A few really, really basic Newby questions...

[John]

Greetz all - from John in Carson City NV. This is a 'throwaway' account so I can post to Google (I'm not a fan of G) so if private email is needed I'll get it to you. I don't check this account very often....

I have a PiDP8 and a PiDP11 - recently got a PiDP1, I got the 'assembled' kit.

I've been learning heaps and working my way thru various "strange"  and 'nonrecurrent' problems - turns out some of the soldering on my Kit was...  less than optimal...   Arrgh.  So it's got to be re-done, not much time right now, benches are full.

Until then, I would like to run the PiDP1 "headless", or 'up on a shelf' as was said.

I'm a hardware person, not at all a programmer, tho I have a few years experience with some major languages.  I don't have much Linux Foo at all.

So 1: Currently I have the Pi5 set up so that I can connect my Windows laptop to it via a browser (Firefox) and get the proper screen. How would I configure the Pi5 to boot into this config on powerup - as I will not have anything connected to it other than a power supply....

(I also have MobaXterm to use for a terminal session - dunno how to do that either, or if I even need to...)

2: Can I prevent unwanted connections to the Pi5 in this 'mode'? I do a lot of business travel, and I'd like to have it with me, but I'd rather not have it plundered in some hotel somewhere.

3: How do I "load" tapes? Currently when pressing the 'browse' button on the 'tape reader' - it takes me to my local Documents folder. What should I do to point it to where the tapes are actually stored? Or how would I get the tape images onto my laptop?

4: How do I invoke the "Tape Reader Dispay" utility? - The one that shows a graphic of the tape and the decoded  data underneath?

5: When finished, how do I properly shut down the Pi5?

Thanks so much for any help with these really basic questions!  I am 'retired', but have a rather hectic consulting business, doing Aerospace Test Systems and Factory Automation - I can make PLCs dance and jet engines sing; but I grovel before Linux + Pi5 - and then there's the PDP1...  ;]

Cheers

John

Carson City NV

[Matthias Barthel]

Hi John,

j343...@gmail.com schrieb am Mittwoch, 12. November 2025 um 01:22:15 UTC+1:

Greetz all - from John in Carson City NV. This is a 'throwaway' account so I can post to Google (I'm not a fan of G) so if private email is needed I'll get it to you. I don't check this account very often....

I have a PiDP8 and a PiDP11 - recently got a PiDP1, I got the 'assembled' kit.

I've been learning heaps and working my way thru various "strange"  and 'nonrecurrent' problems - turns out some of the soldering on my Kit was...  less than optimal...   Arrgh.  So it's got to be re-done, not much time right now, benches are full.

Until then, I would like to run the PiDP1 "headless", or 'up on a shelf' as was said.

I'm a hardware person, not at all a programmer, tho I have a few years experience with some major languages.  I don't have much Linux Foo at all.

with the install script you can choose that the PI starts the simulator on startup - have tried this ?

 

So 1: Currently I have the Pi5 set up so that I can connect my Windows laptop to it via a browser (Firefox) and get the proper screen. How would I configure the Pi5 to boot into this config on powerup - as I will not have anything connected to it other than a power supply....

(I also have MobaXterm to use for a terminal session - dunno how to do that either, or if I even need to...)

2: Can I prevent unwanted connections to the Pi5 in this 'mode'? I do a lot of business travel, and I'd like to have it with me, but I'd rather not have it plundered in some hotel somewhere.

just clone or download the git-repository from the pidp1 to your windows pc , and you get the same tape like on the raspberry. 

 

3: How do I "load" tapes? Currently when pressing the 'browse' button on the 'tape reader' - it takes me to my local Documents folder. What should I do to point it to where the tapes are actually stored? Or how would I get the tape images onto my laptop?

in the webapps, just browse to the rim-file, then press mount. then you can press the readin-switch to load the file into the memory.

 

4: How do I invoke the "Tape Reader Dispay" utility? - The one that shows a graphic of the tape and the decoded  data underneath?

the pidp8 and pidp11 had a "secret" switch combination - i think the -1 has this too. or with the switchbutton on the case / front - its only useable if you have a pi5