PDP 11/73 is ALIVE!

From: Doc Shipley <doc_at_mdrconsult.com>
Date: Mon Nov 24 10:53:31 2003

On Nov 24, 2003, at 6:18 AM, Ian Primus wrote:
>
> On Monday, November 24, 2003, at 04:46 AM, Fred N. van Kempen wrote:
>>
>> Since the "*** THIS VOLUME" ... comes from the boot loader (it is not
>> in the bootstrap program...) on tape, we *did* load something from it.
>
> I tried three different tapes, two of which are the same thing. One
> tape is a homemade system tape, on an ten inch reel. The label is
> handwritten in pencil and hard to read. It says "RSX-11-M-Plus V4.0
> Operating system for Eagle (DB2, omitting software directories) VMR'd
> for extra pool space <something I can't read>, needs DTR files
> [1,2],<something else I can't read>" The other tape is an official
> Digital tape on a 12 inch reel. The label says "BB-JO81J-BC
> RSX-11M-LUS V4.4 BRU MT:1/1 ID:RSX11MPBL78 DIST 1600BPI COPYRIGHT
> 1993 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION MB0804". I don't know what
> controller these were written for, or how my Emulex card is set up.
> I'll have to read through the Emulex manual some more.
>
>> Even though we were able to load the secondary bootstrap off tape
>> (which
>> is blocks 0 and/or 1 on tape), we **ALSO** need to have that code know
>> what we're loading from.
> Are these leading blocks written in the same format or a different
> format as the rest of the tape? What about density? I'll have to look
> up in the manual, but I _think_ the default on my drive is 1600bpi,
> but I'm not positive.
>
>> Suppose... we load the secondary boot. But: that thinks we're using a
>> TM11 controller. It then tries to load the rest off tape... but
>> barfs,
>> because the TM11 doesnt respond (since it's really a TS11.) ...
>> error..
>
> What's the difference between the two controllers? Is their tape
> format different, or just the headers?
>
>>> I might end up doing that, I can write down the output, and email it
>>> to
>>> you.
>> Use a terminal program on a PC or other system, and just log the
>> sessions. Much easier :)
> Good point... Right now I'm using a Lear Siegler ADM3A :)

   Better yet, use vtserver from a PC to boot the 11/73, and write a
scratch tape from a known good boot image. If the new boot tape
actually boots, your controller and tape drive are validated, leaving a
couple of points-of-failure not to worry about. Plus, you get to play
with the system. :)

   I forget the memory specs of your system, but vtserver requires 192KB
on the client (PDP11) to run. vtserver was invaluable in getting our
new 11/84 up and running last month. The previous owners had
bulk-erased every piece of media except the RA-60P disk packs, and had
zeroed those. :(


        Doc
Received on Mon Nov 24 2003 - 10:53:31 GMT

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