[Info-vax] testing VAXstations

[Phillip Helbig undress to reply]

In article <5ac43a52-c733-49df-a855-f78bba223789n at googlegroups.com>,
abrsvc <dansabrservices at yahoo.com> writes: 

> On Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 7:33:54 AM UTC-4, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> > Finally I have time to do some inventory, so I am testing old hardware 
> > (with the aim of knowing what works and what doesn't and deciding what I 
> > might pass on to a good home). It's been a while since I've done 
> > anything with a VAX (about 10 years). On a VAXstation 4000, I have the 
> > S3 switch set to UP. I am using a terminal and cable which I normally 
> > use for an Alpha console (9600 baud, 8 bits, no parity, 
> > receive=transmit, 1 stop bit) so I am assuming that that is not the 
> > problem (IIRC VAXes, in contrast to Alphas, won't boot if they don't 
> > sense the console). The cable is MMJ on both VAX (printer port) and VT. 
> > 
> > When I power the box on, all the LEDs light up, but stay lit. From the 
> > old days, I remember flashing (and maybe some sounds) then some output 
> > on the console terminal. Now, nothing. 
> > 
> > Any ideas?
> 
> What model is the 4000?   The model 60 has a "special" console cable
> that goes to an RGB monitor. 

90 and 90A for now, but later 60.  But in all cases serial consoles, not 
the graphics monitor.

I have run video monitors on VAXstations, but don't recall any special 
cable (other than that it had to plug in properly).

> I know that the uVax II uses either 9 pin connection directly or an
> adapter for MMJ that is different than the 9-pin to MMJ adapter for
> Alpha. 

But won't MMJ on both ends of the cable, using the MMJ ports on the 
terminal and the VAXstation, work?

> I don't believe that the printer connection can be used for the
> console either. (A bit rusty on the VAX stuff too as it has been a
> while...) 

I think that that is the purpose of the S3 switch.