Connect an actual TU-56 to a PiDP-11?
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Anthony Eros
Apr 25, 2021, 3:43:18 PM4/25/21
to [PiDP-11]
So, I haven’t yet built my PiDP-11, but I was wondering if it would ever be possible to connect actual UNIBUS devices to one? I have a TU-56 dual DECtape drive, as well as a PC05 paper tape reader/punch.
Practical possibility, or pipe dream?
— Tony
Bill Saltzstein
Apr 25, 2021, 3:46:20 PM4/25/21
to Anthony Eros, [PiDP-11]
I have no experience with it, but id seems feasible with this project: http://retrocmp.com/projects/unibone. Perhaps others on this list have tried it?
Bill
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Johnny Billquist
Apr 25, 2021, 4:12:50 PM4/25/21
to pid...@googlegroups.com
No. The Unibone will allow you to emulate various peripherals on a real
Unibus PDP-11 machine.
Anthony is looking for something that essentially allows him to fake the
CPU on a Unibus with real peripherals. So basically the opposite to what
the Unibone does.
However, with that said, it's at least theoretically not that difficult
to change a Unibone around to work in the other way too.
It will need to be able to be the Unibus arbitrator, and some other
small details that needs to be implemented. But the Unibus is well
documented, so it's just a question of driving the correct signals to
make it happen, and have simh act as a CPU on a real Unibus.
But looking at the Unibone information right now, it does not appear to
have that functionality.
Johnny
On 2021-04-25 21:46, Bill Saltzstein wrote:
> I have no experience with it, but id seems feasible with this project:
> http://retrocmp.com/projects/unibone
> <http://retrocmp.com/projects/unibone>. Perhaps others on this list
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pidp-11/90613BBE-B193-4311-9719-701C71553A38%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
--
Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus
|| on a psychedelic trip
email: b...@softjar.se || Reading murder books
pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
Unibus PDP-11 machine.
Anthony is looking for something that essentially allows him to fake the
CPU on a Unibus with real peripherals. So basically the opposite to what
the Unibone does.
However, with that said, it's at least theoretically not that difficult
to change a Unibone around to work in the other way too.
It will need to be able to be the Unibus arbitrator, and some other
small details that needs to be implemented. But the Unibus is well
documented, so it's just a question of driving the correct signals to
make it happen, and have simh act as a CPU on a real Unibus.
But looking at the Unibone information right now, it does not appear to
have that functionality.
Johnny
On 2021-04-25 21:46, Bill Saltzstein wrote:
> I have no experience with it, but id seems feasible with this project:
> http://retrocmp.com/projects/unibone
>> <mailto:foob...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> So, I haven’t yet built my PiDP-11, but I was wondering if it would
>> ever be possible to connect actual UNIBUS devices to one? I have a
>> TU-56 dual DECtape drive, as well as a PC05 paper tape reader/punch.
>>
>> Practical possibility, or pipe dream?
>>
>> — Tony
>>
>> --
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>> Groups "[PiDP-11]" group.
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>> an email to pidp-11+u...@googlegroups.com
>> <mailto:pidp-11+u...@googlegroups.com>.
>>
>> So, I haven’t yet built my PiDP-11, but I was wondering if it would
>> ever be possible to connect actual UNIBUS devices to one? I have a
>> TU-56 dual DECtape drive, as well as a PC05 paper tape reader/punch.
>>
>> Practical possibility, or pipe dream?
>>
>> — Tony
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "[PiDP-11]" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>> an email to pidp-11+u...@googlegroups.com
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pidp-11/CAABkpuoqXET9Mp%3DiTd1p-rX9eiFW7%2BB2YUa_%3DL-8c2cpRBrkbA%40mail.gmail.com
>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pidp-11/CAABkpuoqXET9Mp%3DiTd1p-rX9eiFW7%2BB2YUa_%3DL-8c2cpRBrkbA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pidp-11/CAABkpuoqXET9Mp%3DiTd1p-rX9eiFW7%2BB2YUa_%3DL-8c2cpRBrkbA%40mail.gmail.com
>
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--
Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus
|| on a psychedelic trip
email: b...@softjar.se || Reading murder books
pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
Johnny Billquist
Apr 25, 2021, 4:22:48 PM4/25/21
to pid...@googlegroups.com
And to correct myself. Reading through Unibone docs, it claims to be
able to emulate an 11/20 CPU.
Obviously still no simh, or possibility to hook your PiDP-11 to a real
Unibus peripheral, but the Unibone can at least drive the Unibus.
Now someone just needs to make the Unibone act as the electrical
interface for the simh CPU and you're done.
Johnny
able to emulate an 11/20 CPU.
Obviously still no simh, or possibility to hook your PiDP-11 to a real
Unibus peripheral, but the Unibone can at least drive the Unibus.
Now someone just needs to make the Unibone act as the electrical
interface for the simh CPU and you're done.
