Nekonomicon - booting a sick VAXsta 3100/M76

ClassicHasClass
Who joined July 25, 2012, 6:12 p.m.
and authored 408 notes

Wrote the following at Jan. 31, 2013, 8:46 a.m...

I didn't get much traction on cctalk, so maybe someone here knows. I got an external SCSI cable for my VAXstation 3100 M76 and connected it to my old Apple SCSI CD-ROM that boots pretty much anything in my collection (Apple, SGI, you name it). I popped in OpenVMS 7.3, turned on the VAXsta, and at the chevron prompt,

Code:

  >>> b/r5:10000000 dkb500:
  
  -DKB500
  
  [...]
  
  OpenVMS (TM) VAX Version X7G7 Major version id = 1 Minor version id = 0
  
  [...]
  
  PLEASE ENTER DATE AND TIME (DD-MM-YYYY  HH:MM): 13-JAN-2013 16:14
  
  [...]
  
  %SYSTEM-I-MOUNTVER, DKB500: is offline. Mount verification in progress.

It just sits there. So I tried it without the /r5 bit:

Code:

  >>> b dkb500:
  
  -DKB500
  
  [...]
  
  OpenVMS (TM) VAX Version X7G7 Major version id = 1 Minor version id = 0
  
  [...]
  
  PLEASE ENTER DATE AND TIME (DD-MM-YYYY  HH:MM): 13-JAN-2013 16:20
  
  Configuring devices . . .
  
  Available device: DKB500:                         device type SONY CD-ROM CDU-8
  
  Available device: DKA0:                           device type RZ26
  
  %BACKUP-I-IDENT, Stand-alone BACKUP V7.2; the date is 13-JAN-2013 16:21:06.64
  
  $

So far so good.

Code:

  $ BACKUP/IMAGE/VERIFY DKB500:VMS073.B/SAVE_SET DKA0:
  
  %SYSTEM-I-MOUNTVER, SABKUP$DKB500: is offline. Mount verification in progress.

And it just sits there, again.

I'd rather use an external drive than pop the top off the VAX, but I'm quite sure the CD-ROM is acceptable to it; why would it boot from it, but not restore from it? I tried a 7.2 CD and got the same thing.

_________________
smit happens.

:Fuel:

bigred , 700MHz R16K, 4GB RAM, V12, 6.5.30
:Indy:

indy , 150MHz R4400SC, 256MB RAM, XL24, 6.5.10
probably posted from

bruce , 2x2x2.5GHz PowerPC 970MP, 8GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.11
plus IBM POWER6 p520 * Apple Network Server 500 * HP C8000 * BeBox * Solbourne S3000 * Commodore 128 * many more...

smj
Who joined Nov. 12, 2007, 7:54 p.m.
and authored 1013 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 2, 2013, 12:49 p.m...

I'm afraid I'm posting mostly to offer moral support - I don't recall an issue with the Apple CD-ROM drives, but I was probably using them with DECstations rather than VAXstations. I was just gifted with a VAXstation 3100/m76 (gave a bunch away, but this came with a NeXTstation), but I'm not sure how quickly I can get to trying to set it up.

One question, which media are you using? By any chance, a CD-R that you burned? Just prompted to ask by the reminder about CD-R compatibility in commodorejohn's VS4000/m60 thread... I realize it's booting, but you never know.

_________________
Then? :IRIS3130:

... Now?

-

+MLA

... Other: DEC :BA213:

Sun , DG AViiON , NeXT :Cube:

commodorejohn
Who joined Oct. 2, 2012, 12:22 p.m.
and authored 65 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 2, 2013, 1:30 p.m...

I've used old Apple SCSI CD-ROM drives with CD-Rs before and never had an issue, myself...not on the VAX, tho.

_________________
Computers: Amiga 1200, DEC VAXStation 4000/60, DEC MicroPDP-11/73
Synthesizers: Roland JX-10, Oberheim Matrix-6, E-mu Proteus/1, Roland MT-32, Yamaha DX7, Yamaha V50, Casio CZ-1000, Casio HT-6000, Hohner String Performer

"'Legacy code' often differs from its suggested alternative by actually working and scaling." - Bjarne Stroustrup

ClassicHasClass
Who joined July 25, 2012, 6:12 p.m.
and authored 408 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 2, 2013, 7:43 p.m...

It's a CD-R, but like I say, why would it *boot* from it (which you would think would be stickier), but won't restore from it?

I suppose I'll have to drag it on the workbench but it's going to be a pain in the butt since I found it a nice corner and I'll have to move everything around.

_________________
smit happens.

:Fuel:

bigred , 700MHz R16K, 4GB RAM, V12, 6.5.30
:Indy:

indy , 150MHz R4400SC, 256MB RAM, XL24, 6.5.10
probably posted from

bruce , 2x2x2.5GHz PowerPC 970MP, 8GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.11
plus IBM POWER6 p520 * Apple Network Server 500 * HP C8000 * BeBox * Solbourne S3000 * Commodore 128 * many more...

SAQ
Who joined July 19, 2006, 7:37 a.m.
and authored 5632 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 3, 2013, 2:39 p.m...

Can't recall specifics, but I'm looking at an old Apple CD-ROM here that I marked "No VAX" on. Can't say why, but it must not have worked. I use an XM-4101 for DASD VAX installs.

_________________
Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

There are those who say I'm a bit of a curmudgeon. To them I reply: "GET OFF MY LAWN!"

:Indigo:

(single-CM)

ClassicHasClass
Who joined July 25, 2012, 6:12 p.m.
and authored 408 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 4, 2013, 8:43 a.m...

Hmm, okay. I'll drag it onto the bench and try it with the Plextor I got with it.

_________________
smit happens.

:Fuel:

bigred , 700MHz R16K, 4GB RAM, V12, 6.5.30
:Indy:

indy , 150MHz R4400SC, 256MB RAM, XL24, 6.5.10
probably posted from

bruce , 2x2x2.5GHz PowerPC 970MP, 8GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.11
plus IBM POWER6 p520 * Apple Network Server 500 * HP C8000 * BeBox * Solbourne S3000 * Commodore 128 * many more...

zuluchas
Who joined June 25, 2008, 9:41 a.m.
and authored 267 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 6, 2013, 6:01 p.m...

You can also mopboot it off of simh. Then mount the CD from across the cluster and install to the local dusk.

_________________
:A350R:

ClassicHasClass
Who joined July 25, 2012, 6:12 p.m.
and authored 408 notes

Wrote the following at Feb. 7, 2013, 11:14 a.m...

Ooh. Is there a step by step guide for that? I do have SIMH on my G5.

_________________
smit happens.

:Fuel:

bigred , 700MHz R16K, 4GB RAM, V12, 6.5.30
:Indy:

indy , 150MHz R4400SC, 256MB RAM, XL24, 6.5.10
probably posted from

bruce , 2x2x2.5GHz PowerPC 970MP, 8GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.11
plus IBM POWER6 p520 * Apple Network Server 500 * HP C8000 * BeBox * Solbourne S3000 * Commodore 128 * many more...

HP/DEC/Compaq

booting a sick VAXsta 3100/M76