Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Liam Proven via cctalk]

On 2 February 2018 at 22:16, Wayne S via cctech  wrote:
> Notice: Downloaded this from the link and Norton says it is a virus. 
> PUA.InstallCore

Please bottom-quote on mailing lists.

Are you running an ad-blocker? If not, you should.

I recommend UBlock Origin.

https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock

AdBlock+ works but takes a lot of RAM.

UBlock is a dodgy fork of the original program and should be avoided.

I am wondering if you are using bad/fake download sites that are
serving compromised files. I used to work in support for AVG a couple
of years ago and this was a common problem -- banner ads with bigger,
more prominent "click here to download" buttons than the _actual_
download button on otherwise-reputable sites.

I have seen this issue with several 100% legit freeware tools,
including on Google itself. I told someone to download Produkey, a
free tool that extracts product IDs and licence keys from Windows. The
person I was advising -- a moderately tech-literate personal friend of
high intelligence -- does not run an ad-blocker and was missing the
_actual_ Google result and clicking on a banner ad by mistake which
was taking him to a fake download site which contained malware and
requested payment.

CD Burner XP and ImgBurn are both legit. I used both for many years. I
no longer use Windows unless someone pays me to do so, but both were
valid tools.

The download site for CD Burner XP is here:

https://cdburnerxp.se/en/home

ImgBurn is also legit. The download site is here:

http://www.imgburn.com/

Win10 obsoletes them both by including ISO burning directly, IIRC, but
it's entirely possible that it can't handle a non-standard CD image
that doesn't contain an ISO9660 filesystem. Recently I have had
problems trying to "burn" bootable drives containing AROS and
A2/Bluebottle to USB because no burn tool recognises those OSes'
filesystems.

For writing Windows 10 itself to USB, I use Rufus, but I don't think
it supports optical media.

-- 
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: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Zane Healy via cctalk]

On 2018-02-06 07:37, Douglas Taylor via cctech wrote:

On 2/1/2018 12:55 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctech wrote:
I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 - 
hobbyist license from CD.


So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist 
distribution.  There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and 
ALPHA084LP2.


I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.  However, Windows 
7 balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.


Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?  Is the CD on the 
Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?


Doug



Progress: I was able to burn the hobbyist Alpha OpenVMS ISO images to
CD using linux.

Debian Liunx - you have to install cdrskin and the command I used was
$ cdrskin --devices -data ALPHA084.ISO

This is on a DELL desktop with one CD/DVD drive, instead of --devices
I could have used dev=/dev/sr0.

I was able to mount and explore these CD's on the Alphaserver 1000a.

Doug


Congrats on the new system.

I know I've done this with Toast on my Mac, and I think I've done with 
Nero on the PC.  I've also used one of those programs to make CD's for 
my PDP-11's, including install CD's for RSX-11M+ and RT-11.  I didn't 
manage a RSTS/E install CD.


I'm using an interesting option on my VMS Cluster.  I have simh/VAX 
sharing out two different ConDists to my VMS cluster.  Though I need to 
burn an 8.4 CD, as I'm still at 8.3 on my Alpha.


Zane

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

On 2/1/2018 12:55 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctech wrote:
I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 - 
hobbyist license from CD.


So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist 
distribution.  There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and 
ALPHA084LP2.


I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.  However, Windows 
7 balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.


Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?  Is the CD on the 
Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?


Doug


Progress: I was able to burn the hobbyist Alpha OpenVMS ISO images to CD 
using linux.


Debian Liunx - you have to install cdrskin and the command I used was $ 
cdrskin --devices -data ALPHA084.ISO


This is on a DELL desktop with one CD/DVD drive, instead of --devices I 
could have used dev=/dev/sr0.


I was able to mount and explore these CD's on the Alphaserver 1000a.

Doug

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

Thanks for helping me understand what this is.
My experience has been with Q-bus based Vaxes and this is very different 
in that SCSI controllers for Q-bus are rare while in this Alpha machine 
I've got too many!


You were right about the MIN boot, I went into SYSBOOT> SET STARTUP_P1 
"  " to reset it from MIN.  Now the console comes up in DecWindows 
and all the devices are visible.

Now I know that the floppy is DVA0:.  This is a nice computer.

Doug

On 2/2/2018 7:55 PM, Adrian Graham via cctech wrote:

An update to this.

