The collected works of urbancamo - Page 2

SLAVE$$ show cpu

System: SLAVE, AlphaServer 1000A 5/300

CPU ownership sets:
Active 0
Configure 0

CPU state sets:
Potential 0
Autostart 0
Powered Down None
Not Present None
Hard Excluded None
Failover None

SLAVE$$ show mem
System Memory Resources on 28-APR-2013 13:32:23.37

Physical Memory Usage (pages): Total Free In Use Modified
Main Memory (1024.00MB) 131072 105564 23285 2223

Extended File Cache (Time of last reset: 28-APR-2013 08:12:18.63)
Allocated (MBytes) 75.44 Maximum size (MBytes) 512.00
Free (MBytes) 0.05 Minimum size (MBytes) 3.12
In use (MBytes) 75.39 Percentage Read I/Os 32%
Read hit rate 23% Write hit rate 0%
Read I/O count 313581 Write I/O count 643384
Read hit count 72620 Write hit count 0
Reads bypassing cache 235898 Writes bypassing cache 639191
Files cached open 607 Files cached closed 673
Vols in Full XFC mode 0 Vols in VIOC Compatible mode 4
Vols in No Caching mode 0 Vols in Perm. No Caching mode 0

SLAVE$$ show sys
OpenVMS V8.3 on node SLAVE 28-APR-2013 13:32:42.29 Uptime 0 05:21:30
Pid Process Name State Pri I/O CPU Page flts Pages
20200201 SWAPPER HIB 16 0 0 00:00:03.44 0 0
20200207 CLUSTER_SERVER HIB 13 14 0 00:00:00.03 83 103
20200208 SHADOW_SERVER HIB 6 8 0 00:00:00.01 63 82
20200209 CONFIGURE HIB 10 12 0 00:00:00.04 40 20
2020020A LANACP HIB 14 83 0 00:00:00.59 122 151
2020020C IPCACP HIB 10 10 0 00:00:00.01 37 50
2020020D ERRFMT HIB 8 464 0 00:00:00.52 111 131
2020020E CACHE_SERVER HIB 16 3 0 00:00:00.01 31 43
2020020F OPCOM HIB 9 1358 0 00:00:01.19 238 50
20200210 AUDIT_SERVER HIB 10 398 0 00:00:00.99 129 160
20200211 JOB_CONTROL HIB 10 1033 0 00:00:00.85 66 96
20200213 QUEUE_MANAGER HIB 10 1126 0 00:00:01.82 163 202
20200214 SECURITY_SERVER HIB 10 148 0 00:00:03.36 443 393
20200215 ACME_SERVER HIB 9 70 0 00:00:00.18 429 452 M

Sorry for the delayed response - I have it running under IRIX 6.5

Yes, I think attempting a compile on linux is a good strategy. I had a quick play but I hit a compile problem on the first source file it came to before implementing a fix so I think it's going to be an uphill struggle even on linux.

Oh, and I think there are targets for executables in the build system but they depend on tags created in the exe directory, so I think you would end up with an exe.

I found this article http://linuxgazette.net/issue27/ayers2.html which provides some background in case anyone is interested. The fact that it was an early release that was abandoned (and then the source code was released at some point after that) would suggest that there probably wasn't the rigour imposed by external scrutiny which brings most open source projects up to scratch.

This is the linux lsm entry on Sunsite ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/wp/maxwell-0.5.3.lsm

This, my friend, is an extremely pertinent observation. I've done a little Motif development in my time, I wrote a blog post recently about the app I worked on a British Gas application for managing their low-pressure gas networks (GBNA and LINAS) - it may be of passing interest to folks here: http://lakesdev.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/gbna-linas-development-remembered.html

I hope you don't mind posting a couple of links to Retrochallenge here once again. I can't believe it's been five months since the end of the Winter Warmup!

Retrochallenge 2013 Summer Challenge - Entry Now Open!

Yes folks, it's your bi-annual excuse to shun all things modern and immerse yourself in your classic kit for a month of retro-goodness.
If you are new to retrochallenge head over to http://www.retrochallenge.org/ for more details and examples of previous entries if you need ideas. The results of the previous competition, the winter warmup, are here ). For my last retrochallenge I went back to school and completed a BBC Basic project that had been resurrected from a 28 year old floppy that a classmate had kept in his attic!



I'll update Nekochan with the list of entrants as they come in. Remember: we give you the excuse you need to go full-retro-jacket for a month!

About Retrochallenge

In a nutshell, the RetroChallenge is a loosely disorganised gathering of RetroComputing enthusiasts who collectively do stuff with old computers for a month.

The event is very much open to interpretation… individuals set there own challenges, which can range from programming to multimedia work; hardware restoration to exploring legacy networking… or just plain dicking around. It really doesn’t matter what you do, just so long as you do it.

While the RetroChallenge has its competitive side, it’s not really a contest… it’s more like global thermonuclear war — everyone can play, but nobody really wins.

Come on… give it a go! – At this point i do not have any prizes, but i hear a birdie has offered an Atari Portfolio, just like the one used in Terminator to hack a cash machine. Ooer!

Other prizes will be posted when i have them.

Competition Rules

• RetroChallenge commences 1st July 2013 and runs until 31st July 2013.
  
• In order to qualify, computer systems must by approximately 10 years old (or older!) however exceptions will always be made for exotica!
  
• Gaming consoles and PDAs qualify if they were made in the previous century.
  
