[Info-vax] Some good news !

[Rich Jordan]

On Apr 28, 3:49 am, c... at wvnvms.wvnet.edu (George Cook) wrote:
> In article <75mr7kF197ul... at mid.individual.net>, billg... at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes:
> > In article <sARyyPlteYli at wvnvms>,
> >    c... at wvnvms.wvnet.edu (George Cook) writes:
> >> In article <75m6n9F18neh... at mid.individual.net>, billg... at cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes:
> >>> In article <DvNuEIOFR... at eisner.encompasserve.org>,
> >>>    koeh... at eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) writes:
> >>>> In article <75lr97F18tkr... at mid.individual.net>, billg... 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

We had an RRD50 and QBus card/cable/everything setup in storage for
the longest time after surplussing the MVII it ran on around 1990.  We
sold it (as is) on fleabay around 2001; I think it went for $65.