Very Computer

Finally I've installed OpenVMS 7.2 on my noname AXPpci 33; now I would
want to network it with my VAXstation 3100. From what I've read it
seems that there is only support for DEC branded network adapters, none
of which I have.

After reading some docs and looking around on dka0: I added the following
lines to SYS$SYSTEM:SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT

DEVICE  = "NE2000"
   NAME = ER
   DRIVER = SYS$ERDRIVER_NE2000
   ADAPTER = ISA
   ID = NE2000
   boot_flags = HW_CTRL_LTR, UNIT_0
   flags = BOOT, NETWORK
END_DEVICE

and at the SRM prompt did

isacfg -slot 1 -dev 0 -mk -handle NE2000 -irq0 5 -iobase0 300 -enadev 1 -etyp 1

Once OpenVMS is up

$ show dev era0:/full

Device ERA0:, device type DE305, is offline, network device, device is a
        template only.

        Error count             0       Operations completede   0
        Owner process          ""     Owner UIC        [SYSTEM]
        Owner process ID 00000000       Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
        Reference count         0       Default buffer size     0

The adapter is a real, but antique, Novell NE2000.

If in SYS$SYSTEM:SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT I change the DRIVER specification
to SYS$ERDRIVER, while booting I get %ERA0, PnP failed to isolate adapter.
Show dev has similar output except for the device type that is something
like DE422 (no sure)

Now the question! What am I doing wrong or not understanding? Should
I give up using a NE2000 board and try to locate one of these DEC adapters?

Long life to VMS 8-)

TIA

e.

========================================================================


InterNetworking Specialists          tel:     +39-011-746092            
Via Camburzano 9                     fax:     +39-011-746487
10143 Torino, Italy

  Wanted, for hobbyist use, any type of PDP and microVAX hardware,software,
  manuals,schematics,etc. and DEC-10 docs or manuals
==========================================================================

Quote:> Once OpenVMS is up

> $ show dev era0:/full

> Device ERA0:, device type DE305, is offline, network device, device is a
>         template only.

>         Error count             0       Operations completede   0
>         Owner process          ""       Owner UIC        [SYSTEM]
>         Owner process ID 00000000       Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
>         Reference count         0       Default buffer size     0

I tried to put an Intel EtherExpress Pro/100 into a PC164 board, which
was identified by autoconfig, (driver started, device visible) but then
TCPIP did not start. The drivers seem to be quite picky.

What worked quite well is an old Tulip chip-based PCI card from Zynx,
ZX312. These are probably also dirt-cheap now.

Another choice might be Lance-based (AM7990) card, like a NE1500/2100
clone. I have some, and there is a SRM script called add_de205:

isacfg -slot 1 -dev 0 -mk -handle DE200-LE -irq0 5 -iobase0 300
-membase0 d0000 -memlen0 10000 -etyp 1 -enadev 1

Could be another choice.

--

Fuerstenallee 11, 33094 Paderborn, Germany
Phone: +49 5251 606127, Fax: +49 5251 606065
C-LAB is a cooperation of University Paderborn & SIEMENS

Thanks for the replies... I have again some time to play with my toy...

[snip]

Quote:> > I tried to put an Intel EtherExpress Pro/100 into a PC164 board, which
> > was identified by autoconfig, (driver started, device visible) but then
> > TCPIP did not start. The drivers seem to be quite picky.

Quote:> > What worked quite well is an old Tulip chip-based PCI card from Zynx,
> > ZX312. These are probably also dirt-cheap now.

> > Another choice might be Lance-based (AM7990) card, like a NE1500/2100
> > clone. I have some, and there is a SRM script called add_de205:

Cheers

e.

========================================================================


InterNetworking Specialists          tel:     +39-011-746092            
Via Camburzano 9                     fax:     +39-011-746487
10143 Torino, Italy

  Wanted, for hobbyist use, any type of PDP and microVAX hardware,software,
  manuals,schematics,etc. and DEC-10 docs or manuals
==========================================================================

Quote:> But that is a PC164, much nicer MOBO. Hmmmm sound like I'll just have
> to remain with my VAXstation 3100 if I want to network... sigh.. 8-(

> > > What worked quite well is an old Tulip chip-based PCI card from Zynx,
> > > ZX312. These are probably also dirt-cheap now.

> > > Another choice might be Lance-based (AM7990) card, like a NE1500/2100
> > > clone. I have some, and there is a SRM script called add_de205:

> Interested in swapping some?

Checked it also with an ancient NE2000 (with a real NS DP8390!), but
here again, the driver seems to require PnP in order to probe and
initialize the card correctly.

Unfortunately, I just had an old WD8013 card in my bin, but perhaps at
work there might be PnP version of a NE2000. I'll try that the next
days.

--

Fuerstenallee 11, 33094 Paderborn, Germany
Phone: +49 5251 606127, Fax: +49 5251 606065
C-LAB is a cooperation of University Paderborn & SIEMENS

Be careful, though, when adding more than one ISA card in the SRM. I
found out that a second card (toyed around with an ISA ATI Mach64) in
the same SRM ISA slot (not a physical!) but with different dev no, was
not recognized by the autoconfig process. So I added the cards in
different slots # and with different dev #, and now I have graphics and
the ERA0: running as RE0 as ethernet adapter:

Quote:>>>isacfg -mk -slot 1 -dev 0 -handle DE305-AA -irq0 5 -iobase0 300 -etyp 1 -enadev 1
>>>isacfg -nk -slot 2 -dev 1 -handle ISA--VGA -etyp 1 -enadev 1

--

Fuerstenallee 11, 33094 Paderborn, Germany
Phone: +49 5251 606127, Fax: +49 5251 606065
C-LAB is a cooperation of University Paderborn & SIEMENS