[Info-vax] DEC Multia (UDB) issues

[MG]

On 18-10-2011 0:10, John Wallace wrote:
> The executive summary seems to be that you need 72pin 36bit true
> parity (not fake parity) Fast Page Mode (not EDO) SIMMs, 70ns or
> faster, installed in pairs. There is a Multia webpage at
> http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/computers/udb.html
> which has Crucial part numbers listed. I would be surprised if these
> are available new for a sensible price, but back in the day they were
> in reasonably widespread use around the industry in general. Not as
> widespread as the non-parity ones, mind you.

Just my luck, there's nothing on the auction sites I frequently use...

I don't feel like ordering overseas.  I don't even know if this thing
will even work beyond the memory issues.  I still have the floppy error
and the dead NVR/TOY to deal with, after all.  (Any ideas about the
floppy diskette error, by the way?)


> Another generic specification is in the Multia Service Information I
> referenced earlier, and on page 91 of that document there are some
> part numbers. Unfortunately although the 36bit parity SIMMs are not
> Multia-specific, the DEC memory part numbers in the book *are* Multia-
> specific - to ensure that the revenue was booked to the right business
> unit, the very same SIMM could have various saleable part numbers,
> depending on whose product it was to be used in.

Thank you, I'll take a look at that.


> Is it worth the effort? Only you can make that decision.

I can only make that decision if I know what I can roughly expect and
that's why I'm asking.  I apologize for not making that clear enough.


> It is a miracle of technology, one which few other people will have
> seen. Is it a useful tool for getting things done? In most cases you'd
> be better off with the app on a sensible VMS box and the X kbd/mouse/
> display on something more modern.

Well, this is the best I can do at the moment.  Unless someone donated
a nice AlphaStation, or AlphaServer (e.g. DS10, DS15/A) to me.

Via the local UG/SIG I was promised a DS10, already in June, but that
has not happened yet.

  - MG