DavidKruse.ES@XEROX.COM.UUCP (02/25/87)
I am involved in a project which will lead to marketing specially configured VaxStation-II's with a (VMS based) application package as a turnkey system. As part of this project, I am trying to investigate the feasability of configuring a VaxStation-II with no TK50 and no floppy drives, but with a 9 track (reel to reel, TS compatable) tape drive instead. The major problem seems to be how to bootstrap a new (no data on the fixed drive) system. A DECNET boot is not available. There appear to be two approaches. 1. Somehow convince the VS-II to boot from the 9 track tape. This seems almost possible, as the VS-II will boot from TK50, and the data structure on DEC's bootable TK50's looks like an ANSI labeled tape. The problem is that you can't convince the VS-II console routine to read from MSA0:. 2. Boot from an MRV11, which contains code to boot the 9 track tape. An MRV11 is a Q-bus card containing code in PROM's. This is described as a supported boot device in the KA630 User's Guide. My questions are: Has anyone found a way to accomplish #1. Can anyone recommend vendors for #2; especially vendors who may have the necessary code already generated. Thanks in advance, Dave Kruse DavidKruse.ES@Xerox.COM