[HECnet] Bringing up a MicroVAX 3100-80

[Supratim Sanyal]

> On Mar 26, 2020, at 8:06 PM, Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 3/26/20 7:57 PM, Supratim Sanyal wrote:
>> I have obtained a MicroVAX 3100-80 with a Storageworks pizza box, a
>> CD-ROM drive, a tape drive, some cables and no monitor.
>> 
>> It powers on, does not smoke or explode. The 8 LEDs at the back settle
>> down to all on except 2 and 3 counting from zero on the right. I can
>> hear a hard disk spin up.
>> 
>> The cables include two MMJs. I have a PC with a 9-pin female serial
>> connector. It runs Linux.
>> 
>> The first two of many questions: does the “0” connector connect to the
>> console? What exactly do I need to do to connect the PC’s serial port to
>> the MMJ cable? Note: I have passable soldering skills.
>> 
>> Next question will be about the BNC connector and networking. One thing
>> at a time.
> 
>  Very cool!  Those are wonderful systems.
> 
>  The console is on port 3.  Connect it to your Linux box via the
> appropriate chain of adapters.  If you don't get any output, insert a
> null modem into the mix and try again.

Dave - There is a MMJ to 25-pin cable on Amazon. Would the appropriate chain of adapters then be this cable and then and 25-to-9 serial female?

> 
> (Yes, I know the DTE/DCE rules.  The above approach is by far the
> quickest way to get something talking if you know it's only doing 2/3/7
> anyway.)
> 
>> Here are some pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KduorZEimMQ73bMdA
> 
>  Beautiful!
> 
>          -Dave
> 
> -- 
> Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
> New Kensington, PA