Any DEC geeks.

stevepaa · 03-23-2007, 08:40 AM

I need to recover some FORTRAN source and data files from a uPDP. Anyone know where I can get a DELQA board and how to hook it up to transfer to PC or MAC system? Or will that work at all?

thanks

jriera · 08:52 AM

http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/pdp11emu.html or http://simh.trailing-edge.com/

Do you still have one??? I had a PDP 11/23 until about 3 years ago!!!

many944s · 03-23-2007, 08:48 AM

Ugh, What media is your data on?

All depending, I still have access to some PDP11 and DEC machines that I have used to restore data in the past.

Let me know if I can help.
-Nick

stevepaa · 03-23-2007, 08:51 AM

It is on the original hard drive and may be on the tape. I have not got it running yet as the mice ate the ribbon cables inside. Off to find some cables.

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-23-2007, 08:53 AM

I didn't realize you dinosaurs hadn't died off yet!

Overpaid Slacker · 03-23-2007, 09:10 AM

I've got some vacuum tubes lying around if you need 'em.

JP

many944s · 03-23-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
I didn't realize you dinosaurs hadn't died off yet!

You'd be supprised how many places STILL run old DEC systems!
The consulting company I used to work for had several clients (as of 2 years ago) still running on them! The biggest problem we started running into, was the systems were often placed "on edge" to save space in the data closet. Yup, they still had the original "foot" to hold it sideways... Anyway, I digress. The rubber standoffs INSIDE the hard drives would brake down from age, and the platters would actually spin into the hard drive case. Can you say fubar?

I checked out in the garage, and I still have a VAXstation 4000 60 that boots up fine. It is all setup with both AUI and tp ethernet. If all else fails, I can send it to you and you can offload your data.

Let me know.
-Nick

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-23-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by many944s
You'd be supprised how many places STILL run old DEC systems!

I was just giving them a hard time.

My co. has a bunch of VAXes and an entire division devoted to application development on them. Sad to say.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

One of the control systems GE used to supply used VAX computers as both the data storage and data collection system.

HardDrive · 03-23-2007, 07:18 PM

I can lend you an abacus if it would help.......

campbellcj · 03-23-2007, 07:41 PM

I am trying to close a deal right now with a very large company still running some major apps on VAX/VMS to replace one of those apps. They are definitely still out there.

We actually ported and sold our app on VMS...until 1994. Our last mainframe app sale was also 1994. I really don't miss 'em.

stevepaa · 03-23-2007, 07:41 PM

Starts up and runs memory test but can not access DU0, gives me a disk controller error. I replaced the tape drive cable, but I may need to replace cable from the backplane to the DRDX controller board also.

Nick, If I can not get it going I may send you the hard drive and see what you can do, but it uses RSX as the system software.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

My first computer was....

A Pr1me 300

Who remembers Pr1me?

stevepaa · 03-25-2007, 09:11 AM

Here it is. Working on changing my oil cooler today and will get back to this later this week.

SlowToady · 03-25-2007, 10:49 AM

Steve,

COOL!!!!!!

I have a fetish for old (and odd) hardware...always wanted to pick up some old VAXes or Alphas for ****s and grins.

I read a story about a VAX cluster at a major company that had an uptime of 15 years. During the 9/11 attacks (I think) part of the cluster failed, fail-overing directly to the rest of the cluster a couple *miles* away. Goes to show the clustering capability of VAX/VMS I guess..Too bad HP/Compaq is killing VMS.

many944s · 03-25-2007, 01:05 PM

Hmm, you want old computer hardware eh??

Sitting next to my VAXstation is an old toggle-programmable Altair 8800, and an original "all in one" SuperBrain Desktop machine. If If I ever decide to clean house, should I let you know?

-Nick

dcautomotive · 03-25-2007, 04:07 PM

I used to prog for citibanc they had floors of decs, then i used to sell utility software for vax/vms i swear software is one of the hardest things on earth to sell.

junk is so easy.

rz

jluetjen · jluetjen's Garage

A buddy of mine has a company that still makes PDP-11 compatable computers for those places where those machines just can't go away. If you're looking for some sort of hardware solution that's compatable with a PDP-11, he's the guy to call!

(Note, he's a personal friend, and I haven't touched FORTRAN in at least 25 years, so I'm a biased reference. But he is a great guy!)

Vin-barrett · Vin-barrett's Garage

This thread reminded me of this old ad

74-911 · 03-25-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I learned on one of those. No wait, I learned on a VIC-20, I had to take a course in school on FORTRAN on the PDP-11s...

-Wayne

I learned to program on a Burrough's B-263 using Easycoder assembly language (9K memory, card punch, card reader and printer) in 1968. We started our software company in 1978 writing automobile insurance rating software on a TRS-80 Mod I (48K memory). Sold the company in 2003. Times have changed but remain the same in many ways.