Michael Evenson of the FlexUsergroup (FuFu) email list (Flex, OS9, OSK, UniFlex) has a drive with a failing bearing. Is there a repair group down in Atlanta are like we have at the museum in Wall? Really like to help him keep going on his emulator. If not does anyone have a ST225 drive they're not using? -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
Hi Neil, Back in the early 90's, I had gotten involved with Microware OS-9 on a small 68008 STDBus system intended to be used as a controller on a process machine at work at a now-defunct employer. (Good Heavens, that's 30 YEARS ago!) Anyway, since I scrounged and still have the hardware and software sometime after the project got cancelled, I plan to mess with it again sometime into my retirement commencing in about a year or so. Tell me about that FlexUsersgroup you mention (you indicated they discuss OS9 and OSK :-) ) How/where can I join? It will help dust off my (rather Olde) brain in order to fire up one or more systems that I have. I bought my own license to OS-9 directly from Microware and bought other hardware back around then, too. Bought some Motorola MVME boards and rack, etc. I wasn't married then and had disposable income available. I've also got a DG Nova 1200 with paper tapes and a couple ASR33 Teletypes I plan to have fun getting running again :-), but I digress. Incidentally, I recently scored a stack of five or six ST225s from the electronic scrap bin at work -probably unearthed by somebody from the dusty, deep corners of a nearly 40-year-old 11 liter engine block machining line which we are in the process of demolishing to make way for new (up-to-date!!) diesel engine component machining lines. (I'm an engineer at one of the several Cummins engine plants in North America.) I may be easily talked into donating one for mechanical parts if Mr. Evanson arrives at that state if no other alternative. It will take time for me to unearth one of my old 8086-based machines which have MFM controllers, and software utilities, and try to *attempt* finding space in my shop to setup one that, itself, still functions, so not sure of the operating condx. of any of those units. So it would be, as they say, "as-is". I would like to somehow ensure the heads are parked, anyway. Let me know. Thanks for your feedback and time! -Chris F. On 12/29/2022 11:34 AM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Michael Evenson of the FlexUsergroup (FuFu) email list (Flex, OS9, OSK, UniFlex) has a drive with a failing bearing. Is there a repair group down in Atlanta are like we have at the museum in Wall?
Really like to help him keep going on his emulator.
If not does anyone have a ST225 drive they're not using?
-- ======================================================================= Christian R. and Beverly J. Fandt Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, New York USA email: cfandt@twc.com Members of Antique Wireless Association URLs: http://www.antiquewireless.org/ http://www.antiquewirelessmuseum.com -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com
On 12/30/22 22:35, Christian R. Fandt via vcf-midatlantic wrote: FuFu list: List: <fufu@flexusergroup.com> List-Help: <mailto:fufu-help@flexusergroup.com> List-Post: <mailto:fufu@flexusergroup.com> List-Subscribe: <mailto:fufu-subscribe@flexusergroup.com> List-Owner: <mailto:fufu-owner@flexusergroup.com> List-Id: <fufu.flexusergroup.com> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:fufu-unsubscribe@flexusergroup.com> They support all sorts of 6800 and 6809 computers from the time but mostly SWTPC like machines. So min-Flex and some other pop up also. Now on the OS9 front (not OSK or OS900) there's NitrOS-9 which is open source. Microware is okay with that. They still exist and they still selling software for the ARM and a few other processors. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On 12/31/22 09:17, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 12/30/22 22:35, Christian R. Fandt via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
FuFu list:
List: <fufu@flexusergroup.com> List-Help: <mailto:fufu-help@flexusergroup.com> List-Post: <mailto:fufu@flexusergroup.com> List-Subscribe: <mailto:fufu-subscribe@flexusergroup.com> List-Owner: <mailto:fufu-owner@flexusergroup.com> List-Id: <fufu.flexusergroup.com> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:fufu-unsubscribe@flexusergroup.com>
They support all sorts of 6800 and 6809 computers from the time but mostly SWTPC like machines. So min-Flex and some other pop up also.
Very nice. I just subscribed. I never really got into the 6800 back in the day, but I recently built an SBC around one, and restored an SwTPC system that was given to me dead and has been sitting for decades. And, of course, I have a bunch of Bob Applegate's very nice boards. I've come to really like the 6800 architecture. I've reached the conclusion that not enough people have noticed these really nice systems from SwTPC. I don't really understand why that would be, as they're really quite good.
Now on the OS9 front (not OSK or OS900) there's NitrOS-9 which is open source. Microware is okay with that. They still exist and they still selling software for the ARM and a few other processors.
