Is The M9312 Boot Module Essential?

[Chris Zach]

> The bit I am confused about is that I got a console prompt with just the CPU (M7133) and Unibus Map Module (M7134) installed. Presumably I could type in a bootstrap program from there?

Sure, that's just normal ODT if I recall. On my 5.25 inch 11/24 I have 
the CPU, MMU, a 1mb memory card, H7273s in the other slots on the way 
down, a RL11, a RX21, and a terminator (I forget if it's a 9302 or 9312).

C

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> Regards
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> Rob
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> From: Bill Degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com>
> Sent: 19 February 2022 08:29
> To: rob at jarratt.me.uk; Rob Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Is The M9312 Boot Module Essential?
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> You need some way to initialize the system to the peripheral that contains the.OS media.  The m9312 is a general purpose co ntroller for that purpose.  There are roms that install on the 9312 for almost any drive hardware.  When you get a system that comes with an M9312, it will have the appropriate peripheral Rom and console ROM installed from the factory.  The M9312 also had a console ROM monitor to allow a person to attach a terminal to enter bootstrap commands.
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> But yes the *function* provided by the m9312 is necessary.
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> Alternatively you can key in the bootstrap that tells your system how to boot your OS and communicate with your boot device.
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> The m9312 is less useful without at least a console ROM
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> Where are you located?  Maybe someone nearby has in you could borrow just to see what you need.
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> Bill.
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> On Sat, Feb 19, 2022, 2:12 AM Rob Jarratt via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org> > wrote:
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> I have a PDP-11/24. I have never got very far with it because of power
> supply problems which I am hopeful will be resolved soon. Looking at the
> technical manual, it describes an M9312 bootstrap/terminator module. The
> machine did not come with one of these.
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> I am not sure how the machine could have been useful without it. It did work
> briefly before the PSU failed and I remember getting a console prompt. So,
> is the M9312 essential to ever get this machine to boot up an operating
> system?
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> Thanks
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> Rob
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