From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms


Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet controller and a permanent system disk. (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

These are all REAL systems, not emulated.

The Large Scale Systems Museum (LSSM, https://www.lssmuseum.org/) is
a public, brick-and-mortar, donor-funded nonprofit museum in Pittsburgh,
PA, USA that covers all kinds of computers, but with a particular
emphasis on minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers. We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of our first public opening.

Thanks,
-Dave McGuire, LSSM
--
Dave McGuire, President/Curator
Large Scale Systems Museum
New Kensington, PA

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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 29/11/2025 9:26 am, Dave McGuire wrote:

-a Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS.-a We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

-a Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet controller and a permanent system disk.-a (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

-a These are all REAL systems, not emulated.

-a The Large Scale Systems Museum (LSSM, https://www.lssmuseum.org/) is a public, brick-and-mortar, donor-funded nonprofit museum in Pittsburgh,
PA, USA that covers all kinds of computers, but with a particular
emphasis on minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers.-a We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of our first public opening.

-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a Thanks,
-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a -Dave McGuire, LSSM

That is wonderful news! - Thank you, very much, for the notification to comp.os.vms.
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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

In article <10gd7ig$6g5c$1@mail.neurotica.com>,
Dave McGuire <mcguire@lssmuseum.org> wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet
controller and a permanent system disk. (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine? I may have
a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 11/29/2025 6:36 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:

In article <10gd7ig$6g5c$1@mail.neurotica.com>,
Dave McGuire <mcguire@lssmuseum.org> wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet
controller and a permanent system disk. (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine? I may have
a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.

According to some sources on the internet then 6.2 was last.

Which is "sort of recent" in VAX world.

Arne

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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:

In article <10gd7ig$6g5c$1@mail.neurotica.com>,
Dave McGuire <mcguire@lssmuseum.org> wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet
controller and a permanent system disk. (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine? I may have
a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.
--scott

We ran 7.3 on our 11/780-5 (a field upgraded 780) at Living Computers.
--
Rich Alderson news@alderson.users.panix.com
Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
--Galen --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 11/30/2025 7:33 PM, Rich Alderson wrote:

kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:

In article <10gd7ig$6g5c$1@mail.neurotica.com>,
Dave McGuire <mcguire@lssmuseum.org> wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at >>> the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet >>> controller and a permanent system disk. (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine? I may have
a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.

We ran 7.3 on our 11/780-5 (a field upgraded 780) at Living Computers.

I don't think DEC/CPQ/HPE would have supported it.

VMS 7.1 SPD state:

<quote>
VMS V5.1 was the final version to support the
VAX-11/725.

OpenVMS VAX Version 6.2 was the final version to sup-
port the following:
VAX-11/730
VAX-11/750
VAX-11/751
VAX-11/780
VAX-11/782
VAX-11/785
</quote>

But if it runs then it runs.

And both 6.2 and 7.3 are generally out of support and has been
so for many years anyway.

Arne


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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 11/30/2025 8:21 PM, Arne Vajh|+j wrote:

On 11/30/2025 7:33 PM, Rich Alderson wrote:

We ran 7.3 on our 11/780-5 (a field upgraded 780) at Living Computers.

I don't think DEC/CPQ/HPE would have supported it.

VMS 7.1 SPD state:

<quote>
VMS V5.1 was the final version to support the
VAX-11/725.

OpenVMS VAX Version 6.2 was the final version to sup-
port the following:
VAX-11/730
VAX-11/750
VAX-11/751
VAX-11/780
VAX-11/782
VAX-11/785
</quote>

But if it runs then it runs.

And both 6.2 and 7.3 are generally out of support and has been
so for many years anyway.

Note that for the VAX, the V6-->V7 change was effectively a no-op.

There were no kernel changes to the VAX code that would have required
a major version bump.

Typically, at a major version change, the kernel is rototilled in such
a way as to require changes to LIB.REQ, LIB.MLB, and SYS$LIB_C.TLB. Things like
kernel data structure changes (reordering fields for better alignment, etc).

That didn't happen to any VAX kernel structures.
--

--- Rob
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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 11/29/25 18:42, Arne Vajh|+j wrote:

-a-a Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at >>> the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS.-a We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

-a-a Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet >>> controller and a permanent system disk.-a (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine?-a I may have
a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.

According to some sources on the internet then 6.2 was last.

Which is "sort of recent" in VAX world.

The last supported release on the 780 is 6.2, but I'd bet 7.3 would
run. I base that on the fact that we ran 7.3 on our VAX-11/750 a few
years ago, and the last supported release for that is also 6.2.

-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, President/Curator
Large Scale Systems Museum
New Kensington, PA
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 2025-11-28, Dave McGuire <mcguire@lssmuseum.org> wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Congratulations. BTW, how many sales reps have the local power company
assigned to you ?
--
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Walking destinations on a map are further away than they appear.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 12/1/25 08:10, Simon Clubley wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Congratulations.