• Where appropriate, replica hardware and emulators may be used.
  
• Entrants are responsible for adequately documenting their projects and submitting occasional updates during the contest.
  
• Projects may encompass any aspect of retro-computing that tickles the fancy of the individual entrant.
  
• Winners will be carefully selected and thoughtfully chosen prizes presented (hopefully before the next challenge commences).
  
• Have fun!

Ah, well, you don't want to talk to London folk about being social... have you see what they're like on the tube
Seriously, if you head up North you'll find us all singing and dancing a merry tune that you can join in any time you like.

Which is my way of saying yes, I'd be up for it, but I'm stuck up in darkest Cumbria...

I think it's a very sad announcement although to be honest I think VMS has been under the chop for so long it was inevitable. For it to last until 2020 is really quite amazing when you think about it. I say this given the lack of features that really are required to do business in the modern world. I am fully aware of the benefits of VMS (clustering, security etc.) but it really hasn't had any serious new development in at least 10 years. When Stephen Hoffman can intelligently rattle off a list of show stoppers for modern development you really should be listening. The sad fact is that without substantial investment and development effort the operating system really is stuck in the 90's.

From a hobbyist perspective I would really like to see the hobbyist program to continue. I love the environment, I celebrate the diversity, documentation and stability. It makes a great juxtaposition from virtually all 'modern' operating systems, and I get a lovely, warm, comfortable feeling whenever I'm at the dollar prompt. Unfortunately the diversity is really the Achilles heal when trying to leverage Open Source software. The fact is that the majority of new software development these days relies on a substantial amount of open source software. Windows and Unix are close enough to have the gap bridged, but OpenVMS has never gotten to the point where convergence was realistic in this perspective.

My 2c worth!

Sorry, but I totally disagree with this statement. I personally would see the architectures and protocols that we have to use in web development substantially different but how you can argue that software hasn't had a significant impact on the 'average Jo' is beyond me.

With regard to VMS lacking required features - there may be niches such as embedded development where it might not be so, but one feature for example, Unicode, is now glaringly lacking from VMS compared to other current operating systems. As far as I'm concerned the lack of Unicode support is a serious hindrance to developing modern software. The company I work for runs their online application in seven different languages, this would be next to impossible using VMS (in terms of interoperability) except for Java support. However, Java basically turns it's back on virtually all of the good stuff in VMS which subsequently negates its' benefits.

What annoys me personally is the announcement that VMS will not be ported to Poulson. Having been a laughing stock with regard to performance since the initial development of Itanium this generation of the processor appears to finally be delivering on some of the promises of the architecture. VMS won't see this benefit.

So, what medium would we be using to have this conversation across the globe if we hadn't progress? My guess is the closest thing would have been DECnet and VMS notes. Keeping it on topic of course

DEC Legacy is back!

To be held on October 19th and 20th 2013 at the usual venue, The Marchesi Centre, in Windermere, Cumbria, UK.

More details on the website: http://declegacy.org.uk
Registration is now open, please follow the Registration tab at the top of the page.

Last time the event was opened to anyone with an interest in the highlights of 20th Century computer technology - this provided an interesting mix of hardware from a variety of manufacturers. I would like to continue the event in this vein. So if you own interesting hardware, whatever the origin, we would love to see you at the event.

There will hopefully be a couple keynote speakers this time as well, to be announced.

I look forward to catching up with familiar faces and making some new acquaintances.

Regards, Mark.

Yes, absolutely, although all sorts of 'neko-friendly' hardware is welcome.

No need to duck, you're too far away!

Thank you!

Klatt's Last Tapes on Radio 4 on Friday 26th. at 11:00 BST is about the development of DECtalk, presented by Lucy Hawking (daughter of the Prof.).

This will be available on 'Listen Again' for 7 days after the programme.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03775fy

So I fired up the Indigo 2 this evening and because I temporarily misplaced the SGI mouse I plugged in a generic PS/2 mouse. When this didn't work I then found the SGI mouse and it worked briefly but now I'm not getting any response, even after a couple of cold boots.

Have I done something stupid? I assumed the SGI mouse was PS/2 compatible but maybe that is my bad?

Any help gratefully appreciated!

Cheers, Mark.

OK, so it is the Indigo *not* the Indigo 2 that needs specific hardware. The Indigo 2 uses standard PS/2 peripherals.

Phew, so I think this is a classic case (as I had with the Fuel) where IRIX attempts to auto-configure to the new hardware.

I ran the command

# systune pcmouse_mode 0

as recommended here: https://sites.google.com/site/martinsguistuff/home/unix-based/using-a-scroll-wheel-mouse-in-irix-6-5 and even though it reported it was set to mode 0 already I confirmed this. The mouse still didn't respond, but when I ran the command

# mouse

it suddenly started responding again. After a reboot it is still working.

However, as I was typing in WordPerfect 6.0 the power died. It has rebooted again, so I don't know whether this is a symptom of overheating, for example.

Yep, looks like the power supply is cutting out, joy, I guess it was only a matter of time...

Has anyone attempted to hack together a franken-power supply using a commodity PC power supply? I have done this in the past with other vintage computers and quite frankly don't miss the lottery every time you hit the power switch one little bit!

Is there anything about the Indigo 2 power supply specification that would make this a non-starter? In the meantime I'm going to do the PSU capacitor replacement, as detailed here: http://www.futuretech.blinkenlights.nl/i2psu.html