On Jul 30, 2016, at 10:26 AM, Douglas Taylor <dj.tayl...@comcast.net> wrote: > > On 7/29/2016 10:30 PM, Jerry Weiss wrote: >> On Jul 29, 2016, at 8:30 PM, Zane Healy <heal...@aracnet.com> wrote: >>> >>>> On Jul 29, 2016, at 6:08 PM, Douglas Taylor <dj.tayl...@comcast.net> wrote: >>>> >>>> I just got a MicroVax II in the BA123 world box chassis. I has a TK50, >>>> RX50, RXDQ2, but no DEQNA. I'd like to get it running an OS. >>>> >>>> The DU disks don't work, but I have a couple of Qbus SCSI controllers that >>>> might come in handy. >>>> >>>> Can you use those SD to SCSI convertors in this type of configuration? >>>> Anyone have experience with this? >>>> >>>> What OS's can I use with this hardware? NetBSD? Are versions of VMS >>>> available? How do you get an OS onto this system? >>> The all around best choice would be VAX/VMS v5.5-2. You can get Hobbyist >>> licenses. The OS was available as part of the Hobbyist program. If you >>> add a SCSI adapter, you can hopefully attach a CD. IIRC, it will run up to >>> either v7.2 or 7.3, at least I know I had v7.2 on a MicroVAX III (well, >>> technically I still do, if it will boot). >>> >>> Ultrix would also be available. >>> >>> What I did though was I gave it a brain transplant, and converted mine to a >>> PDP-11 once I got a better VAX. >>> >>> I need to invest in a couple of those SD adapters myself. I’d really like >>> to put one on one of my AlphaStation 200 4/233’s. Hopefully they’ll still >>> work. It’s been years since I’ve done anything with my DEC HW. :-( >>> >> I have booted both V7.3 and V5.5-2 off a 4GB SD with SCSI2SD V4.6 on a >> MicroVax II with 16 Mb. Note that DEQNA will not work (at all) on either >> version. You’ll need a DELQA. >> >> You should be able to build a system with an emulator and then copy the >> binary to an SD card. i’ve taken images both ways without problems. >> Alternately if you get a DELQA, you can netboot off of another Vaxen and >> build an bootable disk that way. >> >> Jerry > > That is awfully good news for me. How did you format the SD card? What kind > of drive was it emulating? > > I don't have 16 Mb, but 5 Mb. I understand the DEQNA was not supported in > VMS 5, should've kept the one I had. >
I use a UC07 controller and it presents the SD/SCS2SD as a MSCP drive. It doesn’t matter what type of drive I label the drive using the Emulex built it utilities (RA81, RA92..). VMS sees all the space the SCSI2SD adapter presents. The SD is is a block level device and can be written directly to. No further (lower level) formatting is necessary. <!-- ******************************************************** Drive geometry settings. ********************************************************* --> <scsiSectors>7603200</scsiSectors> <bytesPerSector>512</bytesPerSector> <sectorsPerTrack>63</sectorsPerTrack> <headsPerCylinder>255</headsPerCylinder> <!-- ******************************************************** Drive identification information. The SCSI2SD doesn't care what these are set to. Use these strings to trick a OS thinking a specific hard drive model is attached. ********************************************************* --> <!-- 8 character vendor string --> <!-- For Apple HD SC Setup/Drive Setup, use ' SEAGATE' --> <vendor>DEC </vendor> <!-- 16 character produce identifier --> <!-- For Apple HD SC Setup/Drive Setup, use ' ST225N' --> <prodId>RA92 </prodId> <!-- 4 character product revision number --> <!-- For Apple HD SC Setup/Drive Setup, use '1.0 ' --> <revision>4.30</revision> <!-- 16 character serial number --> <serial>VAX50001 </serial> Start off by getting the Hobbyist License. When you sign up you get access to a VMS 7.3 distribution Iso. Then you need to sort out your install method. Either burn the ISO and try to boot it or go the emulation route. Jerry