20 Aug
2023
20 Aug
'23
1:18 p.m.
Hello All,
I am working to get my two microvax systems working, I have a couple of
microvax 3800 systems.
While I am waiting to get the real hardware going, I would like to set up
simh with vms to use for testing.
I don't really need the latest version of vms, any old version with tcp/ip
would work. I do have about 16 dumb terminals i want to run as a lab and
connect to the vax.
Can anyone provide guidance on this matter for setting up and install of
VMS in sinh? I realize that there was the openvms hobbyist program, but i
may want to grab an older version of the os if it will run smoother on the
older hardware.
Open to suggestions, I hope to post back with some pictures once the real
vax 3800 hardware is running.
Thanks,
Devin D.
20 Aug
20 Aug
1:29 p.m.
Devin,
You have a problem. The MicroVAX 3800 isn't supported in OpenVMS (VAX/VMS) until
version V5.1-1. You can't run it with any older versions. It just won't work.
The problem is that DEC introduced the PAK license with V5.0 and unless you have some
non-expiring VAX VMS PAK's, there is no legal[1] way for you to run it. VSI has a
Hobbyist (Community License Program) program but their PAKs only work on VSI released
versions of OpenVMS and they have only done Alpha, Integrity and now, x86. No VAX. Not
now, not ever (according to several VSI employees).
What you can do is use SimH and emulate older VAXen such as the venerable 11/780 or
86xx up to the VAXstation 3200/3500 or 3500/3600 (I forget what all is available in SIMH)
and use VAX/VMS up to V4.7.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenVMS
https://gunkies.org/wiki/MicroVAX_3800/3900
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroVAX#MicroVAX_3800_and_MicroVAX_3900
John H. Reinhardt
On 8/20/2023 3:18 PM, devin davison via cctalk wrote:
Hello All,
I am working to get my two microvax systems working, I have a couple of
microvax 3800 systems.
While I am waiting to get the real hardware going, I would like to set up
simh with vms to use for testing.
I don't really need the latest version of vms, any old version with tcp/ip
would work. I do have about 16 dumb terminals i want to run as a lab and
connect to the vax.
Can anyone provide guidance on this matter for setting up and install of
VMS in sinh? I realize that there was the openvms hobbyist program, but i
may want to grab an older version of the os if it will run smoother on the
older hardware.
Open to suggestions, I hope to post back with some pictures once the real
vax 3800 hardware is running.
Thanks,
Devin D.
6:48 p.m.
On Sun, Aug 20, 2023, at 1:18 PM, devin davison via cctalk wrote:
Hello All,
I am working to get my two microvax systems working, I have a couple of
microvax 3800 systems.
While I am waiting to get the real hardware going, I would like to set up
simh with vms to use for testing.
I don't really need the latest version of vms, any old version with tcp/ip
would work. I do have about 16 dumb terminals i want to run as a lab and
connect to the vax.
Can anyone provide guidance on this matter for setting up and install of
VMS in sinh? I realize that there was the openvms hobbyist program, but i
may want to grab an older version of the os if it will run smoother on the
older hardware.
Open to suggestions, I hope to post back with some pictures once the real
vax 3800 hardware is running.
Thanks,
Devin D.
Hi Devin,
Probably most comprehensive guide to doing this is Phillip Wherry's page, located
here:
https://www.wherry.com/gadgets/retrocomputing/vax-simh.html
Yes, it's true, the hobbyist program no longer provides licenses for VAX, but there
are ways around that (which I will not discuss on the list).
-Seth
--
Seth Morabito * Poulsbo, WA * https://loomcom.com/
802
days inactive
803
days old
2 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
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devin davison -
John H. Reinhardt -
Seth Morabito