sticking it inside the case. At one point I had the 2x hanging
half way out of the system and plugged into one of the internal SCSI
cables. I'm lucky enough to now have one of those wierd cables.
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.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.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
5:47 p.m.
* Zane H. Healy (healyzh(a)aracnet.com) [06.08.99 22:41]:
I got mine from the local scrapper. Any place that deals in Junk PC's will
have all kinds of useful bits like that, the trick is finding such a place.
I was looking through eBay, and damn, there's a lot of cool stuff.
My mom's not going to be crazy about me buying it, but i'm certainly
going to try.
I have an external 3x NEC CDROM, but nothing seems like it would
connect to it without and expensive connector (hey, i like to be able
to buy food once in a while. :P).
Thanks for all the input on this. :) Now i just need a friggin' air
conditioner, my two VAXstations may keep me warm in the winter, but
they're not too happy to have around in the summer..
-paul
--
paul(a)paul.dragontear.org [a paradigm of a paramount failure]
I got the 4x Toshiba for $15 used, as a price
reference.
Any idea where I could pick myself up one of those? The CDROM is not the only price factor that i'm worried about,
it's also the external
SCSI cable. I looked at a DEC SCSI cable that will fit into the back
SCSI port, and it cost a mere $95. I'm running a incredibly tight
Opps, forgot about that gotcha. When I was recommending the 4x, I was
thinking of sticking it inside the case. At one point I had the 2x hanging
half way out of the system and plugged into one of the internal SCSI
cables. I'm lucky enough to now have one of those wierd cables.
6:26 p.m.
I have an external 3x NEC CDROM, but nothing seems
like it would
connect to it without and expensive connector (hey, i like to be able
to buy food once in a while. :P).
Can it be taken out of the case? Hmmm, NEC, I doubt it. Most External
SCSI CD-ROM's are just internal drives slapped in a case, but I seem to
recall the NEC might be among the ones that aren't.
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.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.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
6:36 p.m.
I'm using an IBM cdrom with my vaxstation 3100. My NEC absolutely failed to
work. The IBM was one I purchased surplus - it's a 1 inch high, notebook
style. Sorry I can't be more help, but it's all screwed inside a case and
I'm
lothe to go digging for it.
--
Jim Strickland
jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have an external 3x NEC CDROM, but nothing
seems like it would
connect to it without and expensive connector (hey, i like to be able
to buy food once in a while. :P).
Can it be taken out of the case? Hmmm, NEC, I doubt it. Most External
SCSI CD-ROM's are just internal drives slapped in a case, but I seem to
recall the NEC might be among the ones that aren't.
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.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.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
5 p.m.
At 20:13 08-06-1999 -0400, you wrote:
Hello,
Here's my question: I have a VAXstation 3100, and i'm interested in
<snip>
The 3100's, thanks to onboard SCSI, are already well equipped to handle
almost any SCSI CD-ROM drive. Personally, I've had good results with
Toshiba units. I've also found that NEC drives will not work (at least not
the one I tried).
You may also want to consider NetBSD (a free Unix OS based on BSD4.x).
Details at www.netbsd.org.
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http://www.bluefeathertech.com
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SysOp: The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272, 253-639-9905)
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11 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
H.Davies＠latrobe.edu.au -
healyzh＠aracnet.com -
jim＠calico.litterbox.com -
kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com -
lemay＠cs.umn.edu -
paul＠paul.dragontear.org -
thompson＠athenet.net