[Info-vax] DZQ11 on VAX/4000 Model 300

[David Wade]

On 14/01/2019 17:42, Stephen Hoffman wrote:
> On 2019-01-14 17:04:41 +0000, David Wade said:
> 
>>   I have just installed a DZQ11 in my VAX/4000 and once I figured out 
>> I had by "A" and "B" pins mixed up on the BERG connector  (I had to 
>> fabricate a lead as it came without any) on a brief test it seems to 
>> be working just fine.
>>
>> However when I removed it the VAX seemed to hang on boot. I popped it 
>> back in and it seems to be working fine.
> 
>> So should I do anything to VMS to manage its configuration?
> 
> Nope.  OpenVMS is working exactly as expected.
> 

Why does it hang when the card is removed? Thats not expected to me...
.. if the CSRs worked before, surely they work the same afterwards....

>> In case it matters the machine is running VMS 7.3. The other cards in 
>> the machine are, from the CPU and memory moving left, a TK70 
>> controller card, a KZQSA SCSI controller with CD ROM and the DZQ11.
>>
>> Please excuse me asking on here but google seems to be intent on 
>> referring me to hpe sites which all redirect to the documentation Index.
> 
> HPE is exiting the OpenVMS business.
> 

Then why does it still have the documentation catalogue ...

> Use Google Groups search of the comp.os.vms newsgroup archives, search 
> for the word "serpentine" (though that's less of an issue with BA213 and 
> BA215 and BA4xx series Q-bus boxes), and learn how the Q-bus and the 
> Q-bus boards are configured.
> 

The BA440 backplane isn't a serpentine plane is it?

> Basically, the Q-bus CSRs and vectors can vary by what's installed in 
> the Q-bus in the box, and you'll need to adjust the CSR and (if present) 
> vector settings on one or more other Q-bus modules in the bus, and/or 
> insert a bus grant card or otherwise fill the vacated slot.
> 
> Start by reading chapters 3 and 4 here:
> https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_decvax630AITechnicalManualBA23EnclosureOct85_15635013/AZ-GLFAB-MN_VAXstation_II_Technical_Manual_BA23_Enclosure_Oct85#mode/2up 
> 

That is a Serpentine backplane isn't it? Frome reading the VAX/4000 
manual the BA440 isn't a serpentine backplane. The CD slots are seem to 
be generally only used for memory and there is no

> 
> Oh, and ********NEVER********** believe the interrupt vector setting 
> shown by OpenVMS.   Be skeptical about the CSR setting, too.
> OpenVMS VAX will tell you what it thinks or expects the vector to be, 
> and that may not match reality.
> OpenVMS VAX has no direct means of reading the interrupt vector setting, 
> and the indirect means is dicy at best and is not implemented by OpenVMS 
> displays.
> Again, ********NEVER, EVER, EVER, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, DO NOT EVEN 
> THINK OF IT, NOT-AT-ALL, NOPE, DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE******** trust 
> what OpenVMS VAX shows for CSR and particularly vector settings.
> Remove the boards, and decode the CSR and (if present) the interrupt 
> vector setting.
> 
> And FWIW, Google seemingly doesn't include the Google Groups content in 
> most Google searches.  Only the Google Groups search seemingly includes 
> that data from here in the newsgroup, and that Google Groups search 
> doesn't always work reliably.
> 
> 
>
It sometimes pops up....

Dave..