11/44 basic newbie help request

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Mon Feb 10 17:53:00 2003

> I wasn't going to dig into my 11/44 system until I finished the 2000/Access
> system, but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to dig into it
> already. I have some really simple basic questions perhaps others can point
> me in the right direction.
>
> First:
> It would appear the first 8 or so cards are required to be in certain slots.

Yes. They _must_ be in the right slots. The numbers increase from the
RHS of the backplane, BTW.

> Cpu set basically. If I don't have FPP or CIS stuff, those slots get left
> blank? Do any grant or jumper type cards need to be there if FPP and CIS
> cards aren't present? Do you need to change jumpers/switches on the other

No. The slots are simply empty.

> cards that make up the cpu if there is no FPP or CIS?

Not that I'm aware of.

>
> After the cpu set comes memory. I know these need to be set for what area of
> memory the card is for. But according to the cover on the lid, there is
> about 4 slots for memory. Then there is a jumper card that joins the two
> backplans, 9300 or 9200 I think. I have an 8 port mux card. I assume it
> can't go in the memory slots. So do the empty memory slots (don't have

I think that's right.

> enough memory cards to fill all 4 slots) neet any kind of grant card? If I

I don't think there are any grant cards in memory solts.

> recall correctly, after the memory is the jumper card that joins the two
> backplanes... the 8 port mux could go next? And then next I'll put in a
> RL01/02 controller. Then there is a buss termination card...I assume that

The RL11 controller is an NPR device (==DMA for the rest of the world).
You have to cut a wire jumper on the back of the slot where it's
installed. Search the classiccmp archives for the CA1-CB1 jumper, Unibus
NPG jumper. etc.

> goes right after the RL01/02, are there any other jumper/termination/grant

NO! The terminator (M930, M9302) _must_ go in the Unibus Out slot of a
backplane, or you might well short out the PSU (!). This is the rearmost
part of the leftmost slot of the backplane in almost all cases (as here).

You then must put grant continuity cards in all the empty slots of the
backplane. If you have the M9302 termintor and have an open grant chain,
the CPU will never start (!).

[...]

> Looking at the TU-58 drive, the rubber rollers in each drive appear to be
> highly questionable - pretty gummy. What's the best way to fix those rubber
> rollers? I was thinking of cleaning off the rubber, and maybe getting a
> vacuum cleaner belt and building a new surface by cutting it to size and

Silicone rubber tubing of the right diameter is what most people use.

> wrapping it around the metal cylinder. Just how touchy is the parameter for
> the diameter of that wheel if I'm off, making it slightly thinner or

Fairly. It sets the tape speed, and therefore the conversion between bit
density on the tape and data rate at the head.

-tony
Received on Mon Feb 10 2003 - 17:53:00 GMT