new acquisition: an 11/73 running RSX-11 v4.6 and a question on cihper tapes & CDC SMD disks/controllers

From: David HM Spector <spector_at_zeitgeist.com>
Date: Fri Dec 6 12:03:23 2002

I just got a new acquisition -- a PDP11/73 (born an 11/23 plus but
upgraded) -- up and running.

Its running RSX-11 v4.6 and I found a useful tidbit which may come in
handy to others since I had no info on accounts on this machine and
have limited experience with RSX-11 (I was a RSTS, UNIX and VMS guy wrt
machines of this era):

As it booted, several well-timed ^C's as tasks were being installed got
me to an MCR> prompt where I could run $ACNT and make myself an account
so I could log in.

Re: making accounts, it was a trip to see the "depth" of account info
and security on the machine. :-)


Its an interesting little machine:

        M8192 PDP-11/73 processor
        M8043 DJV11-J 4-port async
        M3104 8-port async
        Emulex HD controller (not SMD) -- model not (yet) known
        Emulatex tape controller (ibid) for Cipher 3200/1600 bpi 9track tape
drive
        512KW memory (no name or number on board -- only a sticker that says
"made in hong kong")
        M7504 DEQNA
        Cipher model M890340-96-1050U tape drive
        KPV-1180 Parallel Line Printer Controller
        Printronix P6000 ~400lpm line printer (biiig data center cabinet ..
dot matrix, circa-1985)

It has some flavor of winchester that looks to the OS like an RA81 (but
is a 5/25" HDA -- I haven't disassembled every part of the rack yet).
Also in its low-boy case are two CDC SMD "Fixed Storage Disks" disks
(27"+ deep, > 50 lbs, SMD interface) for which I have an empty slot but
no controller for. The model # on the disks is: 72859381.


Does anyone have any ideas on these disks and what kind of controller
would bring these CDC disks back to life..? (anyone got controllers to
trade? I have all sorts of goodies...) Als, any online pointers to
maint manuals for the tape drive..?


regards,
   David
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
David HM Spector spector_at_zeitgeist.com
software architecture - network/security consultation
technical due diligence - technology planning/analysis
Office:(631)261-5013 Cell: (631)431-5756
Received on Fri Dec 06 2002 - 12:03:23 GMT