Just getting started with a MicroVax 3400

From: Chad Fernandez <fernande_at_internet1.net>
Date: Sun Apr 1 14:53:15 2001

Chuck McManis wrote:
> Most excellent progress. A useful command is 'SHOW DEVICE' which will tell
> you what devices and more importantly what type of disks you have installed.

I did try that. I came up with 3 HDs, ethernet, and something else.
I'll have to recheck it and right it down.

> 44M means you have 40 MB + the on-board 4MB on the KA640 CPU. Thus you have
> a fairly rare 32MB memory card and an 8MB card installed, or you have two
> 16's and an 8. I'm betting though its the former.

I think I have 2 16s, and an 8. If I am thinking correctly, I have 3
memory boards total
 
> Next look at all the cards that are installed from the front and write down
> the 'M' numbers and post them to the list, we'll ID them for you. If there
> are blank connectors, be sure to remove those and look behind them,
> sometimes cards have no external connection.

I'll right these down too.
 
> Sounds like one of the disks was pulled (which usually means that part of
> the system was installed on a disk in an expansion box) Normally, a good
> sys admin will make sure that the box can boot without any external disks
> attached but that isn't always possible.

If a whole disk is missing, it must have been external, as all of my
bays are used.
 

> Well, since its bootable you should probably install a new copy of the OS
> on it. Either VMS or NetBSD will work fine on the machine. (a better
> variety of languages in VMS and its more authentic) Install media is easier
> to get for NetBSD and its license free.

I didn't think NetBSD supported the internal DSSI controller?
 
> It will be useful to determine if you have a SCSI interface in this machine
> as that would enable you to use a SCSI CD-ROM to install software (much
> faster than tape!)

I thought I did, at first. That card I thought was SCSI is a serial
card, I think. It has the same little double arrows on it as the
console port, even if the connectors are centronics 50.

Will it take anything special in a cdrom, or will anything scsi work? I
have an old 4Plex stashed away some place.

Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
Received on Sun Apr 01 2001 - 14:53:15 BST