Uh?
AA-00-04-00-7D-1A equals a DECnet address of 6.637. That is probably not
going to help...

Any reason why you set that. And do you have equally crazy MAC addresses
for your other simh instances (and it works on those?)?

Johnny

On 2025-09-07 16:14, Brian Roth wrote:
> When I first had trouble with it I assumed maybe some bad install media
> so I decided to try again with a 5.5 iso image. It still did not work.
> It does indeed work on the other pi now and I used this ini file throughout.
>
> ; SIMH configuration for MicroVAX II *** SCOOBY ***
>
>
> ; ---- CPU ----
>
> SET CPU 16M
> SET CPU CONHALT
> SET CPU IDLE=VMS
> SET CPU AUTOBOOT
>
> ATT NVR ../data/NVR.BIN
>
> SET CONSOLE LOG=scooby.log
>
> ; ---- DISKS ----
>
> SET RQ0 ENABLE
> SET RQ0 RD54
> ATT RQ0 ../data/VMS055.R54
>
> SET RQ1 ENABLE
> SET RQ1 RX50
>
>
> SET RQ2 ENABLE
> SET RQ2 RX50
>
>
> SET RQ3 RD54
> ATT RQ3 ../data/vms552h4.iso
> ;SET DZ LINES=4
> ;ATT DZ 6666
>
> ; ---- TAPE ----
>
> ;SET TQ0 ENABLE
> ;ATT TQ0 ../data/AQ-FP13D-BN_MICROVMS_4.6_87.tap
>
> SET TQ1 DISABLE
> SET TQ2 DISABLE
> SET TQ3 DISABLE
>
> SET LPT DISABLE
> SET RL DISABLE
> SET TS DISABLE
>
> ; ---- Networking ----
>
> set xq mac=AA-00-04-00-7D-1A
> attach xq tap:tap0
>
> ;AutoBoot
> ;EXPECT ">>> " SEND "BOOT\r"
>
> ;BOOT
>
> Brian
>
> On Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 11:45:31 PM EDT, Johnny Billquist
> <bqt@softjar.se> wrote:
>
>
> So could you show the simh ini file for the failed instance?
>
> Johnny
>
> On 2025-09-07 05:18, Brian Roth wrote:
> > OK. I cannot figure why but for some reason, if I build the nodes on
> > working Pi's and then transfer the files over to the Pi's with the non-
> > working nodes, they communicate. And vice-versa, non-working nodes stay
> > non-working on the good Pi's. They are all updated, using 4.x version of
> > simh, same compilers etc. At least I have a work around.
> >
> > BTW Terry All of the NCP info was exactly the same. I did the
> > calculations and verified the scssystemid in modparams, stripped theini
> > files to the bare minimum to no avail.
> > Brian.
> >
> >
> > On Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 05:58:01 PM EDT, Terri Kennedy <terri-
> > hecnet@glaver.org <mailto:hecnet@glaver.org>> wrote:
> >
> >
> > [I mistakenly sent this reply to an address not subscribed to the list.]
> >
> > On 2025-09-06 16:30, Brian Roth wrote:
> >
> > > This is really kicking me. I have a rack with 5 Pi's in it. All are
> > > going to the same switch. 2 of them have 4 simh instances each
> that are
> > > working fine (DECNET). TCP-IP is working fine on all of them. They are
> > > all wired. On the Pi thats running SCOOBY I created a 11/780running
> > > VMS 5.5. It does not communicate as well even though it sayscircuitup
> > > (same problem as SCOOBY) OK, I created another instance on an entirely
> > > different Pi with the same results. I have changed around the assigned
> > > MAC address's in the simh ini files, swapped switch ports. Running out
> > > of idea's here. I have Wireshark on one of the Pi's but haveno
> > > experience using it. Guess I better learn.
> >
> > Remember, DECnet (assuming Phase IV) is going to change the MAC address
> > to one derived from the assigned DECnet address. The DECnet address
> > should also match SCSSYSTEMID, although I believe it will complain if
> > they don't.
> >
> > Unique MAC addresses in the SIMH config prevent multiple nodes from
> > clashing with each other before DECnet starts, as well as confusing the
> > switche(s) that the nodes are connected to.
> >
> > > On Friday, September 5, 2025 at 02:10:04 PM EDT, Johnny Billquist
> > > <bqt@softjar.se <mailto:bqt@softjar.se> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > I would probably guess at a problem with the actual MAC address usedby
> > > that MicroVMS system, but it's pretty hard to troubleshoot this
> > > remotely.
> > >
> > > But it's very clear that all the other nodes are not seeing 31.282 as
> > > up, and so any communication will be failing.
> > >
> > > Other possible problems could be if the connection to the outside
> > > network is actually configured differently on this instance than the
> > > others, for example.
> > >
> > > Trying to think of other possible problems it could be. Maybe posting
> > > the simh config for the failing machine, as well as for one working,
> > > could be helpful.
> > >
> > > Johnny
> > >
> > > On 2025-09-05 20:04, Johnny Billquist wrote:
> > >> I've seen issues sometimes, but I don't know the full extent of what
> > >> the
> > >> exact results might be.
> > >>
> > >> But don't matter. Now we know they are all simh instances.
> > >>
> > >> Johnny
> > >>
> > >> On 2025-09-05 19:57, Paul Koning wrote:
> > >>> I thought SQE failure is only a warning and would not stopthe
> device
> > >>> from working.
> > >>>
> > >>> pul
> > >>>
