test-drb March 2014

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

175 participants
175 discussions

by quapla＠xs4all.nl

Do you remember the realcons interface based on Henk Gooijens core-I/O board a few years ago? If so, read on! I have rewritten Henk's realcons software (and Henk made a new eeprom for me) for SIMH v4.0 and named it OPCON (OPerator Console). The original software was based on counters who's settings needed to be tested based on the cpu processing speed, OPCON uses SIMH's event timer queue to control the updates send to the external console and is therefor not depending on the cpu speed. OPCON is also more in line with SIMH's command structure, so one can use 'attach oc connect=ser0' for example to a) active the device, and b) to specify which serial port to use. Speed is always 9600-8N1. Try 'help oc' or 'help set oc'. With 100 updates per second the console does show the data and does interact pretty well with the simulator. I have had the simulator running for several hours continuously, and no crashes did appear until now. Currently tested only on Unix/Linux, not on windows, although it should work. For now, the modified SIMH files and the software can be downloaded at www.groenenberg.net/download/OPCON. The zip file can be used as a drop-in replacement of your own source code set you pull from github. Some pics can be found using the same link, and 2 small video's are OPCON for the 11/45 : http://youtu.be/qfLkMfLMZVE OPCON for the 11/70 : http://youtu.be/MpuCwFmOEms Looking forward to receive suggestions and to hear about problems or possible code fixes. Enjoy, Ed -- Dit is een HTML vrije email / This is an HTML free email. Zeg NEE tegen de 'slimme' meter.

12 years, 1 month

Hard drive air filter overhaul and construction

by nf6x＠nf6x.net

I have a few DEC RL02 drives, and a Data General drive that uses a pack that appears physically identical to the RL02 packs other than a different sector pulse ring. I haven't begun the process of bringing any of them up yet, but I've removed the air filter from the Data General drive to look at it. It looks like a standard style of HEPA filter, with filter media zigzagged around wavy aluminum spacer plates and then mounted in a plastic box. It looks quite gray on the input side, and he label suggests it was last replaced in the mid to late 1980s. I assume that NOS filters for these drives aren't just laying about in piles, and even if they are, a time will come when there aren't any spares to be found. Thus, I'm interested in what it would take to overhaul existing filters and/or fabricate new ones from scratch. First of all, I assume that it's not practical to clean the existing filter media very thoroughly. If I'm mistaken, then I'd like to know that. It seems to me that I should be able to rebuild a filter like the one in my DG drive assuming that A) I can get it apart without breaking the housing (may not be possible if the edges of the media is strongly glued to the housing?), and B) I can obtain suitable bulk HEPA filter cloth to use. Even if the housing can't be disassembled nondestructively, I might be able to reuse the aluminum spacer plates at least. By the same token, it should be possible to construct new filters from scratch as long as the bulk HEPA filter cloth is available. So, what have other folks already done in this area? Are there suppliers of bulk HEPA filter cloth who would sell in the small quantities that a hobbyist would need? Maybe suitable filter media can be harvested from off-the-shelf items like automotive air filters? -- Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net> http://www.nf6x.net/

12 years, 1 month

Commodore 16 and Plus/4 added to the collection

by terry＠webweavers.co.nz

For those who might be interested... These are not what I would call classic micros but they do represent a bit of home computing history. They are now part of my collection and I've introduced them as such in the link below: http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/collection/c16-and-plus-4.htm Terry (Tez)

12 years, 1 month

MFM disassembly (was Pack cleaning (was: Re: Convert PDP-11 RK05 disk pack to PDP8))

by js＠cimmeri.com

Subject: Re: Pack cleaning (was: Re: Convert PDP-11 RK05 disk pack to PDP8) From: Kyle Owen <kylevowen at gmail.com> Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 18:39:43 -0600 To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> <<In fact, a while back, I fixed an MFM hard drive from an IBM PC/AT in the cleanroom. Completely dismantled the platters from the spindle, put it back together, and got several more months of service out of it, until it wouldn't spin up on its own (had to kick-start it). >> Kyle, that's really neat. Would you tell more about how you got the platters out? Were you able to lift the heads off the platters before retracting them, or were you simply able to slide the heads across the platters, and off the platters? Thank you, John S.

