Return to BSD News archive
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd Path: sserve!manuel.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!news.hawaii.edu!ames!haven.umd.edu!decuac!pa.dec.com!vixie From: vixie@pa.dec.com (Paul A Vixie) Subject: Re: uVAX II In-Reply-To: setala@mits.mdata.fi's message of Sun, 29 Nov 1992 08:17:16 GMT Message-ID: <VIXIE.92Nov29114407@cognition.pa.dec.com> Sender: news@PA.dec.com (News) Organization: DEC Network Software Lab References: <1992Nov29.081716.15852@prime.mdata.fi> Date: 29 Nov 92 11:44:07 Lines: 45 >> We just bought a used uVAX II for our local computer club. >> 8 MB Ram, 16 serial ports, 3 70MB MFM disks, TK50 and ethernet interface. I hope you paid by the pound. Compared to a $800 386 machine, this box is junk. >> Currently there is MORE/bsd 4.3 on the disks, but slightly damaged >> since one disk is dead. >> >> Is it possible to replace the dead disk with another MFM disk and >> format/mkfs without help from Digital? Well, I'm from Digital but I'll help you anyway :-). The RD53 is really a micropolis 1325. The RD54 is really a maxtor 2190. Both of them use oddball pin-jumper configurations but there is no non- standard ROM on the drive as is true of DEC's later SCSI drives. If you can find a cheap 1325 drive it should work fine as an RD53 replacement. Formatting it is harder. There is a "diagnostic" TK50 tape that came with every MicroVAX II machine sold, and there is or should be a formatter on this tape. If you don't have it, you will have to get one from someone who does, or order one from Digital (QZ-K19AA-H5). You could also get the full "microvax diagnostic monitor" which has lots of other things on it besides a formatter; this is more expensive but if you really plan to use this computer in production and don't want field service, you need it (QZ-K15AA-H5). >> Is there any public UNIX for microVAX? How to get it? If you have a license for that mtXinu system, you should pay mtXinu for a new version and be done with it. BSD 4.4 may or may not end up running on the VAX, but the low-level code for the VAX is still mostly Bell V32 code and will therefore not be "license free" as the net-2 tape was and as the PMAX/3MAX, SPARC, and other 4.4BSD variants will be. Disclaimer: if your computer catches fire and explodes as a result of following any advice I gave, it is strictly your own problem. I am not Digital's spokesperson. No warranty expressed or implied. Void where prohibited. Your mileage may vary. Let the buyer beware. Etc. -- Paul Vixie, DEC Network Systems Lab Palo Alto, California, USA "Don't be a rebel, or a conformist; <vixie@pa.dec.com> decwrl!vixie they're the same thing, anyway. Find <paul@vix.com> vixie!paul your own path, and stay on it." -me