[Info-vax] testing VAXstations

[abrsvc]

On Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 7:53:35 AM UTC-4, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> In article <5ac43a52-c733-49df... at googlegroups.com>,
> abrsvc <dansabr... 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.

The model 60 that I have at the moment does not have a switch for the console, but the MMJ connector (marked as a printer port) should be the console port.
In my system, the RGB monitor port over-rides that and is the console.

See this link for a picture and description of the connections:  http://eintr.net/systems/vaxstation4000-60/

Dan