I picked up the Alphaserver today, powered up fine.  I reset the system 
password so I could log in.

It is running OpenVMS 7.1 and has 7 disks in the Storageworks box.

When I log in only the boot disk shows up from the $ show dev command.  Nothing 
else, no CD, no tape which are all there.

On powerup it shows:

bus 2 slot 0 pka Qlogic ISP10x0
bus 2 slot 1 ewa DecChip 21040-AA
bus 2 slot 2 pua DEC KFPSA
bus 0 slot 11 dra Mylex DAC960
bus 0 slot 12 drb Mylex DAC960
bus 3 slot 0 pkb Qlogic ISP10x0

You’ve got a KZP*A, DE500, DSSI, pair of KZPAC (probably) and another KZP*A


I think 4 of the storageworks disks are in a Raid in the storageworks (DRB).  
The DRA raid must have been external since on startup it spends time waiting 
for it and finally gives up.

I’d pull whichever KZPAC isn’t connected to anything any more along with the 
KFPSA which will speed up INIT if nothing else.


In console mode:


show dev

DKA400 RRD45
DKB400 RZ28
DKB500 RZ29
DKB600 RZ29
DRA0 4 member RAID 5
DRA1 1 member JBOD
DRB0 4 member RAID 5
DVA0
MKA500 TLZ07
EWA0mac address
PKA0 SCSI bus
PKB0 SCSI bus
PIA0 DSSI Bus ID 3

The first KZP*A has the CDROM and tape drive so that’s probably a KZPAA (Qlogic 
QLA1040), the internal disk shelf must be split bus if you’ve got 7 drives in 
there, 3 on the 2nd KZPAA (or BA) and 4 on the KZPAC.


My desire is to setup this machine and use it, however, I don't want to undo 
things I can't put back together again.  Any thoughts or advice?

See above :) Take out boards that aren’t connected to anything. I assume you’re 
doing a MINIMUM boot which would explain the lack of devices when you log in?

Pictures may help too.

Cheers,

—
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards
w: binarydinosaurs.co.uk t: @binarydinosaurs
f: facebook.com/binarydinosaurs

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Adrian Graham via cctalk]

> An update to this.
> 
> I picked up the Alphaserver today, powered up fine.  I reset the system 
> password so I could log in.
> 
> It is running OpenVMS 7.1 and has 7 disks in the Storageworks box.
> 
> When I log in only the boot disk shows up from the $ show dev command.  
> Nothing else, no CD, no tape which are all there.
> 
> On powerup it shows:
> 
> bus 2 slot 0 pka Qlogic ISP10x0
> bus 2 slot 1 ewa DecChip 21040-AA
> bus 2 slot 2 pua DEC KFPSA
> bus 0 slot 11 dra Mylex DAC960
> bus 0 slot 12 drb Mylex DAC960
> bus 3 slot 0 pkb Qlogic ISP10x0

You’ve got a KZP*A, DE500, DSSI, pair of KZPAC (probably) and another KZP*A

> I think 4 of the storageworks disks are in a Raid in the storageworks (DRB).  
> The DRA raid must have been external since on startup it spends time waiting 
> for it and finally gives up.

I’d pull whichever KZPAC isn’t connected to anything any more along with the 
KFPSA which will speed up INIT if nothing else.

> In console mode:
> 
> >>> show dev
> DKA400 RRD45
> DKB400 RZ28
> DKB500 RZ29
> DKB600 RZ29
> DRA0 4 member RAID 5
> DRA1 1 member JBOD
> DRB0 4 member RAID 5
> DVA0
> MKA500 TLZ07
> EWA0mac address
> PKA0 SCSI bus
> PKB0 SCSI bus
> PIA0 DSSI Bus ID 3

The first KZP*A has the CDROM and tape drive so that’s probably a KZPAA (Qlogic 
QLA1040), the internal disk shelf must be split bus if you’ve got 7 drives in 
there, 3 on the 2nd KZPAA (or BA) and 4 on the KZPAC.

> My desire is to setup this machine and use it, however, I don't want to undo 
> things I can't put back together again.  Any thoughts or advice?

See above :) Take out boards that aren’t connected to anything. I assume you’re 
doing a MINIMUM boot which would explain the lack of devices when you log in?

