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Greetings from Lincolnshire, UK |
Alex_Rawson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 14.07.06 |
| Posted on July 14 2006 07:33 |
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Hiya all,
I am a semi-retired DEC programmer (I say that cos I am not old enough to retire, but I have been sort of forced to live in Lincolnshire and well....computers and certainly DEC machines aren't the sort of thing you find round here, and jobs programming them...forget it!!!)
I have been a programmer/analyst/systems designer on DEC stuff since 1982 and have worked in a variety of scenarios. I have managed to get my hands on a Alphaserver 4100 5/400. It has 4 CPU's, 2048MB RAM and 8 * 18GB Discs.
I really don't know what I will do with it, I saw it....and well...I just HAD to get it !!! 
This is my introductory post....there might be some more :wink:
ttfn |
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Re: Greetings from Lincolnshire, UK |
brad
Member
Posts: 134
Location: Hopedale, MA USA
Joined: 15.12.05 |
| Posted on July 14 2006 16:23 |
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[quote:bfac6cc887="Alex_Rawson"] [...]
I have been a programmer/analyst/systems designer on DEC stuff since 1982 and have worked in a variety of scenarios. I have managed to get my hands on a Alphaserver 4100 5/400. It has 4 CPU's, 2048MB RAM and 8 * 18GB Discs.
I really don't know what I will do with it, I saw it....and well...I just HAD to get it !!! [...][/quote:bfac6cc887]
Well...
You could run VMS on it, along with a web server (OSU, WASD, or Apache) and SAMBA (for file services). Stable, relatively secure, etc. Have fun... |
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good system - go and play |
imiller
Administrator
Posts: 277
Location: UK
Joined: 24.02.06 |
| Posted on July 16 2006 22:10 |
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Good system!
Get your self a hobbyist VMS licence and you can have all the compilers you may want. You have a choice of TCPIP stacks (hp, TCPWARE), three web servers (hp SWS, OSU, WASD), serveral databases.
You have more capacity on that system than most hobbyists so could you install all of them 
Why not write some software and release it for free. Is there anything you always wanted to have a go at? |
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Alex_Rawson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 14.07.06 |
| Posted on July 17 2006 00:44 |
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I have already started installing stuff. I have the Hobbyist licences etc.
I managed to get VMS 7.2-1 CD's and the complete Software Library and all the documention (18 CD's in all) etc from Ebay for £8..thats where I got the machine too :wink:
I have so far managed to get onto the system
Decnet_Osi v7.2-1
DwMotif v1.2-5 (Though I dont know how to use it !!!!)
OpenVMS v7.2-1
TCPIP v5.0-10
VMS v7.2-1
Now I have to remember how to edit systartup to mount disks and set up logicals.
Then create user groups and UIC's and all that stuff. I think I may need a system manager :roll:
I also have to figure out how to connect the machine to my LAN.
Maybe some of you can help.
I have an ordinary 4 port Broadband Router and my PC is on one port. My mums is on another, my 2 boys use up the last two. There are Cat5 cables connecting the two halves of the house up...hard to explain.
The Alpha has 2 Newtork cards and I also have a 8 port 10/100 Switch in a box. I have loads of network cables.
What can I do so that the Alpha is on the Internet and also my PC and I would like to connect to the Alpha from my PC...I am a bit fed up of typing in licences, a bit of cut & paste from my mail messages would be a bit useful.
Oh well, I will soldier on...so much to do, so little time...and the lawns need a bit of work too.....and the kitchen re-painting....and curtains to be re-hung.
As for writing stuff...blimey....don't know what I could write. My only language experience has been Cobol, Basic, C and Java and the C & Java were only in my last years as a proper programmer.
I would like to try the Alpha as a WebServer, but I haven't got a static IP.
I am just going to bumble along....lol.
How do I put piccies up on this BB ?
ttfn[/img] |
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Alex_Rawson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 14.07.06 |
| Posted on July 17 2006 05:32 |
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http://vacant-chair.blogspot.com/2006/07/alphaserver-4100-4500-4400mhz-cpu.html |
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imiller
Administrator
Posts: 277
Location: UK
Joined: 24.02.06 |
| Posted on July 17 2006 23:03 |
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Give up sleeping at night - its too hot anyway and you can be working on your system undisturbed
connect a pc and the alpha to the switch and the switch uplink port to the router. Create an address reservation for your alpha on the router and staticly configure the same address in TCPIP$CONFIG, adding the router as the default gateway. Consider registering with dyndns.org (there is a free option) which gets you a name for your ISP assigned address.
