[HECnet] Recycled projects, communications methods, snow

Gregg Levine wrote: Hello! This list seems to be quiet today, so here goes. Basically I've recycled a project. In this case its to construct a something to talk to DEC designed ports. It turns out that after making my way last night through Google and the NetBSD Vax port listings, I have discovered that the MMJ connectors are still active. Two places are selling the tools to make cables, one firm local to me, is still selling the connectors, and one firm is still selling the Ideal Tool designed crimping device. And indeed links for them came from the list. Now the irony, the manufacturer behind the gadget I am interested, has renamed itself, according to Wikipedia, and has a badly designed website. The manual for it was found from someplace else via Google. The manual for it also confirms something that both this list, and that the NetBSD list have long surmised, that the MMJ pinouts are for RS-423 connections. The adapters we use for RS-232 connectors on our PCs for acting as hosts obviously do the translation. And as it happens snow finally came to my area, and shutdown for the day the schools in NYC. I'm not sure what you are saying here... Maybe I'm dense, or something. I'm not aware that this list (or some people) on it have surmised anything. Can't speak for the NetBSD-list, as there are way too many people there, with different knowledge and experience... And in my mind (atleast) it has been known since the dawn of time that the DEC MMJ connectors are RS-423. See for instance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modified_Modular_Jack The MMJ are RS-232 compatible (as is RS-423), the adapters just do the wiring properly, and that's it. Friday at last. HECnet seems to be running pretty stable at the moment. A few machines come and go, but we seem to be pretty stable on which areas are online. As of this moment: .ncp sho act are Active areas summary as of 12-FEB-10 17:52:23 Next Area State Circuit Node 1 Reachable 1.13 (MIM) 2 Reachable UNA-0 60.664 (PDXVAX) 11 Reachable UNA-0 11.2 (MAISA) 19 Reachable UNA-0 1.400 (GORVAX) 59 Reachable UNA-0 60.664 (PDXVAX) 60 Reachable UNA-0 60.664 (PDXVAX) Johnny