> > >>>> On Sep 5, 2025, at 1:27 PM, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se
> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>
> > <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>>wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> That's one possibility. Another if he's running on some kind of
> > >>>> emulator on a system that don't actually allow programmatic change
> > >>>> of
> > >>>> the MAC address, and you need to set the MAC correctly inthe
> > >>>> emulator before starting up. And if it is real hardware, is it
> > >>>> connected to some switch then?10baseT? Does he have an adapter that
> > >>>> can do SQE?
> > >>>>
> > >>>> There are many possible ways things could not work. What we can see
> > >>>> isjust that incoming broadcast/multicast packets work, but so far
> > >>>> nothing else.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Johnny
> > >>>>
> > >>>> On 2025-09-05 19:22, Paul Koning wrote:
> > >>>>> Is it WiFi? That doesn't work with DECnet MAC addresses (it
> > >>>>> doesn't
> > >>>>> like it when the NIC changes its address to aa-00-04-00-xx-yy).
> > >>>>> paul
> > >>>>>> On Sep 5, 2025, at 1:14 PM, Johnny Billquist <bqt@softjar.se
> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>
> > <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>>
> > >>>>>> wrote:
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> Well, GEEZER (31.278) is not seeing 31.282 as up. So that's why
> > >>>>>> you
> > >>>>>> have a problem. This usually means that packets are working
> in one
> > >>>>>> direction, but not the other.
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> Was this a real machine? How have you connected it to the rest of
> > >>>>>> the network?
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> Johnny
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> On 2025-09-05 18:45, Brian Roth wrote:
> > >>>>>>> The address is 31.282. No File access, Phone or NCP Tell to
> other
> > >>>>>>> nodes but it is still able to go out and find a router. It
> > >>>>>>> (31.282) can phone itself and set host but other nodesit just
> > >>>>>>> hangs. If I phone anothernode it will just sit at "Establishing
> > >>>>>>> Decnet Link and then error to "Node is not reachable.
> > >>>>>>> Brian.
> > >>>>>>> On Friday, September 5, 2025 at 12:38:11 PM EDT, Johnny
> Billquist
> > >>>>>>> <bqt@softjar.se <mailto:bqt@softjar.se> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>
> > <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>> wrote:
> > >>>>>>> No. Qbus ethernet or Unibus ethernet makes no difference here.
> > >>>>>>> Does anything else work? NCP to other nodes? Phone? File access?
> > >>>>>>> What's the address of that microvax?
> > >>>>>>> Johnny
> > >>>>>>> On 2025-09-05 17:59, Brian Roth wrote:
> > >>>>>>>> Hello, I currently have 8 simh vax machines on Hecnetall
> > >>>>>>>> working
> > >>>>>>>> fine.
> > >>>>>>>> Its a mix of machines running VMS 3.5 to 7.3 and while some
> were
> > >>>>>>>> abit
> > >>>>>>>> of a challenge they all talk. I recently configured aMicrovax
> > >>>>>>>> II
> > >>>>>>>> with
> > >>>>>>>> MicroVMS 4.6 as well as Decnet 4.6 and assigned it tomy area
> > >>>>>>>> 31.
> > >>>>>>>> The
> > >>>>>>>> network loads without errors and I am able to SET HOST to
> itself
> > >>>>>>>> butto
> > >>>>>>>> no other nodes in my area or vice versa. SHOW KNOWN CIRCUITS
> > >>>>>>>> showsthe
> > >>>>>>>> hosts I manually defined. SHOW KNOWN CIRCUITS CHARACTERISTICS
> > >>>>>>>> showsa
> > >>>>>>>> designated router in my area so its finding that. If I bring a
> > >>>>>>>> router
> > >>>>>>>> node down it successfully finds another in the area.
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> The microvax node:
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> Known Circuit Volatile Characteristics as of 5-SEP-1987
> > >>>>>>>> 11:37:16
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> Circuit = QNA-0
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> State    = on
> > >>>>>>>> Service     = disabled
> > >>>>>>>> Designated router = 31.278
> > >>>>>>>> Cost =4
> > >>>>>>>> Router priority =64
> > >>>>>>>> Hello timer = 15
> > >>>>>>>> Type = Ethernet
> > >>>>>>>> Adjacent node =31.278
> > >>>>>>>> Listen timer    = 45
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> The working nodes match with the exception of the circuit. All
> > >>>>>>>> theother
> > >>>>>>>> machines are UNA-0 (UNIBUS) and this one is of courseQNA-0
> > >>>>>>>> Couldthis
> > >>>>>>>> be the problem?
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> Brian.
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>>>>>> HECnet mailing list --hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:--
> hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se> <mailto:--
> > hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>>
> > >>>>>>>>
