Zane H. Healy wrote:
>>I don't know what makes it a console. Presumably some interface into
>>the VAX guts, but what that interface is I have no clue.
>>
>>
>
>Two things, one is the interface board (which ISTR can be hacked for other
>more interesting uses), and the second is the VAX Console software.
>
> Zane
>
>
I have one of these. The VAX Console interface is kind of interesting.
It is called the Real Time Interface, option PC3XX-AA, and includes two
RS-232 ports, a number of discrete I/O lines, and an IEEE-488 bus. The
VAX was attached to a 62-pin D-shell connector, according to a scan I
have
http://www.chd.dyndns.org/pdp11/Pro380_RTI.pdf Looks like it would
have been perfect for use in a lab for driving test equipment.
The technical manuals are on bitsavers. I don't think the RTI is
documented there though. Look at
http://208.190.133.201/decimages/moremanuals.htm for the VAX 8500
maintenance manual. I think the RTI registers are documented there. I
looked this all up one time because I was going to connect my PRO380 to
an IEEE-488 oscilloscope. I have not gotten to it yet.
You really need the keyboard and display to make it work. A terminal can
be connected to the printer port and used with ODT, but that is about
it, at least with P/OS, I am not sure about RT-11. The monochrome video
is NTSC, so a simple TV monitor will work. I had to dig out an old
TRS-80 Model I display to make it work.
-chuck
Received on Thu Jun 03 2004 - 20:21:56 BST