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
The MVII I have has no network card so I may have to prepare the SD card
using an emulator. I waiting for the SCSI2SD adapter and the Hobbyist
License access at this point.
Doug
