geremin@decus.com.au (01/08/91)
Hello PDP-11 Users - wherever you are. A DECUS colleague is having an awkward problem with `his' PDP-11/83 system. He has been trying for over 6 months to get an EXABYTE type drive installed using 3rd party interface onto the Q-BUS. Configuration is approximately:- PDP-11/83 4 MByte Memory DEQNA (Note NOT DELQA upgrade) TSV05 Interface 2 x Viking SCSI Interfaces for EXABYTE (previously tried with DILOG also). 5 x DHV11 MUX boards LPV11 Printer I/F KDA50 with 2 x RA81. Main problems are - management wants two EXABYTES on TWO SCSI Controllers, System is a factory production machine with very little free time available for testing, site is 300 miles from DEC Head Office in Australia (and 3rd party vendor), at least two different DEC engineers have worked on system in last year, system only recognises one SCSI interface, system hangs infrequently without proper crash, system had silly timing problems 12 months ago before TSV05 I/F was moved to immediately after DEQNA (which I know should be upgraded!), BACKUP fails diring DIR listing of EXABYTE after copying files (not during file transfer), I do not have instant access to all the hardware manuals for all the devices in use, nor to all the recent software dispatch articles for RSTS/E v9, local vendor does not seem to be able to get much specific info from SCSI I/F makers re PDP-11 systems, one respected friend in DEC Aust says that EXABYTES and PDP-11s are INcompatible, yet DEC field service have agreed to install and maintain the 3rd part SCSI boards. I need help (as do DEC field service, the user and the vendor - I am talking to all three at different times) - and advice. * Does RSTS/E v9.6/v9.7 really handle STREAMING Tape Devices successfully.? * What are real differences between VAX Q-BUS and PDP-11 Q-BUS (other than increased speed on newer VAXen).? * Does anyone have a running (and happy) EXABYTE on a PDP-11 Q-BUS system.? (Is UNIBUS any better or worse). * Is anyone using the DEC KZQSA interface (with TLZ.. device) on a PDP-11 system.? (If so what config and O/S) * How serious is the old DEQNA board (without DECNET Phase V).? * Is there a possibly timing conflict with KDA50 on Q-BUS (as there was with the UDA50 on UNIBUS with 11/70). * What is recommended configuration for these types of interfaces.? (Order on BUS etc). * Is there a similar configuration in Australia.? (or Anywhere?) (Does not really have to be running RSTS/E). * Do we need to turn OFF data-cacheing to slow down the transfer rate during BACKUP.? * Does v10 claim to cure any of these possible problems.? Thanks to all, in advance as usual, PS. to Terry Kennedy, `What other questions should I be asking to get the correct answers'? John G. v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v John Geremin, PDP-11 SIG, geremin@decus.com.au DECUS South Pacific Chapter. phone (02) 764 4855. c/- MEGATRONICS, p.o.box S-5, Homebush South, 2140. Australia. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*