TU-58 in simh

Sat Apr 22 12:08:12 CDT 2017

On 04/21/2017 10:13 PM, Don North via cctalk wrote:
> 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.
>

Actually maybe....

IF you set up RT-11 XM and have an 11/23 or larger the memory over 32KW
can be used as a virtual disk.
The process boots using Tu58 and copies to VM and set the boot device as
XM and then boots XM.  The
com file basically copies the tape to VM then configures the boot for XM
and the boots it.  Then the tu58
is free for use as storage and to add programs to VM.  The down side is
a boot is about 5-8 minutes but
once VM is up and booted very fast and useful.

I've done this in a BA-11VA 4slot with 11/23cpu, 256K ram, MRV11, DLV11J
and the TU58 stacked above it.
The result si 192K of VM and two drives.  Its compact as PDP-11s go and
actually runs useful programs.

An enlarged system is a DEC 12 slot dual width Q22 cage with 11/23 cpu
(M8156), 2mb of ram (M8059),
and a MRV11 (Carries boot roms) plus DLV11J.  The roms are copies of
11/23+.  I enjoy playing with real
hardware.

I have larger BA11S boxes with 11/23, 11/23+, 11/73 and a ba23
microPDP11 as test systems and working
systems with a full array of disks, floppies and the only tape that
seems to work the TU58 (don't mention
the TK50, please).

The only PDP-11 sim I've used is John Wilson's Ersatz-11, its very good.

Allison

>
> test[991] pdp11
>
> PDP-11 simulator V4.0-0 Beta        git commit id: 17903827
> sim> set tdc enable
> sim> att tdc0 11xxdp.dsk
> TDC: buffering file in memory
> sim> boot tdc0
>
> BOOTING UP XXDP-XM EXTENDED MONITOR
>
> XXDP-XM EXTENDED MONITOR - XXDP V2.5
> REVISION: F0
> BOOTED FROM DD0
> 124KW OF MEMORY
> NON-UNIBUS SYSTEM
>
> RESTART ADDRESS: 152000
> TYPE "H" FOR HELP !
>
> .DIR
>
> ENTRY# FILNAM.EXT        DATE          LENGTH  START VERSION
>
>     1  XXDPSM.SYS       1-MAR-89         29    000047 E.0
>     2  XXDPXM.SYS       1-MAR-89         39    000104 F.0
>     3  DRSSM .SYS       1-MAR-89         24    000153 G.2
>     4  DRSXM .SYS       1-MAR-89         48    000203 C.0
>     5  DATE  .SYS       1-MAR-89          2    000263 B.0
>     6  DB    .SYS       1-MAR-89          2    000265 C.0
>     7  DD    .SYS       1-MAR-89          3    000267 D.0
>     8  DIR   .SYS       1-MAR-89          7    000272 D.0
>     9  DL    .SYS       1-MAR-89          4    000301 D.0
>    10  DM    .SYS       1-MAR-89          4    000305 C.0
>    11  DR    .SYS       1-MAR-89          3    000311 C.0
>    12  DU    .SYS       1-MAR-89          4    000314 E.0
>    13  DUSZ  .SYS       1-MAR-89          2    000320 C.0
>    14  DY    .SYS       1-MAR-89          3    000322 D.0
>    15  LP    .SYS       1-MAR-89          1    000325 B.0
>    16  MM    .SYS       1-MAR-89          3    000326 C.0
>    17  MS    .SYS       1-MAR-89          4    000331 C.0
>    18  MU    .SYS       1-MAR-89          4    000335 E.0
>    19  HELP  .TXT       1-MAR-89         29    000341
>    20  PATCH .BIC       1-MAR-89         31    000376
>    21  SETUP .BIC       1-MAR-89         27    000435
>    22  UPDAT .BIC       1-MAR-89         29    000470
>    23  XTECO .BIC       1-MAR-89         26    000525
>    24  FLOAT .BIN       1-MAR-89         18    000557
>
> FREE BLOCKS:   126
>
> .
>
>