DCC-116 E / DATA GENERAL NOVA 2/10 / Nixdorf 620 - Restoring and restarting

Dominique Carlier dce at skynet.be
Thu May 18 08:08:37 CDT 2017


Hi,

I saw this ad but the shipping costs until Belgium decided me to react 
as if I had not seen anything ^^

It's a pity, I would have taken a few boards.


On 18/05/2017 06:05, AJ Palmgren wrote:
> My search for this was prompted by my seeing one on eBay:
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/282462822861
>
> Did anyone here purchase it, or know who did?  Just curious, since 
> these seem so rare and interesting.
>
> Best,
> -AJ
>
> On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 8:29 PM, AJ Palmgren <microtechdart at gmail.com 
> <mailto:microtechdart at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     Dominique,
>
>     I'm quite interested in seeing your Entrex/Nixdorf system
>     restored.  Please keep us updated here.  Nice work saving these
>     rare items!
>
>     I've done some of my own work restoring a DG Nova-type system.  (
>     http://Point4iris.com ).  I'd love to see if there's any way I
>     could help.
>
>     I'll read Christian Kennedy's response here, as he seems FAR more
>     familiar and knowledgeable than I am here, but if I can add value
>     in any way, I would love to.
>
>     Best,
>     -AJ
>
>     On Sat, Apr 1, 2017 at 12:33 PM, Dominique Carlier via cctalk
>     <cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>> wrote:
>
>         Hi guys !
>
>         My name is Dominique, 43 , from Belgium (I apologize in
>         advance for my approximate English). I join this forum under
>         the recommendations of Curious Marc. It seems there are people
>         here who can help me to get back to life the venerable machine
>         that I have just recovered.
>
>         Some pictures of the beast :
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/overview01.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/overview01.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/overview01.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/overview01.jpg>>
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/terminal.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/terminal.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/terminal.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/terminal.jpg>>
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/comrack_closeup.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/comrack_closeup.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/comrack_closeup.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/comrack_closeup.jpg>>
>
>         It is a "Nixdor 600 series" (Apparently a Nixdorf 620/35),
>         upgraded several times until 1980, the CPU board is dated from
>         this year. So I do not know exactly what machine it is today
>         the equivalent.
>
>         Anyway, the Nixdorf 620 is actually built by "Digital Computer
>         Controls" and after some researches it seems that it is a
>         "DCC-116 E", the 17 slot version of the "DCC-116" which Is a
>         clone of the "Data General Nova 2/10".
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/DCC.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/DCC.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/DCC.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/DCC.jpg>>
>
>         The machine has five Key-stations (ENTREX DATA/SCOPE), a
>         Mag-tape Pertec 8840A - A Disk Cartridge Diablo Model 40 and a
>         big line drum printer (Data Products model 2230), strange
>         machine, there is a tape reader inside the printer.
>
>         Here is the list of the boards I have with the references
>         written on them and their position in the machine:
>
>         *17    HEX 0 – 15                 ENTREX INC 62 00 01842 002
>         REV A*
>
>         *16    HEX 16 30 31             ENTREX INC 62 00 01842 002 REV A**
>         15    OPTION 2                  Empty**
>         14    OPTION 1                  Empty**
>         13    PRINTER                   ENTREX INC SN598**
>         12    TAPE 556/800 BPI     2433 LFI 213**
>         11    TAPE 1600 BPI          Empty**
>         10    DISK                           2456 00 MP-Kontroller
>         D44an620 6393500215 <tel:6393500215> 2456 7 0 1577**
>         09    COMMO                     Empty**
>         08    SCANNER                  Scanner BD 2431 NCAG 54147.1.15
>         2431 02394**
>         07    MEM                           1609 0 7 02616**
>         06    MEM                           Empty**
>         05    MEM                           1609 0 8 02367**
>         04    MEM                           1615 01 9 5596**
>         03    TTY                             Empty**
>         02    DO NOT USE             Empty**
>         01    C.P.                              1509 05 4 04436*
>
>         Concerning this I also ask a few questions:
>
>          *
>
>            What are the boards in slots 16 and 17 for?
>
>          *
>
>            I do not have a COM card, does that mean that I could not
>         attempt a
>            serial transmission (type rs232) with this actual setup ?
>
>          *
>
>            I have no idea how many kilobytes are present, apparently
>         there are
>            two core memory cards (8kb each? 16Kb each?), And non-core
>         RAM board.
>
>         I first solved a problem with the power supply of the disk
>         pack (bad HF filter, short-circuited with the chassis, then it
>         is also dead HF filter in the "multi-plug" of the chassis that
>         start to burn, once these problems were solved, I cleaned the
>         machine thoroughly, cleaning the heads of readings with
>         isopropyl alcohol, I Not yet cleaned the disc himself which at
>         first glance looks extremely clean, it has not left the
>         machine for 30 years.
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/disckpack01.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/disckpack01.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/disckpack01.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/disckpack01.jpg>>
>
>         I cleaned all the guides and the heads of the nine track tape
>         Pertec 8840A. There was also a false contact in the ON-LINE
>         button. I did a first cleanup. I think there is always a
>         problem with the HI-DEN button used to set the magtape to
>         800BPI. It is currently ineffective, but I have a doubt about
>         the contacts of the lamp socket).
