On 12/21/2012 03:59 AM, Jordi Guillaumes i Pons wrote:
While you're at it, DECnet/DOS was really nice for the time. I
believe (but am not certain, can anyone clarify?) that it is what
grew into Pathworks.
We used it extensively in our network back at the early 90's. IIRC
the name evolution was DECnet/DOS => PCSA => PATHWORKS. The main
problem with the DOS version was it ate a lot of "real" memory (about
300KB if my memory does not betray me). That left a very small space
for applications...
On the nice side, it came with an EDT compatible editor (SEDT... I
miss it :)) and a XServer for DOS which worked nicely with
DECWindows. That was the reason the puck mouse interface was in the
LAN card.
We had a DEC-centric office system back in those days. ALL-IN-1
running in the VAXen and WPS-DOS running in the peecees for word
processing (BTW, does anyone have a WPS-DOS disk set arount? ;)).
20/20 for spreadsheet at both sides. And TEAMDATA to allow the end
users to browse the databases. We bought 3300s for the remote
offices. 3 of them I think. We linked those to our main site using
1200bps point-to-point lines with DECRouters at each side (1 port
models at the remote end, a 4 port one at our central office). One of
those 3300s ended at my home, and is now called BITXO2 :).
Nice!
The DECnet/DOS I ran didn't have an editor or an X server; the one
you're talking about must've been a bit later than mine. Neat stuff.
If I can find my DEPCA board, and the software, I will bring it up in
an AT-style box of some sort, just for the heck of it. :)
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA
<Paul_Koning at Dell.com> writes:
On Dec 21, 2012, at 1:33 PM, Brian Schenkenberger, VAXman- wrote:
sampsa at mac.com writes:=20 >=20 >> Clem,=20 >>=20 >> Mark Benson has
already volunteered to make the cables at cost - I just >> need to know
if the console cables are wired straight across or >> crossover?=20 >=20
DECconnects are a flat 6-conductor cable. The MMJ plugs are attached
suc= h > that the same side of the flat cable is inserted into each MMJ
plug. Thi= s > provides an implicit signal crossover. So, if your 6
conductor cable had > White, Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Gray conductors,
one side would show th= e > colors as I've listed them and the other
side would be Gray, Yellow, Gree= n, > Red, Black and White.
I thought I've seen straight-through version also, which you can make by
ha= ving one of the two connectors "upside down".
You might have seen that but it wouldn't work with the myriad MMJ to 25pin
and 9pin connectors that DEC had floating about. I believe, if you took a
look, that this is all detailed in the OpenVMS FAQ. Stephen Hoffman keeps
one of the most up-to-date OpenVMS FAQs (probably because he compiled most
of it while he was still in OpenVMS Eng.) on his web site.
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/vmsfaq/vmsfaq.html
MMJ specifics:
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/vmsfaq/vmsfaq_025.html#index_x_1818
--
VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)ORG
Well I speak to machines with the voice of humanity.
On Dec 21, 2012, at 1:33 PM, Brian Schenkenberger, VAXman- wrote:
sampsa at mac.com writes:
Clem,
Mark Benson has already volunteered to make the cables at cost - I just
need to know if the console cables are wired straight across or
crossover?
DECconnects are a flat 6-conductor cable. The MMJ plugs are attached such
that the same side of the flat cable is inserted into each MMJ plug. This
provides an implicit signal crossover. So, if your 6 conductor cable had
White, Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Gray conductors, one side would show the
colors as I've listed them and the other side would be Gray, Yellow, Green,
Red, Black and White.
I thought I've seen straight-through version also, which you can make by having one of the two connectors "upside down".
paul
On 21 Dec 2012, at 13:35, sampsa at mac.com wrote:
On 21 Dec 2012, at 20:34, Cory Smelosky <b4 at gewt.net> wrote:
I intend to keep my NT systems (or at least 1 of them) on HECnet at all times, as a part of my "NT 4 will run forever" experiment.
Does the NT PATHWORKS actually offer any services? Or is it client only?
Seems to be client only. :(
I wonder if I could throw up an interface to PATHWORKS' NCP on http://winnt.dev.gimme-sympathy.org/
I'd need to know ASP first as I highly doubt i'd get much else to work on IIS that old. ;)
sampsa
On 21 Dec 2012, at 20:34, Cory Smelosky <b4 at gewt.net> wrote:
I intend to keep my NT systems (or at least 1 of them) on HECnet at all times, as a part of my "NT 4 will run forever" experiment.
Does the NT PATHWORKS actually offer any services? Or is it client only?
sampsa
On 21 Dec 2012, at 06:44, Mark Benson <md.benson at gmail.com> wrote:
On 21 Dec 2012, at 08:58, sampsa at mac.com wrote:
Hey there's been a Windows NT box on HECnet for ages, BONZO (8.800)
Two, actually, 6.11 (BGATES) (cute name, huh?) is a Windows XP box running HP PathWorks It works acceptably but as it's a dual PIII with 1GB of RAM it's not the fastest thing on two legs by a long chalk.
It's just not been up very much :)
Mine either. There's really only so much you can do with a Windows box on DECnet.
I intend to keep my NT systems (or at least 1 of them) on HECnet at all times, as a part of my "NT 4 will run forever" experiment.
--
Mark Benson
http://DECtec.info
Twitter: @DECtecInfo
HECnet: STAR69::MARK
Online Resource & Mailing List for DEC Enthusiasts.
sampsa at mac.com writes:
Clem,
Mark Benson has already volunteered to make the cables at cost - I just
need to know if the console cables are wired straight across or
crossover?
DECconnects are a flat 6-conductor cable. The MMJ plugs are attached such
that the same side of the flat cable is inserted into each MMJ plug. This
provides an implicit signal crossover. So, if your 6 conductor cable had
White, Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Gray conductors, one side would show the
colors as I've listed them and the other side would be Gray, Yellow, Green,
Red, Black and White.
--
VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)ORG
Well I speak to machines with the voice of humanity.
On 21 Dec 2012, at 16:26, Mark Wickens wrote:
I charge my cables based on 50p per metre of cable plus 25p for each of the MMJ terminations. I can do other terminations such as RJ45 and DB9 but they are more expensive, especially if they require cross-wiring. I don't think that's unreasonable given the investment I made to in equipment and parts and the time it takes me to make and test each cable.
You'll be a millyonaire by christmas I tell ya...
Yes, I will, but which Christmas is anyone's guess. Current estimates are around 2347... if the Yeti's don't get me first. ;)
--
Mark Benson
http://DECtec.info
Twitter: @DECtecInfo
HECnet: STAR69::MARK
Online Resource & Mailing List for DEC Enthusiasts.
On 21/12/2012 16:25, Mark Benson wrote:
On 21 Dec 2012, at 14:55, Clem Cole wrote:
Good point, I took a DEC tool and turned the plate around for Mind Storms hacking. But my point is that the tools and plugs are findable - as they are even on amazon.
They are findable, I have them and I only bought them a few months ago, but the investment required to get started is significant. The cable is only available in either short lengths to order (which is expensive ) or 100m drums (which his cheaper but involves significant outlay). The plugs are readily available on eBay - probably not the finest quality but good enough for what we need. The crimp tools... well finding a good one took a while but they, again, a significant outlay even for a basic one.
I charge my cables based on 50p per metre of cable plus 25p for each of the MMJ terminations. I can do other terminations such as RJ45 and DB9 but they are more expensive, especially if they require cross-wiring. I don't think that's unreasonable given the investment I made to in equipment and parts and the time it takes me to make and test each cable.
You'll be a millyonaire by christmas I tell ya...
