[mod.computers.vax] Problems on a 8500 unibus with 'brand X' DMF-like terminal interfaces

XBR3Y028@DDATHD21.BITNET.UUCP (03/15/87)

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From:  BR1::Y028   "Walter Reichenbaecher, TH Darmstadt HRZ"  14-MAR-1987 17:50

Yesterday we started our user services with a VAX 8500 replacing an old 11/780.
We moved all our communications interfaces from the 780-unibus to a 8500-unibus.

Unibus interfaces:
an interface for a RX02 diskette drive,
and one for a line printer
2* DUP 11 (for IBM 2780/3780 and 3270 emulation)
1* DMR 11 (decnet)
terminal-interfaces: 2* DZ11, 1* DZ11S, 1 DMF32 from DEC
                     1* VMZ32 (DMF32 compatible from Able)
                     1* CS21/F1 (DMF32 compatible from Emulex)

It turned out that the new 8500 system crashed when terminalports of
the Emulex interface were used.
So DEC hardware service removed this Emulex interface. DEC told us that
Emulex is not able to fix those problems - "the VAX 8500 is too fast for
                                            those old interfaces"

 -- Did anyone else have the same problems with old unibus - Brand X
    interfaces on a new 8xxx machine?

The Emulex interface was maintained by DEC on the 780 - but now they are not
willing substitute that interface (by DMF32 for example).


While I was starting to type this mail (for the first time) - our system went
down after 20 hours of uptime -->

  UNEXUBAINT - unexpected unibus adapter interupt

After the autoboot - it takes quite some time (4 RA81's have to be recovered) -
one unibus terminal (it is the DEC DMF32 !!!) was no longer available !!!

 -- any comment, hints, etc. is welcome !

    Thanks !

Walter Reichenbaecher
System Manager, Technical University Darmstadt, University Computing Center
Darmstadt, West Germany

Bitnet:   XBR1Y028@DDATHD21
ARPAnet:  XBR1Y028%DDATHD21.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
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