Re: What is this?
On 5/10/19 2:57 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: With no first-hand knowledge, I would assume that NSA also used such. > > Half a century ago, when I worked at The National Space Science Data > Center (NASA, Greenbelt) we dealt with a lot of data. But that is like > a floppy compared to NSA, especially the Utah Data Center! I have some passing experience with the IBM 1360 photostore that was at Lawrence Livermore, but that was strictly digital, using a photographic medium to archive inactive files. (WikiP has a section on the 1360 and, in the same entry, briefly touches on WALNUT). There were bootleg programs in distribution to access one's online files periodically, so that they wouldn't be "photostored" because of inactivity. The system was generally not well-loved. Reading about WALNUT, it was more than a little unusual for its time. The idea was the setup stored (photographically) almost a million images using a non-silver process. The images were indexed digitally and the index was searchable. The output appears to be a standard aperture card. Although both of the references that I found mention Kalfax/Kalvar media, WikiP says that the systems delivered to the CIA used a different diazo process that was apparently more stable than the Kalvar process. --Chuck
Re: HP 1000 A900 ("Magic") Questions
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 4:14 AM Paul Birkel via cctech wrote: > > Aficionados; > > I'm interested in acquiring an HP1000 A900, in any form-factor. > (http://www.hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=594) > > Basic need would be a chassis/backplane/PS and minimal set of > CPU/memory/HPIB-controller/terminal-IO PCA, however I'd be interested in > simply acquiring a PCA-set and I'll work the chassis/backplane/PS > separately. Even single PCAs would give me a helpful push forwards. > > And I need to stick to my hobby (beer") budget. > > I'm located in Maryland, USA, and pretty sure that the cost of overseas > shipping would be ghastly for a chassis. But maybe not as bad for the tower > configuration as for the rack-mount. > > If I understand correctly, the CPU consists of: > > 12201A A900 Sequencer Card > 12202A A900 Data Path Card > 12203A A900 Cache Controller > 12204A A900 Memory Controller > 12220A 768KB RAM (Or I presume 12103D 1MB, 12221A 3 MB, or 12221B 8 MB.) > > I imagine that I'll need to synthesize my own OTT "frontplane" for the > memory. > > 12009A HP-IB Controller > 12040D Asynchronous Multiplexer interface board The hard part is the A900 chassis/backplane/PS. Jesse / Cypress Technology has some 2139A 20-slot listed on eBay, but definitely not at hobby budget prices. No idea how much room he has for "Make Offer". I have rarely seen the A900 chassis come up for sale on eBay. Another hard part is the 1 memory frontplane. Maybe it wouldn't be too hard to build an equivalent PCB if the proper connectors can be acquired. They are 3-row 96-pin connectors. Maybe common DIN 41612 connectors would work, I haven't looked at that closely. The core A900 CPU set 12201A / 12202A / 12203A / 12204A appear to be common enough on eBay if you are willing to pay somewhere in the range of $50 - $175 per board. $200 for a complete CPU board set might not be too bad for a hobby budget, but you can easily go 2x or more higher than that buying the boards individually. The 12220 768KB and 12221 3MB boards are also common enough, typically somewhere in the range of $50 - $175 per board. The 12221 8MB boards seem somewhat rare. The A400/A600/A700 12103 memory boards are not compatible with the A900. At a minimum you need either a 12005 serial card or a 12040 serial mux for a console interface. Both of those are fairly common, although you might pay more for cables than the boards if you don't build cables yourself. There are several firmware versions for the 12040 mux. If you have a D mux you need need VCP firmware 4020 or higher on the 12203A cache controller. As you also said you need a 12009 HPIB card for a storage interface. Running HPDrive on a PC to emulate disk and tape drives works well if you don't have any real HPIB disk and tape drives. I managed to pick up a 12016 SCSI card. Those are rare and expensive. The best deal would often be on a complete chassis/backplane/PS box with the complete CPU card set, if you can ever find one, rather than buying individual parts here and there. I got a complete A900 box and boards from Sellam for somewhere around $200, but that was a few years ago now. I should get rid of a lot of the stuff I have collected over the years, but don't plan on getting rid of the A900 anytime soon. If you do get a working A-series up and running, the RTE-A installation tapes are available on Bitsavers.