Pictures may help too.

Cheers,

—
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs - Celebrating Computing History from 1972 onwards
w: binarydinosaurs.co.uk t: @binarydinosaurs
f: facebook.com/binarydinosaurs

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

On 2/1/2018 12:55 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctech wrote:
I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 - 
hobbyist license from CD.


So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist 
distribution.  There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and 
ALPHA084LP2.


I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.  However, Windows 
7 balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.


Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?  Is the CD on the 
Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?


Doug



An update to this.

I picked up the Alphaserver today, powered up fine.  I reset the system 
password so I could log in.


It is running OpenVMS 7.1 and has 7 disks in the Storageworks box.

When I log in only the boot disk shows up from the $ show dev command.  
Nothing else, no CD, no tape which are all there.


On powerup it shows:

bus 2 slot 0 pka Qlogic ISP10x0

bus 2 slot 1 ewa DecChip 21040-AA

bus 2 slot 2 pua DEC KFPSA

bus 0 slot 11 dra Mylex DAC960

bus 0 slot 12 drb Mylex DAC960

bus 3 slot 0 pkb Qlogic ISP10x0

I think 4 of the storageworks disks are in a Raid in the storageworks 
(DRB).  The DRA raid must have been external since on startup it spends 
time waiting for it and finally gives up.


In console mode:

>>> show dev

DKA400 RRD45

DKB400 RZ28

DKB500 RZ29

DKB600 RZ29

DRA0 4 member RAID 5

DRA1 1 member JBOD

DRB0 4 member RAID 5

DVA0

MKA500 TLZ07

EWA0    mac address

PKA0 SCSI bus

PKB0 SCSI bus

PIA0 DSSI Bus ID 3

My desire is to setup this machine and use it, however, I don't want to 
undo things I can't put back together again.  Any thoughts or advice?


Doug

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Wayne S via cctalk]

Notice: Downloaded this from the link and Norton says it is a virus. 
PUA.InstallCore


Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook>



From: cctech <cctech-boun...@classiccmp.org> on behalf of Mark Wickens via 
cctech <cct...@classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2018 12:11 PM
To: Robert Adamson; General Discussion: On-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

https://cdburnerxp.se/en/home

CDBurnerXP is the one to use - as recommended by Stephen Hoffman himself.

Mark.

On 2 February 2018 at 20:07, Robert Adamson via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> > Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2018 12:55:41 -0500
> > From: Douglas Taylor <dj.tayl...@comcast.net>
> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts" <cct...@classiccmp.org>
> > Subject: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images
> > Message-ID: <92b4de6a-b537-4bfb-a1fd-1ebe8133f...@comcast.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> >
> > I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 -
> > hobbyist license from CD.
> >
> > So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist
> > distribution.? There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and
> > ALPHA084LP2.
> >
> > I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.? However, Windows 7
> > balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.
> >
> > Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?? Is the CD on the
> > Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?
> >
> > Doug
>
> They _are_ 'ISO' images but in a format which Windows 7 or whatever burning
> program you're using doesn't understand.
> I used Nero (or Daemon I think)  to write CDs for my VAX but there will be
> plenty of other programs equally suitable.
> You don't need to do anything special, just treat them as an ISO image and
> let the burning software get on with it.
> Once written, Windows won't be able to read them so don't panic. If the
> burning software includes verification then it (not Windows) will be able
> to
> read them back OK.
>
> (I'm using VMS v7.3 but I'm sure this is no different).
>
> Generally AFAIK the CD readers on Vaxes (Vaxen - ugh!!) and Alphas will
> deliver 512 byte blocks but this isn't relevant for the image itself.
>
> Bob
>
>
>

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Mark Wickens via cctalk]

https://cdburnerxp.se/en/home

CDBurnerXP is the one to use - as recommended by Stephen Hoffman himself.

Mark.

