[Info-vax] DEC Multia (UDB) issues

[Hans Vlems]

On Oct 18, 1:14 pm, MG <marcog... at SPAMxs4all.nl> wrote:
> On 18-10-2011 8:34, Hans Vlems wrote:
>
> > You need the patch kit on separate media, so if the floppy is out why
> > not burn a cd with the required files?
> > Use LD to create a disk image, and burn that image.
>
> How am I supposed to do a foreign boot (i.e via ">>> BOOT DKA`nnn`,DVA0
> -FLAGS 0,8000") like that?  Because that seems to be the whole idea, to
> get VMS installed and running on a Multia.  Or, is media swapping
> possible?
>
> > I can't remember what model floppy is used in the Multia, the Systems
> > and Options guide might be helpful.
> > I don't think DEC built a floppydrive just for the Multia so a drive
> > from another Alpha might just work and even fit inside!
>
> I think you missed the part where I said I don't have another Alpha...
>
> What about installing VMS from a tape?  Is there a way to prepare a
> tape (e.g. DDS-3 or DDS-4) so that one can boot and install from it?
> I know it was possible with older versions of VMS, but never heard of
> it being possible with modern versions (or actually, I've never heard
> of anyone having done it, which does of course not necessarily mean
> that it shouldn't be possible).
>
>   - MG

The suggestion was to burn the files on a CD and replace the DVA0:
device name
with the CDrom device name (DKA500: or whatever).
Yes you wrote that you have no other Alpha's. But a used floppy drive
is not that
expensive on eBay and shipping won't be too expensive either.
Hans