Subject: Re: EUREKA! My DECstation 5400 is a VAXstation 3520 Dual CPU!
To: NetBSD Bob <nbsdbob@weedcon1.cropsci.ncsu.edu>
From: hg/jb <shsrms@bellatlantic.net>
List: port-vax
Date: 11/10/2000 14:57:31
NetBSD Bob wrote:
>
> > i stand corrected, Ultrix _did_ run on the KA60. Looking thru the
> > sources, i see comments that the ka60 support originally forked off of
> ^^^^^^^ hmm...(:+}}...
> > the KA650 support.
>
> Well, for the sake of discussion, WHICH version of Ultrix, and how is
> the critter actually booted? When I boot a cd with Ultrix 4.2A or
> 4.5, I can get it to boot the cd, load the kernel, and then when it
> jumps to the kernel, it totally freezes up. I also tried bringing
> in a fresh ultrix install on a disk and just boot the disk, same thing.
> IFF I can get some form of Ultrix up, then we have a platform from
> which to try some NetBSDisms.
>
> B DKA400 boots the cd OK
> B DKA0 boots the existing VMS OK.
>
> That would suggest the booting process and hardware is somewhat
> functional.
>
> Any idea why it freezes? Someone else on the list(?) I think also
> has had the same lockup problems in a 3520. Was that you, or someone
> else, and did it get resolved?
>
> > Some interesting things in there include the fact that apparently the
> > shoddy Qbus support was not the processor's fault but the way they
> > designed it all to fit together; there's a regular CQBIC on the
> > processor. The mbus options evidently were never intended to be changed
> > or upgraded- they're identified in the bus initialization routines in the
> > processor support module! (yuck!)
> > It looks like they intended the Qbus to be the main means of expansion,
> > and the mbus was just a way to attach a qbus. The mbus does not seem to be
> > a nexus interconnect, though, which makes this even kludgier. I think
> > mbus sucked more than they planned on it, and the Qbus support then was a
> > failed idea.
>
> The only Qbus support I might need is TKQ70 for booting, but after that
> I just want to use the scsi bus. It should make a fine 4 drive scsi VAX
> IFF we can get something running on it. That would leave only the Mbus
> requirement, and maybe if only that is used for the dedicated design
> layout and nothing else strange, maybe it will work OK.
>
> Strange critter, though.... strange critter.
>
> What is it with my luck and unearthing strange VAXencritters.....(:+{{...
>
> Bob
bob,
in an earlier post you said something about booting off a MIPS CD.
I may have read that wrong, but if you are trying to boot a mips cd,
then you should freeze. THe instruction sets are quite different.
hope this helps
bob