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
On Fri, May 10, 2019 17:59, W2HX via cctalk wrote: > What is this used for? RL02's or something? and what does it do? > > From: cctalk on behalf of Bob Rosenbloom > via cctalk > Sent: Friday, May 10, 2019 1:49 AM > To: cctalk > Subject: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay > > There's a mis-categorized disk pack inspection unit up on eBay. Might > be of use to someone. > > https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Digital-Equiment-Corp-DEC-Portable-Briefcase-Paper-Tape-Reader-Punch/303149714641?hash=item4695218cd1:g:ks8AAOSwEVZc1PQo > > Bob > > -- > Vintage computers and electronics > www.dvq.com > www.tekmuseum.com > www.decmuseum.org > > These units were used to inspect the surfaces of the multi platter diskpacks, like a RP0x or RM0x packs. I used to have one but was different to the one listed on ebay. The one I had can be seen at this link : http://www.groenenberg.net/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album14=PIC00045 Here you can see the armature with the strip mirrors, which would be moved between the platters. The diskpack would rotate slowly and you would be able to inspect each surface using the tilted mirrors. Ed -- Ik email, dus ik besta
Re: What is this?
On Fri, 10 May 2019, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: Found a bit more detail on WALNUT: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/TN/nbstechnicalnote157.pdf See page 86. Includes some B photos, including one of the unit that you show. Was WALNUT ever used outside of the CIA? With no first-hand knowledge, I would assume that NSA also used such. Half a century ago, when I worked at The National Space Science Data Center (NASA, Greenbelt) we dealt with a lot of data. But that is like a floppy compared to NSA, especially the Utah Data Center!
Re: What is this?
Found a bit more detail on WALNUT: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/TN/nbstechnicalnote157.pdf See page 86. Includes some B photos, including one of the unit that you show. Was WALNUT ever used outside of the CIA? --Chuck
Re: What is this?
On 5/10/19 12:45 PM, Donald via cctalk wrote: > http://www.myimagecollection.com/webpics/unknownmachine.jpg > > > > The model number looks like 9603. Can't tell for sure. The box in back has > the 14xx flavor. IBM 9603 WALNUT - Microfilm image storage and retrieval system. Read about it on PDF page 13 here: http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/28351/1/ALIS%2014%282%29%2062-75.pdf Circa 1960. There's more on the web; just search on "IBM WALNUT" --Chuck
What is this?
http://www.myimagecollection.com/webpics/unknownmachine.jpg The model number looks like 9603. Can't tell for sure. The box in back has the 14xx flavor.
Extra copy of "LSI-11, PDP-11/03 User's Manual"
As a result of an inventory error on my part, I wound up with an extra copy of "LSI-11, PDP-11/03 User's Manual" (EK-LSI11-TM-003). I'd like to pass it along to someone, provided I'm reimbursed _most_ of my eBait expenditure on it (it was not, alas, cheap). Anyone interested? Noel
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
> On May 10, 2019, at 12:53 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk > wrote: > > > > On 5/10/19 9:42 AM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote: > >> I remember seeing one of these in use, for inspection not cleaning. > > correct. > > I see the illuminator, but I don't see the eyepiece you use for surface > inspection > in there. There should be a black tube with a lens and a right-angle mirror. The right-angle mirrors are in those comb shaped accessories. Those are a set of long skinny mirrors that can swivel. You insert that device between the platters, turn the mirror to show the surface of interest, and spin the pack to look. I don't remember them being used with a telescope to magnify the view. I suppose you could use a standard microscope designed for large spacing between lens and object. paul
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
On 5/10/19 9:42 AM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote: > I remember seeing one of these in use, for inspection not cleaning. correct. I see the illuminator, but I don't see the eyepiece you use for surface inspection in there. There should be a black tube with a lens and a right-angle mirror.
Re: Possible PUTR bug?
DOS had provision for a RAMDISK (requires a line in CONFIG.SYS for the driver) OR, add a FAT16 partition to your NTFS drive. There is almost always a few MB of unallocated space.