On 2 February 2018 at 20:07, Robert Adamson via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> > Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2018 12:55:41 -0500
> > From: Douglas Taylor <dj.tayl...@comcast.net>
> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts" <cct...@classiccmp.org>
> > Subject: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images
> > Message-ID: <92b4de6a-b537-4bfb-a1fd-1ebe8133f...@comcast.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> >
> > I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 -
> > hobbyist license from CD.
> >
> > So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist
> > distribution.? There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and
> > ALPHA084LP2.
> >
> > I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.? However, Windows 7
> > balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.
> >
> > Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?? Is the CD on the
> > Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?
> >
> > Doug
>
> They _are_ 'ISO' images but in a format which Windows 7 or whatever burning
> program you're using doesn't understand.
> I used Nero (or Daemon I think)  to write CDs for my VAX but there will be
> plenty of other programs equally suitable.
> You don't need to do anything special, just treat them as an ISO image and
> let the burning software get on with it.
> Once written, Windows won't be able to read them so don't panic. If the
> burning software includes verification then it (not Windows) will be able
> to
> read them back OK.
>
> (I'm using VMS v7.3 but I'm sure this is no different).
>
> Generally AFAIK the CD readers on Vaxes (Vaxen - ugh!!) and Alphas will
> deliver 512 byte blocks but this isn't relevant for the image itself.
>
> Bob
>
>
>

RE: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Robert Adamson via cctalk]

> Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2018 12:55:41 -0500
> From: Douglas Taylor <dj.tayl...@comcast.net>
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts" <cct...@classiccmp.org>
> Subject: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images
> Message-ID: <92b4de6a-b537-4bfb-a1fd-1ebe8133f...@comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 -
> hobbyist license from CD.
> 
> So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist
> distribution.? There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and
> ALPHA084LP2.
> 
> I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.? However, Windows 7
> balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.
> 
> Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?? Is the CD on the
> Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?
> 
> Doug

They _are_ 'ISO' images but in a format which Windows 7 or whatever burning
program you're using doesn't understand.
I used Nero (or Daemon I think)  to write CDs for my VAX but there will be
plenty of other programs equally suitable.
You don't need to do anything special, just treat them as an ISO image and
let the burning software get on with it.
Once written, Windows won't be able to read them so don't panic. If the
burning software includes verification then it (not Windows) will be able to
read them back OK.

(I'm using VMS v7.3 but I'm sure this is no different).

Generally AFAIK the CD readers on Vaxes (Vaxen - ugh!!) and Alphas will
deliver 512 byte blocks but this isn't relevant for the image itself.

Bob

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Douglas Taylor via cctalk]

In my excitement about getting a new machine to play with I forgot what 
I had done previously with these iso images.  That is, I used linux to 
dd them onto SD cards attached to SCSI2SD drive emulators.

Geez, a few months go by and I forget everything.

BTW, I looked at imgburn.  When I downloaded the installer my Norton 
Antivirus found a Trojan in it, so I passed.


Doug

On 2/1/2018 1:10 PM, Dave Wade wrote:

-Original Message-
From: cctech [mailto:cctech-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Douglas
Taylor via cctech
Sent: 01 February 2018 17:56
To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts <cct...@classiccmp.org>
Subject: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 - hobbyist
license from CD.

So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist
distribution.  There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and
ALPHA084LP2.


Whilst they may have a ".iso" extension, they are not, strictly speaking "ISO" 
files as that implies a file format within the CD.
I believe that these are VMS (ODS) format disks and burning programs that check 
for ISO will fail.


I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.  However, Windows 7
balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.

Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?  Is the CD on the

Try http://www.imgburn.com/
I think that’s what I used...


Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?


I honestly can't remember, but I don't think it matters.


Doug


Dave

Re: VMS 8.4 Alpha Hobbyist disk images

[Mark Wickens via cctalk]

Doug

Unless you've got a specific reason to run OpenVMS 8.4 for an Alphaserver
1000A I'd recommend a version more in keeping with the age of the machine,
either a variant of 7.3 or something earlier.

How much memory do you have installed?

Regards, Mark.

On 1 February 2018 at 17:55, Douglas Taylor via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:

> I'm getting an Alphaserver 1000a and wanted to install VMS 8.4 - hobbyist
> license from CD.
>
> So, I went to the folder on my PC where I have the 8.4 hobbyist
> distribution.  There are 3 ISO files; ALPHA084, ALPHA084LP1 and ALPHA084LP2.
>
> I thought I would burn these to CD and up and away.  However, Windows 7
> balks and says, 'The selected disc image file isn't valid'.
>
> Is it Windows 7 or is there something I'm missing?  Is the CD on the
> Alphaserver 2048 byte block size or 512?
>
> Doug
>
>
>