12 years, 1 month

PDP-8a Restoration/RL01 issues

by anders＠abc80.net

> Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 20:37:57 -0500 > From: David Gesswein <djg at pdp8online.com> > To: cctech at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: PDP-8a Restoration/RL01 issues > Message-ID: <20140306013757.GA8832 at hugin2.pdp8online.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > On Wed, Mar 05, 2014 at 09:32:02AM +0000, anders at abc80.net wrote: > >> How much of this depends on a working controller (RL8A)? >> > I haven't gotten to getting my drives working so can't give first hand > info. From previous postings the drive needs the clock from the controller. > Ok, I see. I have now found the 8,2MHz clock generator on the RL8A-controller, to check that must be a good start. Then the line driver circuitry so the clock shows up in the drive. > >> For a start i would like to run the controller diskless controller >> test, AJRLAAO. Then the AJRLBAO/AJRLCAO drive test. I have searched >> the net after those but haven't found any sources. I wander if >> anybody have those and the documents on them? >> > No good scans appear to be available. January posting with link to > photos from my fiche viewer. I have the full set but no easy way to > scan. I can take more pictures this weekend if you find you need them. > http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/2014-January/155010.html > > My fiche are for newer revisions than the binaries I have. You can > download .bn tape image by clicking on the more link on this page for the .dg > http://www.pdp8online.com/pdp8cgi/os8_html?act=dir;fn=images/os8/diagpack2.… > Thanks, I will try to run the diskless test during the weekend and I'll see what that might give. >> Then what else should I do? >> >> From my RK05 work clean drive and heads and inspect/clean pack. Hopefully > people more familiar with RL01 will chime in. Do RL drives have bad foam > that needs replacing? > > If you get the system up and the pack have interesting contents I would like > to get a dump at some time. I started working on a dump/restore for RL > packs but it hasn't gotten tested since I didn't have a working system > and the person I was working with didn't try it. I should be able to get > it running after VCF in early April. > http://www.pdp8online.com/ftp/software/dumprest/ Now I got some more things to try and this will probably help me to get a bit further. When I get the system up I'll try to make the content availabe if possible. /Anders

12 years, 1 month

PDP-8a Restoration/RL01 issues

by anders＠abc80.net

> Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2014 01:05:54 -0500 > From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: PDP-8a Restoration/RL01 issues > Message-ID: > <CAALmimmGTKGksHJiqbo+TQV12pw2J7QEbEPZexc+bPCG+4-_Eg at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 8:37 PM, David Gesswein <djg at pdp8online.com> wrote: >> Hopefully >> people more familiar with RL01 will chime in. Do RL drives have bad foam >> that needs replacing? > > I don't remember any major foam issues, certainly nothing like the > RK05. There is usually some coarse foam at the front of the drive, in > front of the HEPA filter, but that's quickly removed and cleaned. The > insides are foam-free IIRC. Lots of hard surfaces to wipe down for > dust, though. I'd certainly do that, including swabbing the tubes > behind the HEPA filter if the drive has been stored for a long time > and you see dust in the pack area (less crud for the HEPA filter to > suck up). Yes, those drives needs a cleaning for sure. They where actually much cleaner inside than I expected. > >> If you get the system up and the pack have interesting contents I would like >> to get a dump at some time. > > One does not require a PDP-8 and RL8A to back up an RL01 or RL02 pack. > Any machine can make a block-for-block image copy. It's one command > on VAX/VMS ($ BACKUP/PHYSICAL). If you have another system and > interface, that might be easier than dealing with a medium that's 2.5 > times the max size of an OS/8 device. > > -ethan Intressing, but I don't have any more modern DEC running. I have a micro PDP11/73 with an RL controller though, but that have not been running for ten years at least. /Anders