Looking at getting a newer version of VMS and TCPIP - V5.0 was really bad. the V5.0A patch kits are available at
ftp://ftp.itrc.hp.com/openvms_patches/archived_patches/axp/7.X/v7.1-2/tcpip/5.0a/ |
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Alex_Rawson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 14.07.06 |
| Posted on July 20 2006 13:24 |
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I have taken your advice and sent of for the
Install OpenVMS Alpha Hobbyist Kit V3.0
OpenVMS V7.3-1
DECWindows 1.2.6 (Motif)
DECnet Phase IV
DECnet OSI Phase V
TCPIP V5.3
Compaq C V6.5
FORTRAN V7.5
It has to come over from the States, so it gives me a few days to do other jobs.
I have managed now to get the switch in, the PC is on the net. The router is on the downlink....I had to figure out I needed a crossover.
When I have updated VMS and TCPIP I will give it another go.
Oh yes, I was wondering where the TCPIP License PAK was and couldnt find it. I then 'remebered' something about UCX and used that one. It seems to have worked. One of them non-documented 'features' ?
No wonder VMS didnt make it big, it's a pig to install & licence !
Any comments ?
ttfn |
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imiller
Administrator
Posts: 277
Location: UK
Joined: 24.02.06 |
| Posted on July 26 2006 00:01 |
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UCX (Ultrix Connection) is the old name for TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS.
The required licence name is documented in the installation guide. You do read installation guides, release notes etc before installing
don't you :wink:
Personally I think VMS is easy to install and licence, but I have been doing VMS for quite a few years now so parhaps after the first couple of dozen installations it gets easy :lol: |
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Alex_Rawson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 14.07.06 |
| Posted on August 09 2006 01:43 |
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I have now got my VMS 7.3 CD and am busy installing stuff.
I did find quite a useful page that people might want to note.
It gives translations for the product name to the PAK name.
http://www.oit.umd.edu/slic/products/compaq/docs/VMS_CURRENT_OCT02.TXT
Hey ho...onwards we go.
I also saw on ebay 12 RZ1DD-VW 9.1GB Alphaserver Drives & Caddies which I might get. Add six to take me upto 14 and keep 6 as spare :wink:
The stuff that I can install direct from the Boot disk is on now and licensed.
My next problem is...I can't get the editor to work, i get sys$input must be supported crt.
I tried set term/inq...but it doesnt recognise the monitor. I have plugged in an ordinary PC monitor to the Matrox Millenium card but am reduced to edit at line level...or something like that.
How can I get the thing to work ? Will I have to get a VT terminal to use ?
It's really difficult changing SYSTART_VMS.COM, SYLOGICALS.COM & SYLOGIN.COM etc without an editor.
And...where should I put things like $ MOUNT DKB100: DEVELOP/SYS ?
Does that go in SYSTARTUP_VMS ?
I haven't even tried to get TCPIP etc working...again, no editor.
I'll have another play in a couple of days. I have downloaded Putty VT emulator too for my PC to have a play.
Any other advice from members ?
ttfn |
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tmr
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Czech Republic
Joined: 10.06.06 |
| Posted on August 09 2006 11:06 |
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I had this problem too, but I used VGA only for system installation. Other things I have done over network. Some time after that I bought laplink cable which allows you to access TTA terminal from PC. I tried to make MMJ->CANON cable based on googled schema. This cable is not working, but it's probably my fail. So MMJ allow you to access OPA... only one big difference in using laplink instead of MMJ is that you don't se the startup...
You don't have to get a real VT terminal if you replace it by one of these cables, but I think it's fine to have VT. |
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tmr
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Czech Republic
Joined: 10.06.06 |
| Posted on August 09 2006 11:17 |
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uh, for the second question about mounting:
I have written a small DCL procedure which gets info about available disks and it does the mount for each disk from previously defined symbol... This procedure is called from SYSTARTUP_VMS in which is placed before starting other services depending on non-system disks... |
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imiller
Administrator
Posts: 277
Location: UK
Joined: 24.02.06 |
| Posted on August 09 2006 23:59 |
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Do you have DECwindows running?
You may find it easier once you have TCPIP running as you can then use a VT emulator to telnet into the system and editing etc does work.
Disk mounting is usually done in SYSTARTUP_VMS but for disks containing extra page files they should be mounted in SYPAGSWPFILES.COM.
Cluster common disks are usually mounted in SYLOGICALS.COM
I normally have checks before mounting the disk - use F$GETDVI to check the device exists, is available and is not already mounted.
Specify the /NOASSIST qualifier on the MOUNT commands to ensure they won't wait for operator responses. |
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Alex_Rawson
Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 14.07.06 |
| Posted on August 18 2006 08:07 |
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I have now got things working...almost. :lol:
I configured TCPIP and use Putty to Telnet nicely across to the 4100.
