[Info-vax] testing VAXstations

[John H. Reinhardt]

On 7/6/2021 5:01 PM, Zane H. Healy wrote:
> In comp.os.vms Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) <helbig at asclothestro.multivax.de> 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?
> 
> One of the things I've done the last couple months, is to test my VAXstation
> 4000's.  The VLC and 60 will boot with a dead Dallas RTC chip (the battery
> is built in).  The 90 won't, and if I remember correctly this was the
> failure I saw.  I simply bought some DS12887A+ RTC's, and swapped them out
> in my 90, VLC, and one 60.  I still need to swap the chip on the 60 that
> runs 24x7 (DECnet area router).


> 
> Zane
> 
> 

If you want to future proof your RTC even more, look into the DS12887 RTC replacements from Glitch Works.  You can buy built up replacements from his Tindie Shop <https://www.tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/gw-12887-1-ds12887-rtc-replacement-module/#shipping> for $20 US plus shipping

Or kits where you supply your own Dallas chip for $10 US plus shipping. <https://www.ebay.com/itm/274450106673>
Built up version same as Tindie shop <https://www.ebay.com/itm/274503108836>

I put one in each of my DS10's when I was refurbishing them last year and they have worked great.  I wish my MV3100 could use one.  The nice thing is that they use a CR1225 coin battery which you can easily replace when needed and those batteries are highly leak resistant.

-- 
John H. Reinhardt