[Info-vax] Some good news !

[George Cook]

In article <75mr7kF197ullU2 at mid.individual.net>, billg999 at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes:
> In article <sARyyPlteYli at wvnvms>,
> 	cook at wvnvms.wvnet.edu (George Cook) writes:
>> In article <75m6n9F18neh6U2 at mid.individual.net>, billg999 at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes:
>>> In article <DvNuEIOFRJJ4 at eisner.encompasserve.org>,
>>> 	koehler at eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) writes:
>>>> In article <75lr97F18tkroU5 at mid.individual.net>, billg999 at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I doubt the latest version of VMS for the VAX would even fit on the
>>>>> RD52.  And, anyway, how would I install it?  Will HP send me TK50 media?
>>>> 
>>>>    Since it is supported, it will fit on a supported disk and is
>>>>    installable via a supported media.
>>> 
>>> Thus my comment with the Babbage quote.  If we keep changing the target
>>> it is no wonder no one ever hits it.
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>    Those two might not be the same ones you bought it with, but
>>>>    they'd probably be pretty cheap to upgrade now.
>>> 
>>> Huh?  Name one disk for a MIcroVAX-II that is "cheap".  What are you
>>> suggesting?  Can't run an RA.  A SCSI controller costs more than the
>>> entire machine.  I just saw a Seagate ST-506 listed for sale.  They
>>> wanted $780.  It was 5M.  i would hate to think what they would ask
>>> for an RD54 (which is probably the samllest disk you could get a current
>>> version of VMS on and even then I would imagine it would be a pretty
>>> stripped down version.)  And that still leaves media.  What media that
>>> can be used on a MicroVAX-II is still supported?
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>    And the last time I actually had MV II in production, I know I
>>>>    could install it from CD (yes, I had supported CD drives on my
>>>>    MV II), and find a small disk it would fit on (VMS all by itself
>>>>    is small).
>>> 
>>> Unless you had a SCSI controller I really don't see how you could load
>>> VMS from a CD.  And, if you can find a QBUS SCSI controller it is anything
>>> but cheap.
>> 
>> A KRQ50 ($200 or less) with an RRD40-DC should work.  All my old VAX
>> SOCs are at home, but I believe the KRQ50 was supported on a MicroVAX II.
> 
> No idea what a KRQ50 is but I  have never seen a SCSI controller for
> anything near $200.  Not that I consider that cheap, either!!  I pick
> up PCI SCSI cards from the local trash.

It is a QBUS card which was only sold with (non-SCSI model) RRD40
CD drives for use on various QBUS MicroVAX models including the
MicroVAX II.  Never saw one, but there was also the RRD50-QA CD drive
which included a non-SCSI QBUS board.

The $200 was the first price I found at an online parts dealer.  I
suspect it could be had for a great deal less.  I'd probably part with
mine for a small sum assuming I can remember where the cabinet kit is
archived.  Unfortunately, my old price books are at work, so I don't
have the original list prices handy.

Even a VAX-11/780 can load VMS from a CI attached CD drive.  Off the
top of my head, I think the MicroVAX 2000, VAX-11/730 and VAX-11/725
are the only VAXes unable to load VMS directly (i.e., using no other
VMS machine or an Infoservers) from a CD drive.  Has anyone tried using
a CD drive on the MicroVAX 2000 (limited function) SCSI port?


George Cook
WVNET