I now have edited sys$manager:systartup_vms.com and stuck in
$ mount/noassist dkb100: user/sys
$ mount/noassist dkb200: data1/sys
$ mount/noassist dkb300: data2/sys
I'll do something with my other 4 disks soon enough.
I have managed to install quite a bit and license it.
------- Product ID --------
BASIC
C
CMS
COBOL
CXX-V
DTM
DTR
DVNETEXT
DW-MOTIF
FORTRAN
LSE
MMS
OPENVMS-ALPHA
PCA
UCX
PCA would not install on VMS7.3-1 because the version I had was from March 2001 Alpha Software Product Library which came with VMS 7.2-1 CD's I purchased. It was part of the DECSET install, I don't know what it does, havent even looked at what it is supposed to do, have never used it, so it's no loss :wink:
I will go through the rest of the CD's later to see what else I can put on. No harm in going for the max. :wink:
I am trying to see what VMS7.3-1 patches I can download too, because there is an annoying thing about SYS$TIMEZONE_RULE popping up on the Ops console and I read something on some bulletin boards...but it can wait.
I have downloaded OpenVMS Unzip & Zip and tried them out....seem to work. FTP'd them across from my PC nicely...after I realised I had to set binary.
I cannot get Motif/DECwindows to work at all.
I get decw$device-i-nodevice,no graphics devices found.
Maybe the Matrox Millenium card doesn't count...do I need to get another card ?
I also want to see what Internet Browser I can use. Mozilla will not run on 7.3-1 from what I can read. I looked at Mosaic, but all this seems to want Motif running so I am a bit stuck. Any suggestions ?
Currently my machine has 2 Storageworks shelfs, each with 4 18GB RZ1ED-VW disks, connected to 2 QLogic SCSI cards. I am thinking of using one/two of these 18GB disks as my backup disks as I don't have a DLT drive...or a SCSI card to plug that into...I'll have to save some pennies :wink:
What are the pros/cons of this approach ? And...what strategy should I adopt ? Comments please.
I think I might dig out some of my old source code and see if it compiles up....oh the joys of programming, compiling and linking.
def lnk$library etc
I would like to get JAVA on board, but don't know if I need a license. I didn't get one in my hobbist licence mail message.
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/commercial/ has no mention of Java.
I will hunt around...so much to do...so little time. 
Please make your comments and observations. It is much easier doing this stuff when you have some sort of support.
Cheers |
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brad
Member
Posts: 134
Location: Hopedale, MA USA
Joined: 15.12.05 |
| Posted on August 18 2006 12:06 |
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[quote:09f5eb8424="Alex_Rawson"][...]
I also want to see what Internet Browser I can use. Mozilla will not run on 7.3-1 from what I can read. I looked at Mosaic, but all this seems to want Motif running so I am a bit stuck. Any suggestions ?
Currently my machine has 2 Storageworks shelfs, each with 4 18GB RZ1ED-VW disks, connected to 2 QLogic SCSI cards. I am thinking of using one/two of these 18GB disks are my backup disks as I don't have a DLT drive...or a SCSI card to plug that into...I'll have to save some pennies :wink:
[...][/quote:09f5eb8424]
I have no tape drive on my hobbyist machine - I have dedicated a 72G disk drive as my "archive" disk. I do image backups of my other disks to the archive drive, and then ZIP up the resultant save sets. I have also purchased several "spare" 72G drives, and I will swap these in and out as the "current" archive drive approaches capacity.
Seagate 72G disk drives are relatively cheap (~ $0.50 USD/G and the low-profile ones fit nicely into the StorageWorks "blocks". You can even squeeze a high-profile one into the block, if you remove the foam padding on the block first!
As far as Mozilla is concerned, I ran it on V7.3-1 and 7.3-2 without issues, except that I found it slow, even with lots of memory. I was using it as a mail reader, but I found it unreliable, compared to Thunderbird on my linux laptop, so I've just been content with backing (tar) up my laptop, and FTP'ing the resultant .TGZ file to VMS for safekeeping. :-) |
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Mozilla - CSWB |
rjj
Member
Posts: 19
Location: Nottingham UK
Joined: 13.12.05 |
| Posted on August 21 2006 04:00 |
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Hi There,
My Alpha 800 triboots 7.2-1, 7.3-1 and 8.2 - Mozilla - CSWB runs fine on all of them - but as Brad noted it's quicker on 8.2
Still playing with my DS20 - too many machines, too little time....
Have fun!
Russell |
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