[Info-vax] SimH with framebuffer and hobbyist kit?

[Vertis Sidus]

On 2013-04-02, Steven Schweda <sms.antinode at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'd like to use DECwindows in an emulated framebuffer, [...]
>
>    Why?  Why not run an X server somewhere else, and let the
> emulated VAX talk to that?  I know nothing, but I'd guess
> that that's what most VAX emulator users would do.

I've tried that. It's actually harder to do than it sounds,
for a few reasons.

First, it seems like pretty much every emulator uses libpcap
for the ethernet device, meaning it can't communicate directly
with the host. There are a few ways around that, like (for
example) running the emulator inside a VM.

Second, I understand the language that DECwindows is speaking
is only vaguely similar to the X11R7 that our modern host
systems are running. Configuring the X server to accept 
connections from DECwindows client software has security
implications on Internet-connected machines.

Anyway, I managed to get an xdm prompt to appear, once.
Nothing happened when I logged in, and I never, ever got xdm
back.

>    If you're crazy enough, I'd expect that you could even run
> the window manager on the emulated VAX.

That was the plan.

Anyway, it comes down to this: I'm not setting out to get
actual work done. I want a framebuffer for the same reason
that I bought an Apple ][ emulator that makes floppy-disk
noises. It's all about recreating the experience.

-- 
vertissidus at sdf.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.org