Thanks!

BTW, how many sales reps have the local power company
assigned to you ?

They used to send us christmas cards, now they send us fruit baskets.

I wish I was kidding.

Thank heaven for supportive donors. (we are a donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit)

-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, President/Curator
Large Scale Systems Museum
New Kensington, PA
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 2025-12-01 03:56, Dave McGuire wrote:

On 11/29/25 18:42, Arne Vajh|+j wrote:

-a-a Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at >>>> the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point >>>> where it will boot VMS.-a We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as >>>> my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

-a-a Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA
Ethernet
controller and a permanent system disk.-a (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine?-a I may have >>> a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.

According to some sources on the internet then 6.2 was last.

Which is "sort of recent" in VAX world.

-a The last supported release on the 780 is 6.2, but I'd bet 7.3 would run.-a I base that on the fact that we ran 7.3 on our VAX-11/750 a few
years ago, and the last supported release for that is also 6.2.

I think the reason for the "last supported version" was that after that
DEC didn't have any running machines still around to test on, so they
couldn't say for sure it was fine. The oldest hardware that was still officially supported by the last release of VMS on VAX (V7.3) was the
86x0, if I remember right.

Johnny

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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 12/2/25 17:15, Dave McGuire wrote:

On 12/1/25 08:10, Simon Clubley wrote:

-a-a-a Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at >>> the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point
where it will boot VMS.-a We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as
my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Congratulations.

-a Thanks!

BTW, how many sales reps have the local power company
assigned to you ?

-a They used to send us christmas cards, now they send us fruit baskets.

-a I wish I was kidding.

-a Thank heaven for supportive donors. (we are a donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit)

-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a -Dave

From memory, around 6.9 Kilowatts, 3 phase, for just the cpu
and no peripherals or storage etc. Would make a great lab heater.

Chris

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From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 12/5/25 11:22, chrisq wrote:

-a-a-a Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that >>>> we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point >>>> where it will boot VMS.-a We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as >>>> my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Congratulations.

-a-a Thanks!

BTW, how many sales reps have the local power company
assigned to you ?

-a-a They used to send us christmas cards, now they send us fruit baskets. >>
-a-a I wish I was kidding.

-a-a Thank heaven for supportive donors. (we are a donor-funded 501(c)
(3) nonprofit)

From memory, around 6.9 Kilowatts, 3 phase, for just the cpu
and no peripherals or storage etc. Would make a great lab heater.

Nothing of note internally is 3-phase; ours is running on
single-phase. A LOT of it. We can definitely tell when it's powered
up. :-)

-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, President/Curator
Large Scale Systems Museum
New Kensington, PA
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.vms

On 2025-12-01 01:21:59 +0000, Arne Vajh|+j said:

On 11/30/2025 7:33 PM, Rich Alderson wrote:

kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:

In article <10gd7ig$6g5c$1@mail.neurotica.com>,
Dave McGuire <mcguire@lssmuseum.org> wrote:

Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at
the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point >>>> where it will boot VMS. We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as >>>> my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.

Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet
controller and a permanent system disk. (For our final testing we
borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)

What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine? I may have >>> a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.

We ran 7.3 on our 11/780-5 (a field upgraded 780) at Living Computers.

I don't think DEC/CPQ/HPE would have supported it.

VMS 7.1 SPD state:

<quote>
VMS V5.1 was the final version to support the
VAX-11/725.

OpenVMS VAX Version 6.2 was the final version to sup-
port the following:
VAX-11/730
VAX-11/750
VAX-11/751
VAX-11/780
VAX-11/782
VAX-11/785
</quote>

But if it runs then it runs.

And both 6.2 and 7.3 are generally out of support and has been
so for many years anyway.

Arne

Having been directly involved in researching and writing that
particular SPD text, the removal of VAX/VMS and OpenVMS VAX support for
those VAX systems was promulgated for two reasons:

1: no supported optical media devices on those VAX models, and no
InfoServer boot, and no media; no then-available TK50, 9 track magtape,
RC25, or other supported boot media at the Digital Equipment
Corporation (DEC) Software Distribution Center (SDC) / Software Supply Business (SSB),

2: no then-working VAX ystems to test and troubleshoot with, so
software support was going to be difficult or intractable for any platform-specific issues.

DEC could no longer source quantities of blank TK50 or older supported
media for those installs and upgrades.

Which meant those VAX systems need entirely-feasible but less than
easily supported shenanigans for performing OpenVMS VAX installations
and upgrades.

Nothing was done to OpenVMS VAX to prevent those VAX systems from
booting, and OpenVMS VAX V7.3 will boot and work just fine rCo assuming sufficient main memory available, and assuming a system manager / admin knowledgable in shuffing OpenVMS VAX installers around and with some
spare / swappable storage ardware.
--
Pure Personal Opinion | HoffmanLabs LLC

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