Now I have no BlinkenLitz

[DR]

First, with the help of all those with my IP address search, I found the
'new' IP assigned to my PiDP-10 and edited the VNC and connected.


I updated all the Pi OS files, then did a reboot and having the scripts
set to run the DEC panel that Oscar has set  up (the one with the
choices for terminals with a background of a guy standing with papers in
his hand in front of a sketch of a mainframe 10 and another person
sitting in a chair, I don't  know what else to call it.

Even with the switches all set to zero (esp position 35) I get no
blinkies.  Clicking on the choices on the screen to open a terminal
window seems to work OK, as well as the basic PiOS choices and the GUI
file  function, terminal window, etc.


But no lights on the  panel.

I had it working for months just sitting on the desk, so I know it
worked at one time.  I haven't moved it or dropped it etc. but I  hate
to start taking the back panel off and poke around to see if there is a
bad ribbon cable, etc. connection.


Question:  Is there a command I can enter into a terminal window or
choose from the GUI file explorer type tool to start Blinkie?


Question:  ARe there other programs in the suite of things that were
loaded which powers the display to present something to test to see if I
have good connections and all to the front panel before I get it torn
apart looking for a bad connection etc?


The fact that it did drop  into the Blinkie action every  time I turned
it on before is reassuring.  I guess I could reformat,, reinstall the
PiOS for a Rap Pi 5 and then do the load of the SIMH system again.

Once again, thanks for any additional help at this time.  Dale

[Francis King]

To start Blinkie, type pdpcontrol start 0

To test connections, I can offer you the test program that you used during the build process:

pdpcontrol stop
sudo /opt/pidp10/bin/pidp10-test

Which version of the operating system are you using? There have been problems with some versions of the Pi operating system in the recent past.

[DR]

Francis:

I took your direction and started the test program which practically lit
up the room with panel lights.

Thank  you.  I'd sort of forgotten to try that test instruction, and all
works.


The problem is now that I may need to  to locate an older release and go
back a few steps since  you menioned that some releases may not be
comptatible.


I get version 13, Trixie and in more detail,  13.2.

Do you know the last 'good' release of PiOS to look for which is a known
good  OS to work with the PiDP-10 programs.

Thanks.  This has been very helpful and at least I don't have to go
taking panels off to look for a wiring problem.

Dale

[Francis King]

The version I have is version 12, 64-bits, Bookworm.

It is a known issue. I don't know what the status is.

[DR]

Just as a follow up,

I found that the PiOS site had the old version of 12 (Bookworm) on it
and used that to create a brand new microSD card, installed PiDP-10 from
scratsch and all is now running perfectly.


It appears as if I'm one of those who (or does everyone) have a problem
running BlinkenLights with 13, Trixie?  This works fine, so I'm staying
here.

Thanks again to all the help and reassurance.  BlinkingLights is so much
more fun than ScratchenHead.   Dale