rhudson_at_cnonline.net wrote:
>
> I have a Compaq Portable 386...
>
> Classically speaking... what is best to do in the cases below?
>
> Let us extend the argument, Given a running PDP/11, what of the person who installs a current day 60GB disk drive and DVD CD ROM?
>
I am not quite sure what the question is here. Someone can correct me
if I am wrong, but I believe the largest single disk drive DEC ever sold
that can be attached to a PDP11 (UNIBUS or QBUS) was the RA73 SDI disk
at 2GB. Although SCSI interfaces were available from 3rd party vendors
that can support larger drives, I don't think 60GB would be very
appropriate for a PDP11. A DVD-ROM drive? Now that would be
interesting if it was even possible. Maybe I can convert all my 9-track
media for the 11/70 to a single DVD :)
On a more serious side: I run RA72, RL02 disks, and a TU81+ tape unit
on my 11/70, which are much newer than the machine itself. Although
these devices are original DEC storage devices and are supported by
later OS's, vintage OS versions were written for the storage devices of
their time. Having these more "modern" storage devices, I find it
difficult to run older OS versions that pre-date them. For instance,
6th edition AT&T UNIX supports disks such as the RK05 and RP04, but not
the newer MSCP disks like the RA72.
Running newer storage devices with vintage CPU's has its advantages in
size, cost, serviceability, and availability, but can be a problem with
OS versions that were not designed to support them.
--
Doug Carman
pdp11_at_bellsouth.net
Received on Thu Jun 21 2001 - 19:05:25 BST