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From: rdp@teddy.UUCP (Richard D. Pierce)
Newsgroups: comp.org.decus
Subject: Re: pdp 11/2
Message-ID: <3541@teddy.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Dec-86 12:30:56 EST
Article-I.D.: teddy.3541
Posted: Wed Dec  3 12:30:56 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Dec-86 22:04:26 EST
References: <2757@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>
Reply-To: rdp@teddy.UUCP (Richard D. Pierce)
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 51
Keywords: advice wanted

In article <2757@gitpyr.gatech.EDU> eeproks@gitpyr.gatech.EDU writes:
->
->I have been offered an old DEC pdp 11/2 system very cheap.  It consists of
->one pdp 11/2 CPU board with math chip, 2 2 si/o + 32k boards, a non-DEC floppy
->disk controller in an 8 slot double wide card cage.  It also has rt-11 v.4 & 5
->plus some disks marked VMS.  
->    The problem is that I know very little about these boards and rt-11.  I
->would like to play with the though (and the price is right).
->Questions:
->1) Can this board be updated to use virtual memory (I would like Unix)

Yes, by replacing the 11/2 board with something like an 11/23 or 11/73, 
up to 2 megabytes can be supported

->2) How inexpensive are hard disk controllers?

They can be had for around $1000 and up new, supporting a variety of
winchester drives. However, RLV-11 controllers can be obtained used for
as little as $150, but may not fit in your backplane. RLV12 controllers
will work, but are more expensive. Both controllers support RL01 and RL02
removable drives, which have 5 and 10 megabytes apiece.

->3) Where can I get manuals?

RT-11 V5 is a currently supported software product from DEC, a manual set
could cost about $200. The ones you need to get started, however, would
run about $75 (Introduction to RT-11, System User's Guide, SYstem Utilities
guide, etc.)

->4) Does anyone support the software and where can you get more software?

DEC fully supports RT-11, and has a variety of add-on software for it.
Languages from DEC include BASIC, FORTRAN, PASCAL, and FORTRAN-77. Outside
sources have languages including APL, C, COBOL, PASCAL, MODULA-II, and so on.

DECUS has a good C system for not very much money, although it is best
run with hard disks.

There are a variety of spreadsheets, db managers, and commercial stuff
available from a wide variety of sources.

->5) What services does DECUS provide its members?

Call DECUS and find out!

->Any general comments about this board would be greatly appreciated!
->
->P.S. Who sells used DEC equipment?

Eli Heffrons, Cambrodge, MA., Midwest Systems, etc. Check out any issue of
Hardcopy Magazine or DEC Professional for adds.