Building a real VAX Cluster with VAX 4000 Mod. 300 and 200 - Part 1 - Concept and Hardware [EN]

Digital Technical Journal (DTJ): vmssoftware.com/resources/dig...
DSSI VMScluster Installation and Troubleshooting Guide: manx-docs.org/details.php/1,3458
Part 2: • Building a real VAX Cl...
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:34 Preface
2:02 VMS Cluster Concepts and related Documents
6:08 KFQSA QBUS DSSI Controller
7:54 Hardware Configuration

[@RealAnriDavid]

This vid popped up in my feed and I have no clue what these are but very good thumbnail and awesome intro!

[@pajodato5339]

Hi! Nice introduction and tutorial. I'm a VMS enthusiast, but I'm appalled by the discontinuation of the licensing for hobbist purposes on these old machines. I undestand this technology is a thing of the past, but a hobbist purpose and licensing for it should be possible. It's even not such a cost for the company. If not, Piracy should be possible. How do you think somebody should approach that?

[@DECcomputers]

Yes, you're right, the hobbist program was an easy way to get licenses. Fortunately, I have enough commercial licenses for my maschines at the moment, but I don't have licenses type A (I have type B, C and D only), therefore I had to change the Model ID of my VAX 4000/200 with a little script (I'll talk about it in a further video) and it is a VAXserver 4000/200 for VMS now. I think, I've read, that VMS Software Inc. does not have the rights on VMS for VAX, but they have ended the community license for other platforms as well. From a legal standpoint, I cann't recommend piracy ;)

[@chocomeldemon]

your intro hurt the fuck out of my eyes ngl, im sure i woudlve enjoyed the vid but now im lowk kinda pissed byebye

[@DECcomputers]

Bye and thanks for the constructive criticism ;)

[@johnleclair663]

@@DECcomputers As a PDP-11/VAX11/730 restorer, I am enjoying the video. I keep thinking about getting into VAX4000s or MicroVAX machines - but my wife would murder me if I came home with any more hardware.

[@DECcomputers]

Thank you :) Your maschines are quite big as well, therefore nobody would mention a VAX 4000 next to it ;) Unfortunately, it became harder and harder to get those maschines.

[@johnleclair663]

@@DECcomputers Yeah, my 11/730 is the size of an American clothes washing machine. lol Fortunately, I have spare boards and I restored it once already while I was in college in 1994 and was running. However, I have had it in storage in a very hot and very cold place for the past 28 years. I think some of the large capacitors probably shorted out and the capastans destroyed on the TU58 drives that load the microcode. I probably should make some youtube videos taking it apart and videoing the innards and attempts to re-restore it again but I have never made videos before. Keep up the videos ! Cheers.

[@DECcomputers]

My VAX 4000/300 was in cold places as well, even with high humidity. But I'm surprised that it's still running so well. Yeah, the capacitors often cause problems, but they can usually be replaced. I would like to see videos about the restoration :)