INFO-VAX Fri, 10 Oct 2008 Volume 2008 : Issue 547 Contents: Group buy! (50 RX2600s on eBay) Re: Group buy! (50 RX2600s on eBay) Re: Group buy! (50 RX2600s on eBay) Re: how to configure infoserver functionality in vms 8.3 Re: how to configure infoserver functionality in vms 8.3 Re: media of old VMS versions Re: media of old VMS versions Re: media of old VMS versions Re: MX list revival Re: MX list revival Re: MX list revival Re: MX list revival Re: New LaserJet fun (or upward compatibility? What is that?) Re: New LaserJet fun (or upward compatibility? What is that?) Re: printer recommendation for hobbyist cluster Using an Infoserver Re: Using an Infoserver Re: Using an Infoserver Using Putty Connection Manager to login in VAX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 15:20:28 -0700 From: DeanW Subject: Group buy! (50 RX2600s on eBay) Message-ID: <3f119ada0810091520p5e1191cj8da9b0df0be770eb@mail.gmail.com> A lot of 50 RX2600s on ebay, $12,500 opening bid (and no bids) + $1000 s&h. No drives, but a lot of potential for $270 each. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=200261862791&Category=51215 -- Dean Woodward =o&o dean.woodward@gmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 17:57:40 -0500 (CDT) From: sms@antinode.info (Steven M. Schweda) Subject: Re: Group buy! (50 RX2600s on eBay) Message-ID: <08100917574037_202004A1@antinode.info> From: DeanW > A lot of 50 RX2600s on ebay, $12,500 opening bid (and no bids) + $1000 > s&h. No drives, but a lot of potential for $270 each. Yeah, and if everyone would stop paying $300 for these things, I could probably get one for $200 (or less). (And I'm close enough to save the shipping.) I suppose that I'll just keep on using the (much appreciated) zx2000. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steven M. Schweda sms@antinode-info 382 South Warwick Street (+1) 651-699-9818 Saint Paul MN 55105-2547 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 19:58:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Dean Woodward Subject: Re: Group buy! (50 RX2600s on eBay) Message-ID: <6d4b60f6-dc66-48b8-870b-1a6fcc04a0b6@42g2000pry.googlegroups.com> On Oct 9, 3:57 pm, s...@antinode.info (Steven M. Schweda) wrote: > Yeah, and if everyone would stop paying $300 for these things, I > could probably get one for $200 (or less). (And I'm close enough to > save the shipping.) I suppose that I'll just keep on using the (much > appreciated) zx2000. Heh, sorry. I picked up the one that went for $299 today, to go with the one I got from IDF a few years ago. Report to follow shortly... Whee! And yes, apparently I'm behind the curve on noticing these. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 11:05:05 -0700 (PDT) From: H Vlems Subject: Re: how to configure infoserver functionality in vms 8.3 Message-ID: <44fcc844-88d1-4036-9ecf-3c703e8a43dc@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com> On 9 okt, 12:28, Naveen wrote: > =A0I have 14 VXT terminals (vxt 2000+) which > boots from 2 infoservers(infoserver sw1000). Each infoserver has hard- > disk (DK3:) which contains booting software for these vxts. We have > five Host systems which were on vms 7.1 Now we have upgraded our > hardware and OS. > ( DS-25 )which is operating with VMS 8.3 .My host systems are not > in a cluster. We want to remove infoservers . Booting software of VXTs > are of version > 2.1 which is on hard-disk (DK3:) of infoservers. Each infoserver has > one hard-disk (device name is DK3:) > Some X-session applications are running of these remote Vxts. > > So please help us to boot these vxts from our host systems > > Thanx in advance. Ought to be possible, I have a VXT 2000+ and no Infoserver at all and it seems to boot quite well... As it happens, I run AXP/VMS V8.3 and DECnet phase IV (aka classic DECnet). The VXT system uses MOP to boot and even though MOP is not DECnet, the boot characteristics are maintained in the DECnet database. Indium is the DECnet nodename of the VXT 2000+: NCP>sho node indium char Node Volatile Characteristics as of 9-OCT-2008 19:54:42 Remote node =3D 1.12 (INDIUM) Service circuit =3D EWA-0 Hardware address =3D 08-00-2B-93-C2-F2 Load file =3D VXT$LIBRARY:VXT.SYS VXT$LIBRARY is a logical name of course and points to a directory that contains this: $ dir vxt$library Directory SYS$SYSDEVICE:[VXT$LIBRARY] VXT$LAUNCH.EXE;1 VXT$SERVER.COM;1 VXT$WSA.EXE;1 VXT.SYS; 1 VXT021_RELEASE_NOTES.PS;1 VXTCONFIG.XRM;1 VXTEX.SYS; 1 Total of 7 files. $ The $64,000 question is: where did those files come from and the answer is that I really can't remember :-( Hans ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 11:29:40 -0700 (PDT) From: H Vlems Subject: Re: how to configure infoserver functionality in vms 8.3 Message-ID: On 9 okt, 20:05, H Vlems wrote: > On 9 okt, 12:28, Naveen wrote: > > > =A0I have 14 VXT terminals (vxt 2000+) which > > boots from 2 infoservers(infoserver sw1000). Each