I've run NitrOS9 on a CorshamTech 6809 system. It's pretty nice as it is, and I think it has great potential to be even more. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
On 1/3/23 09:21, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 12/31/22 09:17, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 12/30/22 22:35, Christian R. Fandt via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Always been a 6800/6502 guy. I like the 6802 and 6801 families better. The 6809 is one of my favorite chips.
Now on the OS9 front (not OSK or OS900) there's NitrOS-9 which is open source. Microware is okay with that. They still exist and they still selling software for the ARM and a few other processors.
I've run NitrOS9 on a CorshamTech 6809 system. It's pretty nice as it is, and I think it has great potential to be even more.
My memories of 1984 and the introduction of the IBM 5170 (AT) was: how do I put this application in the background and jump into a shell? What do mean this thing can still only do one thing at a time? It costs more than a Gimix Ghost. I was visiting the Wall St. Journal in NY at the time doing work for a small company who produced equipment for the newspaper industry. In our office we had a Gimix Ghost (6809 based) running OS-9 Level II. It had intelligent serial ports, intelligent hard disk controller and 2 Meg of static RAM (6116). We ran 7 users on it. Though the developers did move over to a 68000 (OS-9) later. Both the Gimix Ghost and the Helix 68000 systems were cheaper than a new 5170. And I could Ctrl-Z (put the application in the back ground) and drop into a shell. At the time I had also knew about Unix, which did the same thing. But I don't think there were Unix systems that cost less than $1000. The Helix 6800o with OS-9 was. I have a few more 6809 and 6800 controller boards I'll be working on. I found a copy of Microware's RTX for the 6800 (like Microware's OS-9 but for the 6800). The Liebert board will eventually get an RTX OS for it. The documentation is a bit weak but it's amazing that it was found. I think Microware stopped selling it 1977 and it's not an OS as we're familiar with term OS for vintage and modern PCs. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On 12/30/22 22:35, Christian R. Fandt via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Back in the early 90's, I had gotten involved with Microware OS-9 on a small 68008 STDBus system intended to be used as a controller on a process machine at work at a now-defunct employer. (Good Heavens, that's 30 YEARS ago!) Anyway, since I scrounged and still have the hardware and software sometime after the project got cancelled, I plan to mess with it again sometime into my retirement commencing in about a year or so.
That sounds like a really fun little system! (I know you were talking to Neil, but I couldn't resist jumping in)
It will help dust off my (rather Olde) brain in order to fire up one or more systems that I have. I bought my own license to OS-9 directly from Microware and bought other hardware back around then, too. Bought some Motorola MVME boards and rack, etc. I wasn't married then and had disposable income available. I've also got a DG Nova 1200 with paper tapes and a couple ASR33 Teletypes I plan to have fun getting running again :-), but I digress.
You should share those efforts here. I for one am interested in seeing what you do with that hardware. (and software..)
Incidentally, I recently scored a stack of five or six ST225s from the electronic scrap bin at work -probably unearthed by somebody from the
...and put in the scrap bin by somebody who doesn't know those drives are worth a fortune now. Wow. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
On 1/3/23 09:28, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 12/30/22 22:35, Christian R. Fandt via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Back in the early 90's, I had gotten involved with Microware OS-9 on a small 68008 STDBus system intended to be used as a controller on a process machine at work at a now-defunct employer. (Good Heavens, that's 30 YEARS ago!) Anyway, since I scrounged and still have the hardware and software sometime after the project got cancelled, I plan to mess with it again sometime into my retirement commencing in about a year or so.
That sounds like a really fun little system! (I know you were talking to Neil, but I couldn't resist jumping in)
Dang didn't notice the 68008 part. Yes, if you can resurrect that system. I'm pretty certain that code written for one OS9 (68000 or 68008, not 020) can run on the on the 008. The OS is kind of customized boot for that device. I think you can use one OS-9 (68K) to build the boot for another. Not sure how hard it is to gen the disks. It's been almost 40 years since I last did that. Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On 1/3/23 10:09, Neil Cherry wrote:
Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices.
I would absolutely love that. What hardware do you think would be appropriate? -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
On 1/3/23 18:33, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 10:09, Neil Cherry wrote:
Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices.
I would absolutely love that. What hardware do you think would be appropriate?
I've got a weird PEP rack system, not sure the drives are working. I think I have the floppy disks. Right now time is the problem child (lots of projects mostly my mom and my house). This would need a serial ternmial. PS the weird is the odd shaped case (2U but rounded edges). -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On 1/3/23 23:15, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 18:33, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 10:09, Neil Cherry wrote:
Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices.
