[Info-vax] Trying to boot a MicroVAX II with VMS 7.3

[Robert Jarratt]

"JF Mezei" <jfmezei.spamnot at vaxination.ca> wrote in message 
news:0018406f$0$23337$c3e8da3 at news.astraweb.com...
> Robert Jarratt wrote:
>
>> I may have found a possible cause of my booting problems. I decided to
>> remove everything except the CPU, the tape controller and the DEQNA, so 
>> that
>> included removing the two memory boards (which incidentally look like 
>> they
>> are 4MB each). When I did this the console software did not come up when 
>> I
>> switched on the machine.
>
>
> Suggest you head over to http://www.hoffmanlabs.com and look at the FAQ
> section (or ask the wizard, I can never remember). Mr Hoffman has a good
> explanation of the serpentine nature of the Q-BUS on that machine.
>
> Failure to get the >>> prompt is likely a Q-BUS issue. Boards need to go
> in a desirable order (interrupt priority) and in a required order
> (serpentine nature).  IF you must leave a spot open because you have a
> half width board followed by a full width board, then you will need a
> grant-continuity card to fill the foid to the right of the half width 
> card.
>
> I am not sure what you need to do with the 2 slots reserved for memory
> if there is no memory there. Remember that memory boards not only plug
> into the backpane, but there is also a ribbon cable that links them to
> the motherboard.
>
> I suggest you put back the memory boards.
>
> The fact that you get to a SYSBOOT-F message means that you have already
> gotten to the initial bootstrap for VMS.
>
> Also, perhaps others can confirm, but wouldn't VMS send out a explicit
> message about the deqna not being supported anymore ?
>
> BTW, in case you are not aware:
>
> from node1:
>
> MC SYSGEN
> SYSGEN> USE $disk1:[SYS1.SYSEXE]VAXVMSSYS.PAR
> SYSGEN> various commands
> SYSGEN> WRITE $disk1:[SYS1.SYSEXE]VAXVMSSYS.PAR
>
> This lets you manage SYSGEN parameters of another node from a
> functioning node. Just make sure you don't use "write" alone because
> that might write the other node's parameters into the current node :-)


Thanks for the tips (Hoff's site looks like it is being re-organised and the 
Q-Bus links are currently broken). I have already put the memory boards 
back, however I am pretty sure that I put my tape controller and DEQNA in 
properly to maintain grant continuity when I took the memory out.

At the moment I have given up on the MOP route until I can either get a 
DELQA or an older version of VMS. In the meantime I am just trying to boot 
into standalone backup using a kit made on my MicroVAX 3100 Model 80, and 
this is where I am having problems with the parameters and memory.

Thanks for all the help!

Rob