Re: MicroVAX 3500 questions

On Thu, 15 May 2008 14:09:32 -0700 (PDT), H Vlems <hvlems@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

David,
visit Google groups and enter the search string "microvax 3500". The
amount of hits is enough to get you going.
HP still has some documentation on-line:

http://h18002.www1.hp.com/alphaserver/vax/archive/mv3500.html

It's been too long, I'm sure my memory is not accurate anymore. Didn't
the 3500 have an RA82 drive in the top of the cabinet?
The cpu runs at around 3 VUPS. The 3400/3500/3600 models didn't have
DSSI nor SCSI, they're equiped with KDA50 controllers
for the disks.
The battery powers the nvram. If it's dead, each time the system boots
it will ask what language you want for the console.
It won't remember the default boot device, what to do at power up or
after a failure and so on.
It's an inconvenience but the system will boot without it.
If you get to the >>> prompt, try ? or HELP
Try SHO DEV or SHO ALL to list its hardware configuration. DUA0, DUB1
etc are disks (try >>> B DUA0)
MUA0 is the tape drive, if present.
Good luck,
Hans

Thanks for the information. I guess I will just pull the battery out
so it doesnt make any more of a mess than it already has. Considering
the amount of green on the console ports contacts the PCB is going to
need quite a bit of cleaning before I wire up an adapter cable.

Ive put some images of the four ports, label and cards on google:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dgsoftnz/MicroVAX3500/

This machine has no hard disk but that probably isnt too bad -
considering how long it has taken to get just a vax I dont think I
could ever find replacement SDI disks. Im considering disconnecting
the TK70 drive for about the same reason - the tape in the drive has
snapped making the machine rather noisy.

Ive pulled the machine apart a bit and it has (from right to left) a
TK70 drive, the operator control panel and those port things. It has
the following cards installed:
1* KA650 CPU board (M7620 according to the panel, M7626 according to
the board)
2* 16MB MOS Memory cards (M7622)
2* Grant Continuity cards (M9047)
1* TK70 controller (M7559)
1* DELQA Ethernet controller (M7516)
1* CMD CQD-220/TM (SCSI I think)
1* CMD CQD-220/M (also SCSI I think)
2* Webster Computer Corp. WQDHV11/02 (no idea what these are)

If the two CMD cards are SCSI I suppose I could attach a hard disk to
one of those and boot off that. Otherwise, maybe there is some way I
can network boot OpenVMS from my AlphaServer 1200.

Thanks,
David Goodwin
.

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