infoserver has hard- > > disk (DK3:) which contains booting software for these vxts. We have > > five Host systems which were on vms 7.1 Now we have upgraded our > > hardware and OS. > > ( DS-25 )which is operating with VMS 8.3 .My host systems are not > > in a cluster. We want to remove infoservers . Booting software of VXTs > > are of version > > 2.1 which is on hard-disk (DK3:) of infoservers. Each infoserver has > > one hard-disk (device name is DK3:) > > Some X-session applications are running of these remote Vxts. > > > So please help us to boot these vxts from our host systems > > > Thanx in advance. > > Ought to be possible, I have a VXT 2000+ and no Infoserver at all and > it seems to boot quite well... > As it happens, I run AXP/VMS V8.3 and DECnet phase IV (aka classic > DECnet). > The VXT system uses MOP to boot and even though MOP is not DECnet, the > boot characteristics are maintained in the DECnet database. > Indium is the DECnet nodename of the VXT 2000+: > > NCP>sho node indium char > > Node Volatile Characteristics as of =A09-OCT-2008 19:54:42 > > Remote node =3D =A0 1.12 (INDIUM) > > Service circuit =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=3D EWA-0 > Hardware address =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =3D 08-00-2B-93-C2-F2 > Load file =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0=3D VXT$LIBRARY:VXT.SYS > > VXT$LIBRARY is a logical name of course and points to a directory that > contains this: > > $ dir vxt$library > > Directory SYS$SYSDEVICE:[VXT$LIBRARY] > > VXT$LAUNCH.EXE;1 =A0 =A0VXT$SERVER.COM;1 =A0 =A0VXT$WSA.EXE;1 =A0 =A0 =A0= VXT.SYS; > 1 > VXT021_RELEASE_NOTES.PS;1 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 VXTCONFIG.XRM;1 =A0= =A0 VXTEX.SYS; > 1 > > Total of 7 files. > $ > > The $64,000 question is: where did those files come from and the > answer is that I really can't remember :-( > Hans PS If you use DECnet phase IV, make sure that the attribute "Service" is enabled for the DECnet circuit: $ mc ncp sho know circ Known Circuit Volatile Summary as of 9-OCT-2008 20:29:14 Circuit State Loopback Adjacent Name Routing Node EWA-0 on $ mc ncp sho circ ewa-0 char Circuit Volatile Characteristics as of 9-OCT-2008 20:29:18 Circuit =3D EWA-0 State =3D on Service =3D enabled Designated router =3D 1.9 (OSMIUM) Cost =3D 4 Maximum routers allowed =3D 33 Router priority =3D 64 Hello timer =3D 15 Type =3D Ethernet $ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:13:59 -0500 (CDT) From: sms@antinode.info (Steven M. Schweda) Subject: Re: media of old VMS versions Message-ID: <08100918135911_202004A1@antinode.info> From: shadoooo > The 3100 has some problem to boot the OS. Thre disks (two RZ23) seems > to work, but if I boot it, only the first row of text presenting VMS > 5.3 appears, then the system seems to search something on all other > SCSI devices connected, in sequence, until an HALT error appears... Sounds as if your hardware is not all that it should be. Is that a MicroVAX 3100 or a VAXstation 3100? No matter how old the VMS version, I would look for a nice 1GB SCSI disk to use instead of an RZ23. If your RZ23's still work, you can always find them new homes in some old Macintoshes, where 100MB would look big. I would not bother with any VMS version older than V5.5-2, which is the last of the V5 series. If you think that CD images of V5.4, V5.5(-2), or something newer might be useful, send me some e-mail. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steven M. Schweda sms@antinode-info 382 South Warwick Street (+1) 651-699-9818 Saint Paul MN 55105-2547 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:16:14 -0400 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" Subject: Re: media of old VMS versions Message-ID: Steven M. Schweda wrote: > From: shadoooo > >> The 3100 has some problem to boot the OS. Thre disks (two RZ23) seems >> to work, but if I boot it, only the first row of text presenting VMS >> 5.3 appears, then the system seems to search something on all other >> SCSI devices connected, in sequence, until an HALT error appears... > > Sounds as if your hardware is not all that it should be. > > Is that a MicroVAX 3100 or a VAXstation 3100? > > No matter how old the VMS version, I would look for a nice 1GB SCSI > disk to use instead of an RZ23. If your RZ23's still work, you can > always find them new homes in some old Macintoshes, where 100MB would > look big. > > I would not bother with any VMS version older than V5.5-2, which is > the last of the V5 series. If you think that CD images of V5.4, > V5.5(-2), or something newer might be useful, send me some e-mail. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Steven M. Schweda sms@antinode-info > 382 South Warwick Street (+1) 651-699-9818 > Saint Paul MN 55105-2547 ??????? ISTR that MicroVAX 3100s have some restrictions on the size of disks they will boot from. Before you waste big bucks on GB SCSI disks, check out what's supported. I think you can use just about anything for data but there are restrictions in the firmware that limit the size disk you can boot from. Actually, it's not the size per se, but everything you need to boot the system must be in the FIRST X megabytes of the disk. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 21:08:22 -0500 (CDT) From: sms@antinode.info (Steven M. Schweda) Subject: Re: media of old VMS versions Message-ID: <08100921082249_202004A1@antinode.info> From: "Richard B. Gilbert" > ISTR In the words of a very wise man, "[...] knowledge is stronger than memory, and we should not trust the weaker." The VMS FAQ exists to obviate recollection from a weak memory. > that MicroVAX 3100s have some restrictions on the size of disks > they will boot from. The size restriction is on the boot disk when the system does a crash dump. You can normally still boot from larger disks, but your data are at risk if the system crashes, and the firmware mislocates the dump file. Perhaps there was a reason that I suggested a 1GB disk, not anything larger. > Before you waste big bucks on GB SCSI disks, check > out what's supported. It may be possible to "waste big bucks" on a 1GB SCSI disk, but it can't be very easy. The list of "supported" disks is pretty short. The list of disks which will work is much longer. > I think you can use just about anything for data > but there are restrictions in the firmware that limit the size disk you > can boot from. Actually, it's not the size per se, but everything you > need to boot the system must be in the FIRST X megabytes of the disk. More critically, the dump file needs to be in the first GB, but read the FAQ. And don't believe everything you read here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steven M. Schweda sms@antinode-info 382 South Warwick Street (+1) 651-699-9818 Saint Paul MN 55105-2547 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:02:58 GMT From: "Tim E. Sneddon" Subject: Re: MX list revival Message-ID: VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote: > In article , "Tom Linden" writes: >> We have revived the mailing list just send a SUBSCRIBE to >> mx-list-request at our domain, HELP for list of >> commands > > I'm getting: > > Final-Recipient: rfc822;MX-LIST-REQUEST{atsign}KEDNOS{dot}COM > Action: failed > Status: 5.7.1 (Delivery not authorized, message refused) > You were "detected" by the anti-SPAM software :-) Please try again. Tim. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:06:22 GMT From: "Tim E. Sneddon" Subject: Re: MX list revival Message-ID: <20xHk.4421$sc2.3568@news-server.bigpond.net.au> Tom Linden wrote: > We have revived the mailing list just send a SUBSCRIBE to > mx-list-request at our domain, HELP for list of > commands > There is also a webpage with software downloads, HTML documentation and archives of the previous MX-List incarnations on the way. Tim. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:48:27 GMT From: VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG Subject: Re: MX list revival Message-ID: <00A80DD8.D7CC15DD@SendSpamHere.ORG> In article , "Tim E. Sneddon" writes: >VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote: >> In article , "Tom Linden" writes: >>> We have revived the mailing list just send a SUBSCRIBE to >>> mx-list-request at our domain, HELP for list of >>> commands >> >> I'm getting: >> >> Final-Recipient: rfc822;MX-LIST-REQUEST{atsign}KEDNOS{dot}COM >> Action: failed >> Status: 5.7.1 (Delivery not authorized, message refused) >> > >You were "detected" by the anti-SPAM software :-) > >Please try again. I did... SOS. -- VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)COM ... pejorative statements of opinion are entitled to constitutional protection no matter how extreme, vituperous, or vigorously expressed they may be. (NJSC) Copr. 2008 Brian Schenkenberger. Publication of _this_ usenet article outside of usenet _must_ include its contents in its entirety including this copyright notice, disclaimer and quotations. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:04:26 +0200 From: Wilm Boerhout Subject: Re: MX list revival Message-ID: <48eee270$0$27228$ba620dc5@text.nova.planet.nl> Tom Linden vaguely mentioned on 9-10-2008 19:09: > We have revived the mailing list just send a SUBSCRIBE to > mx-list-request at our domain, HELP for list of > commands I'm getting: 554 5.7.1 Message rejected due to header contents. (state 18). ----- Original message ----- Received: by 10.67.115.5 with SMTP id s5mr3782988ugm.63.1223578641833; Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:57:21 -0700 (PDT) Return-Path: Received: from ?127.0.0.1? (ip3e839151.speed.planet.nl [62.131.145.81]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id r38sm1623137ugc.56.2008.10.09.11.57.20 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:57:21 