Johnny
Oscar Vermeulen
Apr 25, 2021, 5:58:36 PM4/25/21
to Johnny Billquist, PiDP-11
Johnny,
I've not even tried to install my Unibone board in the old 11/04 that I would like to revive (one day).
My idea was that I'd only need the Unibus from the 11/04, as most all missing peripherals can be virtualised on the UniBone. Although I might opt for a 11/34 CPU board set.
But if I remember correctly (and I might not! Joerg knows of course), the Unibone can run simh (and thus drive the PiDP front panel) and hook up Unibus devices to it?
The 11/20 CPU emulation began as an experiment from Angelo Papenhoff. I believe they have it up to an 11/40 now.
So many cool things, so little time!
And with this blasted virus over the past year, I gradually got out of touch with all the Real PDP-11 Men as well. Ursula, wo sind die Vakzine denn?!
Kind regards,
Oscar.
Johnny Billquist
Apr 25, 2021, 6:01:52 PM4/25/21
to Oscar Vermeulen, PiDP-11
Hi, Oscar.
On 2021-04-25 23:58, Oscar Vermeulen wrote:
> Johnny,
>
> I've not even tried to install my Unibone board in the old 11/04 that I
> would like to revive (one day). My idea was that I'd only need the
> Unibus from the 11/04, as most all missing peripherals can be
> virtualised on the UniBone. Although I might opt for a 11/34 CPU board set.
I don't even have a Unibone... Just reading docs...
But what you describe here is, as far as I can tell, exactly the
scenario the Unibone was designed for. Should work fine then.
> But if I remember correctly (and I might not! Joerg knows of course),
> the Unibone can run simh (and thus drive the PiDP front panel) and hook
> up Unibus devices to it?
That would be what was asked for in this thread, but which I can't find
any mention of in the docs for the Unibone. But it could be that I'm
just not looking in the right place.
> The 11/20 CPU emulation began as an experiment from Angelo Papenhoff. I
> believe they have it up to an 11/40 now.
Cool. There is a big difference between the two. But if you were able to
run simh for this, then I sortof fail to see what explicit 11/20 and
11/40 emulation would be for.
> So many cool things, so little time!
Indeed.
> And with this blasted virus over the past year, I gradually got out of
> touch with all the Real PDP-11 Men as well. Ursula, wo sind die Vakzine
> denn?!
Not to mention that we're not in the EU here...
Johnny
On 2021-04-25 23:58, Oscar Vermeulen wrote:
> Johnny,
>
> I've not even tried to install my Unibone board in the old 11/04 that I
> would like to revive (one day). My idea was that I'd only need the
> Unibus from the 11/04, as most all missing peripherals can be
> virtualised on the UniBone. Although I might opt for a 11/34 CPU board set.
But what you describe here is, as far as I can tell, exactly the
scenario the Unibone was designed for. Should work fine then.
> But if I remember correctly (and I might not! Joerg knows of course),
> the Unibone can run simh (and thus drive the PiDP front panel) and hook
> up Unibus devices to it?
any mention of in the docs for the Unibone. But it could be that I'm
just not looking in the right place.
> The 11/20 CPU emulation began as an experiment from Angelo Papenhoff. I
> believe they have it up to an 11/40 now.
run simh for this, then I sortof fail to see what explicit 11/20 and
11/40 emulation would be for.
> So many cool things, so little time!
> And with this blasted virus over the past year, I gradually got out of
> touch with all the Real PDP-11 Men as well. Ursula, wo sind die Vakzine
> denn?!
Johnny
Anthony Eros
Apr 25, 2021, 7:18:23 PM4/25/21
to [PiDP-11]
Thanks to all for the input. I’ll have to look into the Unibone.
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a...@papnet.eu
Apr 26, 2021, 3:18:22 AM4/26/21
to [PiDP-11]
Simh does *not* run on the unibone.
The cpu emulation there is indeed mine. It started as an 11/05 which i claim is pretty accurate as i tried to recreate the behaviour of the microcode very closely. This i then massaged into something that i think will behave like an 11/20, but i won't guarantee it's perfectly accurate.
The 11/40 has not yet made it onto the unibone, but i don't expect any major problems. I also tried to recreate the behaviour of the microcode very closely and it passes all diagnostics (unlike simh) but it has yet to see a real operating system. Would be nice to get that running some day.
Angelo
Ed Groenenberg
Apr 26, 2021, 5:40:48 AM4/26/21
to [PiDP-11]
I also would like to connect my real TU-56 to SIMH / Pidp.
I do also have a PC05, and that one is equipped with a microcontroller which controlls the reader and puncher.
Coomunication goes via an rs232 line and a simple protocol is used for commands and data.
On youtube you can see a vid about my pc05 in action with the microcontroller.
The card was made by a good friend of me.
No alterations are done on the pc05 at all, so it can still be used on a real machine if it is connected to
the pc11 controller cartd.
Some more info : https://www.pdp-11.nl/peripherals/tape/pc05-simh-pc.html
youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l--OHNxXFeE
I'm still working on a modified version of pdp11_pt.c to make it usable from SIMH
Ed
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