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> leave@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:tohecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:tohecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > >>>>>>>> <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se><mailto:hecnet-
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> <mailto:leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>>
> > >>>>>>> --
> > >>>>>>> Johnny Billquist    || "I'm on a bus
> > >>>>>>> || on a psychedelic trip
> > >>>>>>> email:bqt@softjar.se
> > >>>>>>> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se><mailto:bqt@softjar.se
> > >>>>>>> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>> || Reading murder books
> > >>>>>>> pdp is alive!    || tryin' to stay hip" - B.
> > >>>>>>> Idol
> > >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>>>>> HECnet mailing list --hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:--
> hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se> <mailto:--
> > hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>>
> > >>>>>>>
> <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se><mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
> > >>>>>>> <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>>
> > >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email tohecnet-
> leave@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:tohecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:tohecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > >>>>>>> <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se><mailto:hecnet-
> > >>>>>>> leave@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:leave@lists.dfupdate.se><mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>>
> > >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>>>>> HECnet mailing list -- hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
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> leave@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> --
> > >>>>>> Johnny Billquist     || "I'm on a bus
> > >>>>>> || on a psychedelic trip
> > >>>>>> email: bqt@softjar.se <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>
> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>    ||
> > Reading murder books
> > >>>>>> pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>>>> HECnet mailing list -- hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
> <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>
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> leave@lists.dfupdate.se <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>

> > >>>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>>> HECnet mailing list -- hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
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> <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > >>>>
> > >>>> --
> > >>>> Johnny Billquist    || "I'm on a bus
> > >>>> || on a psychedelic trip
> > >>>> email: bqt@softjar.se <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>
> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>    ||
> > Reading murder books
> > >>>> pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
> > >>>>
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>> HECnet mailing list -- hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
> <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>
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> > <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > >>>
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> HECnet mailing list -- hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
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> > <mailto:hecnet-leave@lists.dfupdate.se>
> > >>
> > >
> > > --
> > > Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus
> > > || on a psychedelic trip
> > > email: bqt@softjar.se <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>
> <mailto:bqt@softjar.se> || Reading
> > murder books
> > > pdp is alive!     || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > HECnet mailing list -- hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se
> <mailto:hecnet@lists.dfupdate.se>
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>
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>
> --
> Johnny Billquist    || "I'm on a bus
> || on a psychedelic trip
> email: bqt@softjar.se <mailto:bqt@softjar.se>    || Reading
> murder books
> pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
>
> _______________________________________________
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--
Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus
|| on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt@softjar.se || Reading murder books
pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

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