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <48EE53FC.3040502@planet.nl> Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:57:00 +0200 Reply-To: w6.boerhout@planet.nl User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.17 (Windows/20080914) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: mx-list-request@kednos.com Subject: HELP Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Wilm Boerhout HELP ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 21:31:08 -0400 From: "William Webb" Subject: Re: New LaserJet fun (or upward compatibility? What is that?) Message-ID: <8660a3a10810091831t7436b8c7r265fe70cb0d12e4a@mail.gmail.com> On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 11:48 AM, Rich Jordan wrote: > > Just a note if any of you are still spec'ing LaserJet printers for use > on VMS systems. I'm not aware of any available PCL6 support info or > libraries on VMS (PCL5 either for that matter, but its easy enough to > roll your own with that). > > We've used PCL (3, then 5) as our primary 'print forms' language for > 16 years. HP hasn't always made that easy as their backward > compatibility has been less than stellar, and their penchant for > producing badly crippled firmware in their low end printers has also > not helped. Soft fonts were a particular problem over the years as > certain low end printers refused to load them; these limitations were > often not documented; we found out 'in use'. > > The newest printer we've tried to use is the P2015-N. There is one, > and only one note, indicating a font limitation: 45 scalable fonts > (PCL6), 35 scalable fonts (PS), 11 Scalable fonts plus 11 lineprint > fonts (PCL5e). > > None of the scalable fonts available to PCL5e have proportional > spacing. This printer has been crippled back to a fixed pitch dumb > printer for anyone not running a PCL6 driver. It is NOT their bottom > line stuff; its in the mid-range. And not suitable to our forms > printing needs. > > At the same time, the HP developer website that was supposed to > provide links to the various PCL5/PCL6 specs and docs has apparently > been lobotomized. All my searches ended up going to dead pages or to > the hp.com pages with the PCL5 docs; nothing on PCL6. If anyone knows > where the PCL6 developer or spec docs are I'd appreciate a heads-up. > In the meantime these printers are sidelined while we locate some real > LaserJets that haven't been crippled into PC toys. I have a PCL 5 manual on my desk. Good for looking stuff up when writing device control library modules. Most HP printers will respond positively to PCL 5 commands, although I've got to admit that PCL is even more positional than BACKUP. WWWebb ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:47:55 -0400 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" Subject: Re: New LaserJet fun (or upward compatibility? What is that?) Message-ID: William Webb wrote: > On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 11:48 AM, Rich Jordan wrote: >> Just a note if any of you are still spec'ing LaserJet printers for use >> on VMS systems. I'm not aware of any available PCL6 support info or >> libraries on VMS (PCL5 either for that matter, but its easy enough to >> roll your own with that). >> >> We've used PCL (3, then 5) as our primary 'print forms' language for >> 16 years. HP hasn't always made that easy as their backward >> compatibility has been less than stellar, and their penchant for >> producing badly crippled firmware in their low end printers has also >> not helped. Soft fonts were a particular problem over the years as >> certain low end printers refused to load them; these limitations were >> often not documented; we found out 'in use'. >> >> The newest printer we've tried to use is the P2015-N. There is one, >> and only one note, indicating a font limitation: 45 scalable fonts >> (PCL6), 35 scalable fonts (PS), 11 Scalable fonts plus 11 lineprint >> fonts (PCL5e). >> >> None of the scalable fonts available to PCL5e have proportional >> spacing. This printer has been crippled back to a fixed pitch dumb >> printer for anyone not running a PCL6 driver. It is NOT their bottom >> line stuff; its in the mid-range. And not suitable to our forms >> printing needs. >> >> At the same time, the HP developer website that was supposed to >> provide links to the various PCL5/PCL6 specs and docs has apparently >> been lobotomized. All my searches ended up going to dead pages or to >> the hp.com pages with the PCL5 docs; nothing on PCL6. If anyone knows >> where the PCL6 developer or spec docs are I'd appreciate a heads-up. >> In the meantime these printers are sidelined while we locate some real >> LaserJets that haven't been crippled into PC toys. > > I have a PCL 5 manual on my desk. > Good for looking stuff up when writing device control library modules. > > Most HP printers will respond positively to PCL 5 commands, although > I've got to admit that PCL is even more positional than BACKUP. > > WWWebb I've been using a LaserJet 4000 with JetDirect card for a good many years now. I print from Windows, VMS, Solaris, and Linux. It's rock solid and has done everything I need it to do. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:31:32 GMT From: winston@SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU (Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing) Subject: Re: printer recommendation for hobbyist cluster Message-ID: <00A80DAC.9259AB2F@SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> In article , Paul Anderson writes: >In article <48ee10b7$0$12402$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com>, > JF Mezei wrote: > >> But on VMS, what we can probably expect is a simple conversion from >> the embedded simplified postscript into actual postscript code sent >> to the printer. >> >> Perhaps Mr Anderson can chime in and explain what the plans would be. > >There are three possibilities, none of which has yet been chosen, nor >have we committed to adding such capabilities. > > 1. Send PDF file unchanged to printers that can print PDF files > directly. > > 2. Put a hook into DCPS such that customers could "roll their own" > procedure with an application of their choosing (Ghostscript for > example) to convert PDF to PostScript. > > 3. Include a full PDF-to-PostScript translator in DCPS. > >The best and most expensive choice is #3. Actually, the _best_ choice is "All of the Above." 1 so that if you prefer printer support you can get it, 2 for maximum flexibility for the user, 3 for seamless and general support. If you did "2", I'd suggest it be as a generalized hook mechanism so that customers can define data types and converters. (So if you're a TeX shop you can insert a hook for .dvi that runs dvitops to get PostScript, etc.) -- Alan ------------------------------ Date: 9 Oct 2008 18:26:20 GMT From: billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Using an Infoserver Message-ID: <6l70mcFau26sU1@mid.individual.net> OK, enough OT and No-Marketing posts. Let's get back to some tech talk. :-) I have an Infoserver. I have never used one before. So, now is a good time. What can I do with an Infoserver (other than boot VMS systems)? I thought it would share devices among multiple machines. Correct? What protocol does it use? Is it likely that I could share devices with my PDP-11's? Or, even more interesting possibility, can I boot a PDP-11 from an Infoserver? The long NEPA winter is coming and I need to get some projects ready to occupy my time. I think some VMS related projects might be fun and maybe even of value to people here. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves billg999@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:58:51 +0200 From: Wilm Boerhout Subject: Re: Using an Infoserver Message-ID: <48ee628f$0$27204$ba620dc5@text.nova.planet.nl> Kari Uusimäki vaguely mentioned on 9-10-2008 21:25: > Here's some links to information about Infoservers and their features > and protocols: > > http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/73final/6017/6017pro_097.html > > http://h30266.www3.hp.com/masterindex/spd/spd_004ee544.txt Interesting reading. What we now call iSCSI, Digital had it back then. Serving CD, disks, tapes and "partitions" (disk containers). /Wilm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:06:19 -0400 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" Subject: Re: Using an Infoserver Message-ID: Bill Gunshannon wrote: > OK, enough OT and No-Marketing posts. Let's get back to some tech talk. :-) > > I have an Infoserver. I have never used one before. So, now is a good time. > What can I do with an Infoserver (other than boot VMS systems)? I thought > it would share devices among multiple machines. Correct? What protocol > does it use? Is it likely that I could share devices with my PDP-11's? > Or, even more interesting possibility, can I boot a PDP-11 from an Infoserver? > > The long NEPA winter is coming and I need to get some projects ready to > occupy my time. I think some VMS related projects might be fun and maybe > even of value to people here. > > bill > My experience with Infoservers is limited and ten years or so old so take with a grain or two of salt! An Infoserver serves disks, hard or CD, and maybe even tape drives to VMS systems. You can boot a VAX or Alpha from one. Try google for "InfoServer site:HP.COM". ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 11:21:32 -0700 (PDT) From: apogeusistemas@gmail.com Subject: Using Putty Connection Manager to login in VAX Message-ID: <30d9f458-a7a8-4886-954d-13879264e62b@r15g2000prh.googlegroups.com> Hi: I=B4m trying use Putty Connection Manager tool to connect in my VAX without success. My question: Is there any way to put a control_M after username? User: support^M Pass:xxxxxx^M Thanks. ------------------------------ End of INFO-VAX 2008.547 ************************