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/ninetrack.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/ninetrack.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/ninetrack.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/ninetrack.jpg>>
>
>         I then cleaned all the sockets and contacts at the boards of
>         the computer (logic and PSU)
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/clean_contact.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/clean_contact.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/clean_contact.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/clean_contact.jpg>>
>
>
>         Unfortunately, after a couple of hours, the "POWER FAIL" light
>         has started to light up. The problem here is that I have no
>         schematics, it is a modular power supply consisting of two
>         elements:
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psus.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psus.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psus.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psus.jpg>>
>
>         One seems to be dedicated to the 15 VDC regulated, the second
>         module is in charge of the regulated 5VDC. Both elements have
>         a "Power fail module". When the machine is completely
>         populated I now observe that the + 5VDC collapses at +1,9VDC.
>
>         Here what I measured out, you will also see what the boards of
>         these power supply look like.
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_1.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_1.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_1.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_1.jpg>>
>
>         http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_2.jpg
>         <http://www.actingmachines.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_2.jpg>
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_2.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/psu_module_2.jpg>>
>
>         Another thing I noted during my measurements, where I should
>         (I think) measure 15V, I have 18V, looking at the
>         documentation on the NOVA 2 (4 slots), I observed according to
>         the diagrams below That there is 18V but before a zener diode
>         and not at the level of connectors where there must be 15VDC,
>         should I warn me ? Would the diode be dead ?
>
>         I tried to join temporarily a secondary regulated power supply
>         to reinforce the + 5VDC so as to be sure that the problem did
>         not come from the logical part of the computer which checks
>         these voltages and triggers the Power Fail status. By coupling
>         this external regulated power supply, the computer restarts
>         again, thus it is definitively the power supply (or the
>         comparator component(s) of the power fail module)
>
>         If I removes all the boards (printer, core memory, scanner,
>         disk controller, etc.), the Power Fail light eventually goes
>         out, I get again the 5VDC, so the power has become "too weak"
>         to power the computer when it is fully populated.
>
>         Despite the temporary (and dangerous) look of my assembly with
>         secondary power supply, I could not stop myself and attempt a
>         boot procedure via the Cold Start button of the machine from
>         the Disk Pack, and it works! :-)
>
>         http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/first_boot.jpg
>         <http://www.zeltrax.com/classiccmp_forum/first_boot.jpg>
>
>         It seems that I still have problems with the magtape, I had
>         errors trying to read a backup, but it may be simply because I
>         still cannot get the machine in 800BPI because of the
>         capricious buttons of the front panel. I also wrote a tape
>         mark via a "WRITE TAPE MARK AND REWIND" function, the mark
>         seems to be written but does not do the Rewind, however if I
>         launch a REWIND only function, it executes the action
>         appropriately. In short, still things to investigate on this side.
>
>         Notes that the Operating system I used to make these tests is
>         a very limited OS named DIDOS which was distributed by Nixdorf
>         for his 620 Serie. As the machine is a clone of DG NOVA 2/10,
>         I wonder if the computer is compatible with programs for the
>         NOVA series of Data General? So I wonder if the DCC-116 was
>         compatible with the software for NOVAs?
>
>         The other questions I ask myself at this point are the ways to
>         transfer softwares or bootable OS on this machine? I have no
>         other disk pack on another system but I have a nine track tape
>         TU81 + connected to a VAX 4000-605A under OpenVMS 6.2, and I
>         can put this computer on my network. Do you think there's a
>         way to make a bootable tape for my NOVA 2 clone with the
>         Pertec 8840A from a VAX 4000 with a TU81+ ?
>
>         Well, to continue, I have to repair this PSU, all information
>         is welcome, schematics would be ideal of course.
>
>         Finally, note that I am not a professional electronics
>         technician, I fixed a lot of machines basic knowledge,
>         intuition, researches, comparisons and logic, it is effective
>         but full of limitations too, so forgive me in advance If I do
>         not always understand the possible answers of electronics in
>         "high engineering" mode ;-)
>
>         As a bonus, the V1 of a small video mounted with a few clips
>         captured during a session of my nocturnal repairs, during the
>         first boot of the machine since 3 decades ! (on my music, yes,
>         I'm also a composer ;-) )
>
>         https://youtu.be/5jWOUtLKRIU
>
>         Thanks a lot to all in advance ;-)
>
>         Dominique
>
>
>
>
>     -- 
>
>     Thanks,
>     AJ Palmgren
>     http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
>     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
>     <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283>
>     https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>     <https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> Thanks,
> AJ Palmgren
> http://fb.me/SelmaTrainWreck
> https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010931314283
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-palmgren-4a085516/
>



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