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
I'm not sure if the hub is an RP04 style or RP03 style. Yes, the accessories say big pack. Given that there is also a tool for looking at 5-ish platter packs, RP04 and later (with the smaller tool used for RM03 packs) is plausible. I remember seeing one of these in use, for inspection not cleaning. The only pack I ever saw cleaned in the field was an 1311 pack that had been splashed by leaking hydraulic fluid from the head actuator. Cleaned off fine with isopropyl alcohol. paul > On May 10, 2019, at 12:31 PM, Brian Roth via cctalk > wrote: > > I could not find it in my DEC maintenance aids handbook. > I would agree that it is definitely for multi platter drives. >On Friday, May 10, 2019, 12:23:23 PM EDT, Guy Sotomayor Jr via cctalk > wrote: > > From looking at the accessories and the spindle, I believe that this is for > examining multi-platter packs such has those for RP03/4 and RP06 and the > like. It’s a useful find for folks who have those drives and packs and wish > to actually use them. ;-)
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
I could not find it in my DEC maintenance aids handbook. I would agree that it is definitely for multi platter drives. On Friday, May 10, 2019, 12:23:23 PM EDT, Guy Sotomayor Jr via cctalk wrote: From looking at the accessories and the spindle, I believe that this is for examining multi-platter packs such has those for RP03/4 and RP06 and the like. It’s a useful find for folks who have those drives and packs and wish to actually use them. ;-) TTFN - Guy > On May 10, 2019, at 8:59 AM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > What is this used for? RL02's or something? and what does it do? > > From: cctalk on behalf of Bob Rosenbloom via > cctalk > Sent: Friday, May 10, 2019 1:49 AM > To: cctalk > Subject: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay > > There's a mis-categorized disk pack inspection unit up on eBay. Might > be of use to someone. > > https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Digital-Equiment-Corp-DEC-Portable-Briefcase-Paper-Tape-Reader-Punch/303149714641?hash=item4695218cd1:g:ks8AAOSwEVZc1PQo > > Bob > > -- > Vintage computers and electronics > www.dvq.com > www.tekmuseum.com > www.decmuseum.org >
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
From looking at the accessories and the spindle, I believe that this is for examining multi-platter packs such has those for RP03/4 and RP06 and the like. It’s a useful find for folks who have those drives and packs and wish to actually use them. ;-) TTFN - Guy > On May 10, 2019, at 8:59 AM, W2HX via cctalk wrote: > > What is this used for? RL02's or something? and what does it do? > > From: cctalk on behalf of Bob Rosenbloom via > cctalk > Sent: Friday, May 10, 2019 1:49 AM > To: cctalk > Subject: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay > > There's a mis-categorized disk pack inspection unit up on eBay. Might > be of use to someone. > > https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Digital-Equiment-Corp-DEC-Portable-Briefcase-Paper-Tape-Reader-Punch/303149714641?hash=item4695218cd1:g:ks8AAOSwEVZc1PQo > > Bob > > -- > Vintage computers and electronics > www.dvq.com > www.tekmuseum.com > www.decmuseum.org >
Re: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay
What is this used for? RL02's or something? and what does it do? From: cctalk on behalf of Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk Sent: Friday, May 10, 2019 1:49 AM To: cctalk Subject: DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay There's a mis-categorized disk pack inspection unit up on eBay. Might be of use to someone. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Digital-Equiment-Corp-DEC-Portable-Briefcase-Paper-Tape-Reader-Punch/303149714641?hash=item4695218cd1:g:ks8AAOSwEVZc1PQo Bob -- Vintage computers and electronics www.dvq.com www.tekmuseum.com www.decmuseum.org
Re: Possible PUTR bug?
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 05:06:45PM +0200, Liam Proven via cctalk wrote: >On Fri, 10 May 2019 at 17:04, Charles via cctalk wrote: >> John Wilson confirmed that his program was designed to work with one floppy >> and an HDD. He says strange things happen if one tries to use two floppy >> drives instead... just as I found ;) > >Aha, OK. That's odd but if that's a restriction then fair enough. The restriction isn't supposed to be only one FDD at a time (someone please tell me if they're seeing that), it's that the FDC can't be shared between the BIOS and PUTR's internal FDC driver. So you *should* be able to mount two different alien disks on two different FDDs, but you definitely can't have one alien floppy *and* one DOS floppy. (Sorry I missed this thread until now!) John Wilson D Bit
Re: Possible PUTR bug?
On Fri, 10 May 2019 at 17:04, Charles via cctalk wrote: > > John Wilson confirmed that his program was designed to work with one floppy > and an HDD. He says strange things happen if one tries to use two floppy > drives instead... just as I found ;) Aha, OK. That's odd but if that's a restriction then fair enough. -- Liam Proven - Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk - Google Mail/Hangouts/Plus: lpro...@gmail.com Twitter/Facebook/Flickr: lproven - Skype/LinkedIn: liamproven UK: +44 7939-087884 - ČR (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053
Re: Possible PUTR bug?
