[pups] Netcom HV-1148 QBus Backplane

[pups] Netcom HV-1148 QBus Backplane

[Bill Gunshannon]

> Hi all,
> I am hoping this list is still alive, since I'd like to find out a bit
more info about this backplane.
> It's part of an 11/23 system (based on CPU) that is made by Netcom. It
had
> standard DEC
> cards in it DLV11, M8021 bootstrap board etc. Apparently the system ran
a
> few years back
> before it was put in storage.

I have a few Netcom boxes at home.  I'll try to remember to look
at what models when I go home.

>                           I aquired it, in the hopes of bringing it
> back to life and getting
> it to successfully display a login: prompt.

That would depend on the OS more than the hardware.  :-)

> I have read through the archives, esp. a post from Michael Sokolov back
in
> 98, where he describes
> the different types of QBus'es. Q/Q, Q/CD etc.
> It looks like the backplane that I have (according to some documents
written at SLAC in late 70's)
> is a serpentine or sinusoidal.
> A diagram on the cardcage describes as follows:
> A B C D
> ------------>
> <-----------
> ------------->
> <------------
> There is also a blurb about slot 2/CD being wired differently. Two slots
on the diagram are pre-printed for RL controllers.

There were backplanes like that for the two card RL controller.

> My CPU card is a later rev. D so it can do 22bit addressing. I'd like if
possible to run 22bits, since this would allow
> me at a later time to put in a 11/73 cpu that would run 2.11.

I may be wrong (but I am sure someone here will correct me) but if the
backplane is designed for the two card RL controller I think it will be 18
bit and not capable of 22 bit.

> How would I go about checking if the backplane is wired for 22bits or
not.
> I seem to remeber the standard qbuses had the W1-W4 pins (?)
> that you could wirewrap to change from 18to22, but this backplane has
nothing like that.

I would guess you could look at it and see how many bits are wired thru.
And, if you have a clear view of the wirewrap side you should be able to
see if it has two A-B-C-D slots in the middle.  Difference in wirewrap
pattern will be obvious.  :-)

> Also, in the present configuration, with an 11/23 and 128Kw, could I run
v6 or v7 (assuming I can get some form of supported disk storage)? At
present
> I only have a floppy controller and a bunch of 8" Shugart 801 drives..

What floppy controller?  Dec didn't use the standard Shugart 8" inteface
for RX01/RX02 disks.  If it is like the Terak which also used 801's you
are going to need to find drivers for what OS you decide to use.  Good
luck with that.

> thanks in advance for any replies.

You might try asking on alt.sys.pdp11 as there are a lot much more
knowlegable people than I active over there.

bill

-- 
Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
bill at cs.scranton.edu     |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton   |
Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>

[pups] Netcom HV-1148 QBus Backplane

[azd30]

Ian,

Thanks for the response and the pointer to the web page. Looks like I can run 2.9 on the machine - I just have to find myself some RL's 8-)

Did some digging around on QBus, and think i found enough info, that coupled with some contiuity tests should allow me to figure out exactly how the backplane is laid out.

regards
alex


----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ian King" <IanK at LivingComputerMuseum.org>
>To: "azd30" <azd30 at telus.net>, pups at minnie.tuhs.org
>Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 11:47:19 AM
>Subject: RE: Netcom HV-1148 QBus Backplane

>You would probably be better served on the ClassicCmp mailing list.  This list is primarily about software, specifically Unix on the PDP-11.  

>I'd have to dig to answer your question, and there's probably someone on ClassicCmp who can do so off the top of his/her head.  (And I already have my hands full: I'm at work looking at bringing up an IFS to talk to a Xerox Alto.)  

>Take a look at the PUPS webpage for more information on installing e.g., V6 or V7 on various machines.  My recollection is that these versions have requirements in hardware, such as the switch register, that may make them unsuitable for a Qbus machine - but the PUPS page >has a section that can answer definitively.  -- Ian 

[pups] Netcom HV-1148 QBus Backplane

[azd30]

Hi all,

I am hoping this list is still alive, since I'd like to find out a bit more info about this backplane.
It's part of an 11/23 system (based on CPU) that is made by Netcom. It had standard DEC 
cards in it DLV11, M8021 bootstrap board etc. Apparently the system ran a few years back
before it was put in storage. I aquired it, in the hopes of bringing it back to life and getting
it to successfully display a login: prompt.

I have read through the archives, esp. a post from Michael Sokolov back in 98, where he describes 
the different types of QBus'es. Q/Q, Q/CD etc.

It looks like the backplane that I have (according to some documents written at SLAC in late 70's) 
is a serpentine or sinusoidal.

A diagram on the cardcage describes as follows:

A B C D
------------>
<-----------
------------->
<------------

There is also a blurb about slot 2/CD being wired differently. Two slots on the diagram are pre-printed for RL controllers.

My CPU card is a later rev. D so it can do 22bit addressing. I'd like if possible to run 22bits, since this would allow
me at a later time to put in a 11/73 cpu that would run 2.11. 

How would I go about checking if the backplane is wired for 22bits or not. I seem to remeber the standard qbuses had the W1-W4 pins (?)
that you could wirewrap to change from 18to22, but this backplane has nothing like that.

Also, in the present configuration, with an 11/23 and 128Kw, could I run v6 or v7 (assuming I can get some form of supported disk storage)? At present
I only have a floppy controller and a bunch of 8" Shugart 801 drives..

thanks in advance for any replies.


--
alex