[mod.computers.vax] mod.computers.vax submission

kc@rna.UUCP.UUCP (03/31/87)

> A few days ago someone put out a query about an interface to go between the
> Qbus and the VME bus.

The QVI (Qbus<->VMEbus) was designed by the Physics folks at Fermi for
their specific application (called the ACP project). Nevertheless it is
a very general design that should allow people in other areas to
connect VME resources to a Qbus uVAX.  I am one of the few people
around (maybe the only) who has some experience using the QVI in a
non-ACP environment.

1. There are problems. The story is long and involved, but the bottom
line is that the QVI (they claim) works well with the other ACP
components,  but unfortunately there are problems in other
environments. Our qvi is currently working, but with several major
gotchas. I would be glad to go further, but I doubt this is the best
forum.

2. I have a working BSD4.2 driver. Available for one and all. I believe Fermi
has some VMS/Fortran support.

3. I looked into Q->V about six months ago. The only other contender, as far
as I know, is the SBC8221 from Bytech (604-980-4131). It is a VME bus single
board computer containing a J11 processor and a Q bus interface. 

Kaare Christian
cmcl2!rna!kc
212-570-7669