12 years, 1 month

PDP-8a Restoration/RL01 issues

by anders＠abc80.net

Hi, My restoration project continues, after fixing power supply and some issues with the DKC8A (Option #1) the machine now passes the CPU test and the memory test (machine is now equipped 32k core). The setup of the machine is minimal: - PDP8A CPU, KK8A, M8315 - Option #2, KM8A, M8317 - Option #1, DKC8A, M8316 - Core memory DATARAM Corp. 16k*12 (field 4-7) - MM8AB, 16k core (field 0-3) So I started on the RL01 drives. Since I never had used those, I don't now how they should work. I'm learning those things from the manuals... So I put in the RL8A disk controller (M8433) and connected the cable to one of the drives at a time. Also connected the terminator on the drive. The first drive that I tested turned on the "READY" light, then nothing more happened. I was able to open the drive immediately. The other drive that I tested turned on the "READY" and the "FAULT" light, then nothing more happened. I was able to open the drive immediately. I opened this drive up (unscrewed the lid) and noticed that the spindle motor rotated slowly for 10 seconds when i powered up the drive with a cartridge in it. I also measured the voltage on the power lines and got this: 5V: 5,1V 8V: 7,7V -8V: -7,9V Ureg: 15,5V -Unreg: -15,2V Which should be fine according to the "Rl01/Rl02 Technical Manual, Volume 11-Service Procedures" What I have read in the manuals is that the drives should behave like this: 1. Power on, no lights should come on. 2. After a while the load light should illuminate. Now it should be possible to open the lid and load a cartridge (and place the protection on the top). 3. Close the lid and press "LOAD". Load should now go out. 4. The drive should spin up and read the servo data. When done the "READY" should illuminate. How much of this depends on a working controller (RL8A)? For a start i would like to run the controller diskless controller test, AJRLAAO. Then the AJRLBAO/AJRLCAO drive test. I have searched the net after those but haven't found any sources. I wander if anybody have those and the documents on them? Then what else should I do? /Anders

12 years, 1 month

Convert PDP-11 RK05 disk pack to PDP8

by bobvines00＠gmail.com

> Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 18:41:30 -0600 > From: Kyle Owen <kylevowen at gmail.com> > On Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 3:42 PM, Paul Koning <paulkoning at comcast.net> wrote: > >> >> On Mar 5, 2014, at 3:08 PM, Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote: >> > ... >> > You don't ahve to mechanically balance it as well. Of course just >> > centring the disk accurately is non-trivial... >> >> What's the required accuracy? With some patience and an inexpensive dial >> indicator, centering to .001 inch (25 micrometers) is doable; lathe >> operators do it all the time with their 4 jaw chucks. > > > What about using an inspection microscope over the disk surface to visually > align it? I imagine you could get a bit more precision this way, perhaps. > > Kyle For ~$50+ (U.S.) you could get a 0.0001-inch capable test indicator off of eBay. Or spend ~$300 for a Starrett (or equal). (Plus the cost of an indicator holder.) Bob

12 years, 1 month

Kodak CDL-144?

by nwfilardo＠gmail.com

Hey all, I am not sure if this is the right place to ask (please flame gently if not), but: I have an old Kodak LifeSciences SCSI CD Library (model CDL-144) and haven't been able to find out very much about it. The robot component responds to the standard SCSI changer commands (as issued by, for example, mtx-1.2.18, but not mtx-1.3, AFAICT) and the drives of course open and close in response to the standard eject command, but I have not been able to figure out how to do useful things like open the mail slot, set the password, or dump (or update, if only I had an image!) the firmware over the SCSI bus. The only manual I've ever found online is just the "getting started" guide and points to kodak.com for more, but of course that's no longer around and even the wayback machine hasn't been that useful... thus this plea for anyone who knows anything about the device to share, even if off list. Thanks much in advance, --nwf;

12 years, 1 month

A nice DEC and VAX stations (&related items) price list

by stephane.tsacas＠gmail.com

Hi, I don't think this link has been published here before, I just found it and think it can be useful : http://stuff.mit.edu/afs/net/user/tytso/archive/price-lists/dec.price-list.… -- Stephane FreeDonne <http://www.freedonne.org> Join FreeDonne - Rejoignez FreeDonne.

12 years, 1 month

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test-drb March 2014