all working perfectly pdp11 + rd53 + mfm_read then mfm_emu

[iain maoileoin]

OK,
everything works well

Some notes .... PDP11, RD53.

I could not format a "blank" disk file made using the emulator "--initialise" and the dec XXDP
.R ZRQCH0
commands
Errors about the disk UIT not being valid.

So, I did as I was told and used the emu_read to clone a freshly formatted rd53 disk.
Now I have an image that does not need the XXDP formatter, and can be read fine by my RQDX3 controllers in various PDP11 busses.

When reading

• I had to use --drive 3 for a standard first DEC rd53 drive
• ./mfm_read --emulation_file ../rd53 --cylinders 1024 --heads 8 --format DEC_RQDX3 --drive 3
  gave errors of the form
  Logical sector 0 out of range 0--1 sector 0 cyl 0 head 0
  Logical sector 1 out of range 0--1 sector 1 cyl 0 head 0
  and yes, I did try with --sectors 17 and got different errors.
  
• while
  ./mfm_read --emulation_file ../rd53 --cylinders 1024 --heads 8 --drive 3
  ran perfectly and gave me an image that is perfectly useable by mfm_emu and can be presented to my RQDX3 controller.
  
• Further note that I HAD to use --drive 1 on mfm_emu to get to the file via my RQDX3 controller

So far so good.

However I would like to put an rd54 image up on the emu and I dont have an rd54 disk to read.

I am guessing without the UIT in the emulator data file the various dec diags wont format the disk?

Does anyone know how to put a UIT on a blank disk?

If anyone wants a "blank" rd53 image that is readable by an RQDX3 controller I can put one to a web-site.

An impressive wee bit of kit.

[David Gesswein]

On Fri, Oct 30, 2015 at 04:47:42PM -0700, iain maoileoin wrote:
> fine by my RQDX3 controllers in various PDP11 busses.
>
> When reading
>

> - I had to use --drive 3 for a standard first DEC rd53 drive
> - ./mfm_read --emulation_file ../rd53 --cylinders 1024 --heads 8

> --format DEC_RQDX3 --drive 3
> gave errors of the form
> Logical sector 0 out of range 0--1 sector 0 cyl 0 head 0
> Logical sector 1 out of range 0--1 sector 1 cyl 0 head 0
> and yes, I did try with --sectors 17 and got different errors.
>

I have fixed the command parser to verify all required options are
specified when --format used. You need to specify sectors, data_crc, header_crc
also. Or use --analyze

> - Further note that I HAD to use --drive 1 on mfm_emu to get to the file
> via my RQDX3 controller
>
I have clarified http://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/code/emu/mfm_emu_doc.htm.
You know other spots it is confusing?
For emulation the drive is
selected with the jumpers so 1 is almost always the right choice. For reading
you need to specify which drive select to assert.

The changes are only on my staging site so far. They will go out with the
next update.

> So far so good.
>
Good to hear. Not sure if most people haven't used the one they bought or
its just working. I suspect the former.

> However I would like to put an rd54 image up on the emu and I dont have an
> rd54 disk to read.
>
> I am guessing without the UIT in the emulator data file the various dec
> diags wont format the disk?
>
> Does anyone know how to put a UIT on a blank disk?
>

These seems to imply with the right selections ZRQCH0 it will write it. Does
this procedure work?
http://home.windstream.net/engdahl/rqdx3.htm
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/archive/index.php/t-42481.html

[iain maoileoin]

On Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 12:39:48 AM UTC, David Gesswein wrote:

On Fri, Oct 30, 2015 at 04:47:42PM -0700, iain maoileoin wrote:
> fine by my RQDX3 controllers in various PDP11 busses.
>
> When reading
>
>    - I had to use --drive 3 for a standard first DEC rd53 drive
>    - ./mfm_read --emulation_file ../rd53 --cylinders 1024 --heads 8
>    --format DEC_RQDX3 --drive 3
>    gave errors of the form
>    Logical sector 0 out of range 0--1 sector 0 cyl 0 head 0
>    Logical sector 1 out of range 0--1 sector 1 cyl 0 head 0
>    and yes, I did try with --sectors 17 and got different errors.
>
I have fixed the command parser to verify all required options are
specified when --format used. You need to specify sectors, data_crc, header_crc
also. Or use --analyze

>    - Further note that I HAD to use --drive 1 on mfm_emu to get to the file
>    via my RQDX3 controller
>
I have clarified http://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/code/emu/mfm_emu_doc.htm.
You know other spots it is confusing?

not yet, but I will do my best to find them!

For emulation the drive is
selected with the jumpers so 1 is almost always the right choice. For reading
you need to specify which drive select to assert.

The changes are only on my staging site so far. They will go out with the
next update.

> So far so good.
>
Good to hear. Not sure if most people haven't used the one they bought or
its just working. I suspect the former.

