TU-58 in simh

[Bill Gunshannon]

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From: cctalk [cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] on behalf of Don North via cctalk [cctalk at classiccmp.org]
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 10:13 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: TU-58 in simh

On 4/21/2017 6:55 PM, allison wrote:
> On 04/21/2017 09:34 PM, Don North via cctalk wrote:
>> On 4/21/2017 4:25 PM, Brian L. Stuart via cctalk wrote:
>>> I've seen suggestion that TU-58s are emulated in simh on
>>> PDP-11s.  However, I'm not seeing it in a show dev and my
>>> google-fu is failing me to find any info on how to use it.  Any
>>> pointers on how to boot from a TU-58 image?
>>>
>>> TIA,
>>> BLS
>>>
>> Using simh v4.0 from github, in the PDP11 simh ini file:
>>
>> *set tdc enable**
>> **attach tdc0 tu58.dsk*
>>
>> then assuming tu58.dsk is a bootable image:
>>
>> *boot tdc0*
>>
>> Only two units 0,1 are supported (just like a real dual drive) and the
>> images must be 262,144 bytes in size (like a real tu58 cartridge).
>>
> I remember TDC was DECcassette (TU-60).
>
> The boot for RT-11 would be BOOT DD:  the tape image should be built
> with a DD driver or DDX for RT11XM.
> Least that how it works for my physical PDP-11/23 RT11 system.
> Generally all the files that should be on
> a RT11 floppy needs to be on the tape.
>
> For other OSs it first has to fit on the device and have a suitable
> driver for TU58.
>
> Allison
>
TU58 is really not much useful for running any real DEC OS other than XXDP, to
run diagnostics; that is what I use it for on my 34 and 44 (real hardware). I
don't use TU58 at all under SIMH (does not make much sense).

RT-11SJ works running from TU58, but just barely, and it is not really usable.
RT11 is barely usable once you move up to a dual drive RX02.

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Well, I can't agree with that.  I used an LSI-11 with 4 RX02 drives running
RT-11 to develop COBOL programs back in the early 80's.  It was slow, but
that is what coffee breaks were for.

bill