On Thu, 2/21/19, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks@gmail.com> wrote:
... That said, I think an early UNIX is a good idea but I'm less sold on doing it by means of simulation.
If I had a known-good Unibus PDP-11, I'd seriously consider putting ... So, yes, I think it would be great to have early UNIX but I'm in it for the hardware.
This has in fact been my biggest hesitation about this as an exhibit for this year. However, I don't actually have any Unibus gear at all. Between that and the fact that I usually have the same exhibit at East and Southeast and as you point out transportation of the real thing is challenging if not prohibitive, simulation is my best option. Having said that, I could pull out a 3b1, but I'm pretty sure someone else is already doing that, and the early research UNIX is a lot more interesting to me than the commercial. The truth is the part that I would find most interesting is a deep dive into Lions' commentary on the 6th ed kernel, but I don't know how to make an exhibit of that where it wouldn't just be a poster session. The other option is that I could do another ENIAC exhibit. It just seems a shame to miss the opportunity to revisit my early UNIX experience in the 50th anniversary year. Hence my question whether there would be interest in early UNIX on a simulated 11. BLS