> However I would like to put an rd54 image up on the emu and I dont have an
> rd54 disk to read.
>
> I am guessing without the UIT in the emulator data file the various dec
> diags wont format the disk?
>
> Does anyone know how to put a UIT on a blank disk?
>
These seems to imply with the right selections ZRQCH0 it will write it. Does
this procedure work?
http://home.windstream.net/engdahl/rqdx3.htm
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/archive/index.php/t-42481.html

My zrqch0 (xxdp 2.5 and xxdp 2.2) does not appear to have that UIT prompt - but I have seen those messages somewhere on my travels!
It might have been for the rx2 formatter. I dont have the time to download the floppy image, nor get a different controller in my system  - but I will do so when I get spared.

Thinks work as they are - with a cloned image.  perhaps this weekend?

[iain maoileoin]

Just to clarify what is happening on my kit, here is a run of my attempt to format:

Commands are Help, Boot, List, Setup, Map and Test.
Type a command then press the RETURN key: B DL0

Trying DL0
Starting system from DL0


BOOTING UP XXDP-XM EXTENDED MONITOR
XXDP-XM EXTENDED MONITOR - XXDP V2.5
REVISION: F0
BOOTED FROM DL0
124KW OF MEMORY
NON-UNIBUS SYSTEM

RESTART ADDRESS: 152000
TYPE "H" FOR HELP !

.DIR ZRQC??.*

ENTRY# FILNAM.EXT        DATE          LENGTH  START   VERSION

  636  ZRQCH0.BIN       1-MAR-89         72    035016

FREE BLOCKS:  2929

**** so I dont have the older ZRQCC formatters on this disk

.R ZRQCH0
ZRQCH0.BIN

DRSSM-G2
ZRQC-H-0
RQDX3 Disk Formatter Utility
UNIT IS Formattable Winchester (RDnn) or Floppy (RX33) Drives
RSTRT ADR 145702
DR>START
CHANGE HW (L)  ? Y
# UNITS (D)  ? 1
UNIT 0
Enter controller IP Address (O)  172150 ? 172154
What unit do you want to format [0-255] (D)  0 ? 0
Would you like to revector a single LBN only [Y/N] (L) N ?
Do you want to use the "AUTOFORMAT" Mode [Y/N] (L) Y ?
Enter unit serial number [1-32000] (D)  12345 ? 1

                       **** WARNING ****

         ALL DATA ON SELECTED DRIVE WILL BE DESTROYED
         Write protect all drives not being formatted.
         Please verify that the selected drive is ON LINE
         and NOT write protected.

         If formatting RX33 media, insert media to be
         formatted in the selected drive.

Do you wish to continue [Y/N] (L) Y ? Y

Autosizer found:

Unit  Cylinders  Drive Name
  0     2048     Unrecognized Drive Type


MSCP Controller Model:  19
    Microcode Version:   4

ZRQC SYS FTL ERR  00009 ON UNIT 00 TST 001 SUB 000 PC: 105742
Unrecognized drive, No Unit Information Table available.

***** so it just said no UIT - no option to create it/replace it etc

ZRQC EOP    1
    1 TOTAL ERRS

**** try again
DR>START
CHANGE HW (L)  ? Y
# UNITS (D)  ? 1
UNIT 0
Enter controller IP Address (O)  172150 ? 172154
What unit do you want to format [0-255] (D)  0 ? 0
Would you like to revector a single LBN only [Y/N] (L) N ? N
Do you want to use the "AUTOFORMAT" Mode [Y/N] (L) Y ? N
***** no auto format

Would you like to use the RCT - Revector known bad blocks [Y/N] (L) N ? Y
                       **** WARNING ****

         ALL DATA ON SELECTED DRIVE WILL BE DESTROYED
         Write protect all drives not being formatted.
         Please verify that the selected drive is ON LINE
         and NOT write protected.

         If formatting RX33 media, insert media to be
         formatted in the selected drive.

Do you wish to continue [Y/N] (L) Y ?

ZRQC DVC FTL ERR  00001 ON UNIT 00 TST 001 SUB 000 PC: 105742
Bad status returned from the controller.
Online Command Failed on Drive 0
Status: Media Format Error, Disk Isn't Formatted Or FCT Corrupted

ZRQC EOP    1
    1 TOTAL ERRS
 
So It looks like XXDP 2.5 (and I tried XXDP 2.2) does not have the ability to do UIT replacement
Ot is there an option I have skipped?

I *WILL* download the version in the links above when I get time.

[David Gesswein]

> So It looks like XXDP 2.5 (and I tried XXDP 2.2) does not have the ability
> to do UIT replacement
> Ot is there an option I have skipped?
>

Looks like you need to say N to revector known bad blocks. It is trying
to read the bad block list from the drive which won't work.

This I think is the same version as yours.
http://www.avitech.com.au/pdp-11-03/rqdx-wiring.html