Problems Booting RSX-11M V4.4 on a PDP-11/24 from an RA80 Disk Drive

From: Christopher McNabb <NOcmcnabbSPAM_at_4mcnabb.net>
Date: Mon Sep 16 02:11:00 2002

I've finally got what I think is a good sysgen for my PDP-11, but I'm having
a hard time getting it to boot from an RA80. Here is the machine config:

PDP-11/24
Unibus Map
Memory Map
Floating Point Unit
Extended Instruction Set
DZ11 Async board
512 KW (1024 KB) Ram
Two RL02 Disk Drives
One RA80 Disk Drive with MSCP controller

Here is the sequence of commands I am using to transfer the system from the
RL02 (where it was sysgened) to the RA80:

>MOU DU0:/FOR

>ACS DL0:/BLKS=0

>INS $BRU

>INS $VMR

>INS $PIP

>DMO DL0:/DEV

>MOU DL0:/FOR

>BRU DL0: DU0:

    (BRU Initializes DU0)

>DMO DU0:

>DMO DL0:/DEV

>MOU DL0:RSXM46

>MOU DU0:RSXM46

>SET /UIC=[1,54]

>PIP DU0:RSX11M.SYS/NV/CO/BL:2050=RSX11M.TSK

>ASN DU0: SY:

>ASN DU0: LB:

>VMR _at_SYSVMR

>BOO DU0:RSX11M.SYS

XDT> G

RSX11M V4.4 BL 46

> TIM XX:XX XX-XXX-XX

            Note: A 'DEV' command at this point shows all the proper
devices and redirects.

> SAV /WB /MOU="DU0:RSXM46"

The RA80 Ready light flickers for a few seconds, then the channel select
light will go off and back on twice. Then the system hangs. If I boot from
the RL02 at this point, and then try to boot from the RA80, the system will
hang again. Booting from the ODT prompt (173204g) yields the same result.
The system hangs wether or not I specify the /MOU option to the 'SAV'
command. If I try the boot right after the BRU command, I get the expected
"Device does not contain a hardware boot block' message, so I know the MSCP
controller is working. I don't know why I can boot the first time with the
'BOO' command, but not subsequently.

Anyone out there have any clues?
Received on Mon Sep 16 2002 - 02:11:00 BST