John Wilson confirmed that his program was designed to work with one floppy and an HDD. He says strange things happen if one tries to use two floppy drives instead... just as I found ;) I removed the second floppy drive, dug out an old 540 MB hard drive (with Win 95 on it) and hooked it up to the PC. Started Win95, then "Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode", copied PUTR to the C: drive and started it. PUTR now works perfectly, transferring files in both directions to an the emulated RX33 (3.5" floppy). The PDP-11 can read and write those disks on its generic 3.5" floppy "RX33", too. :) Now I just have to figure out the PC partitions/hard drives to make using PUTR as simple as possible.
HP 1000 A900 ("Magic") Questions
Aficionados; I'm interested in acquiring an HP1000 A900, in any form-factor. (http://www.hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=594) Basic need would be a chassis/backplane/PS and minimal set of CPU/memory/HPIB-controller/terminal-IO PCA, however I'd be interested in simply acquiring a PCA-set and I'll work the chassis/backplane/PS separately. Even single PCAs would give me a helpful push forwards. And I need to stick to my hobby (beer") budget. I'm located in Maryland, USA, and pretty sure that the cost of overseas shipping would be ghastly for a chassis. But maybe not as bad for the tower configuration as for the rack-mount. If I understand correctly, the CPU consists of: 12201A A900 Sequencer Card 12202A A900 Data Path Card 12203A A900 Cache Controller 12204A A900 Memory Controller 12220A 768KB RAM (Or I presume 12103D 1MB, 12221A 3 MB, or 12221B 8 MB.) I imagine that I'll need to synthesize my own OTT "frontplane" for the memory. 12009A HP-IB Controller 12040D Asynchronous Multiplexer interface board Thank you for your insights, and opportunities (I hope), paul (offlist at pbir...@gmail.com)
Re: Bug in PUTR?
On Fri, 10 May 2019 at 05:04, Charles via cctalk wrote: > > So I made an MS-DOS boot disk and run PUTR directly on MS-DOS (instead of > the WinXP DOS window). Unfortunately MS-DOS 6.22 can't recognize my hard > drive since it's NTFS-formatted, so it all has to be done in floppies. Options: * reinstall your XP box and make it dual-boot with DOS. This is easy; make a primary FAT16 partition, put DOS in it in the usual way, and make an extended partition with a logical drive for XP. * Split some space off the end of your XP hard disk, partition it as a logical drive in an extended partition, format it with FAT16; then you'll have hard disk space you can write from DOS. * install NTFS drivers on your DOS boot disk. -- Liam Proven - Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk - Google Mail/Hangouts/Plus: lpro...@gmail.com Twitter/Facebook/Flickr: lproven - Skype/LinkedIn: liamproven UK: +44 7939-087884 - ČR (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053
Re: Looking for DEC M7264-CB Troubleshooting Documentation
If you are running a BA11-M box (3 1/2 inches tall), make sure the 2 fans are running up to speed. They slow as the fans go bad and can cause all kinds of H780 power supply and logic problems. When you shut the box the fans should spin for a few seconds. If they stop within a second, change it. Paul On Thu, May 9, 2019 at 6:58 PM Al Kossow via cctalk wrote: > > > On 5/9/19 9:57 AM, Mister PDP via cctalk wrote: > > I was wondering if any in depth > > troubleshooting material existed > > I'd start with the description in WD1600 chip set docs to see if > the basic microprocesor is running > > > http://bitsavers.org/pdf/westernDigital/MCP-1600/MCP-1600_Users_Manual_Oct77.pdf > > >
IBM 1052 keyboardless printer on eBay
Sadly, way out of my price range. I'd dearly love it though: https://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-1052-Selectric-Keyboardless-Golf-Ball-Console-Printer/333186998167 Seems to be missing the 1052 / 2741 platen knobs unique to the printer-keyboards and I/O Selectrics BUT if anyone is interested I have almost finished the CAD model for this (measured from the 2741 platen I still have). They just need to be 3D printed off and the aluminium bosses machined and tapped: http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/500/IBM_1052_and_2741_platen_knob.jpg Steve.