I would absolutely love that. What hardware do you think would be appropriate?
I've got a weird PEP rack system, not sure the drives are working. I think I have the floppy disks. Right now time is the problem child (lots of projects mostly my mom and my house). This would need a serial ternmial.
PS the weird is the odd shaped case (2U but rounded edges).
I'll bring the computer to the next Sunday repair workshop at CDL and see if I can get some help. If we get a working system we can ship it off to the LSSM. If we recover the drives I think we'll find OS9 Unix utilities on there. A 1M RAM 68000 OS9 (may say OSK, Same thing). I think it has 2x 20M drives. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On Tue, Jan 03, 2023 at 11:21:45PM -0500, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'll bring the computer to the next Sunday repair workshop at CDL and see if I can get some help. If we get a working system we can ship it off to the LSSM. If we recover the drives I think we'll find OS9 Unix utilities on there. A 1M RAM 68000 OS9 (may say OSK, Same thing). I think it has 2x 20M drives.
Assuming your referring to the 15th I'm hoping to make it. If useful I can bring my MFM emulator to read the drives if they are ST-506 type MFM. Image it provides is sector image. Don't know if other software is available for OS9 file systems to extract files or emulator is available. Let me know.
On 1/4/23 08:55, David Gesswein via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Tue, Jan 03, 2023 at 11:21:45PM -0500, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'll bring the computer to the next Sunday repair workshop at CDL and see if I can get some help. If we get a working system we can ship it off to the LSSM. If we recover the drives I think we'll find OS9 Unix utilities on there. A 1M RAM 68000 OS9 (may say OSK, Same thing). I think it has 2x 20M drives.
Assuming your referring to the 15th I'm hoping to make it. If useful I can bring my MFM emulator to read the drives if they are ST-506 type MFM. Image it provides is sector image. Don't know if other software is available for OS9 file systems to extract files or emulator is available.
Let me know.
Yes the 15th I'll be at the CDL from 12 until 5PM. Thanks I haven't investigate OS-9 much further but I do know I can read OS-9 images from Linux with special tools. I use them for the 6809 images. I think I may have accessed a few 68K images also. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On 1/3/23 23:15, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 18:33, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 10:09, Neil Cherry wrote:
Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices.
I would absolutely love that. What hardware do you think would be appropriate?
I've got a weird PEP rack system, not sure the drives are working. I think I have the floppy disks. Right now time is the problem child (lots of projects mostly my mom and my house). This would need a serial ternmial.
PS the weird is the odd shaped case (2U but rounded edges).
Oh, in the not near future. I can give the LSM one of the 3x 6809 OS9 Level I systems. I have. Dave Weins (the creater) ported NitrOS-9 and DriveWire (serial drive sharing) to the board. The Local VCF museum can one of the other ones. Right now they're bare board (with all the chips). I might need to replace some of the RAM on one of them. Liebert 6803 (been saying 6801, oops) is kind of working, serial transmits but doesn't receive properly. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
On 1/3/2023 11:27 PM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 23:15, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 18:33, Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/3/23 10:09, Neil Cherry wrote:
Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices.
I would absolutely love that. What hardware do you think would be appropriate?
I've got a weird PEP rack system, not sure the drives are working. I think I have the floppy disks. Right now time is the problem child (lots of projects mostly my mom and my house). This would need a serial ternmial.
PS the weird is the odd shaped case (2U but rounded edges).
Oh, in the not near future. I can give the LSM one of the 3x 6809 OS9 Level I systems. I have. Dave Weins (the creater) ported NitrOS-9 and DriveWire (serial drive sharing) to the board. The Local VCF museum can one of the other ones. Thank you! Always interested in other OSs. The new museum might easily feature an OS-9 exhibit table or different somewhat obscure (to the lay public) OS's. Right now > they're bare board (with all the chips). I might need to replace some of the RAM on one of them.
Liebert 6803 (been saying 6801, oops) is kind of working, serial transmits but doesn't receive properly.
Oh, in the not near future. I can give the LSM one of the 3x 6809 OS9 Level I systems. I have. Dave Weins (the creater) ported NitrOS-9 and DriveWire (serial drive sharing) to the board. The Local VCF museum can one of the other ones.
Thank you! Always interested in other OSs. The new museum might easily feature an OS-9 exhibit table or different somewhat obscure (to the lay public) OS's.
New Museum? Where? b
On 1/4/23 13:56, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
New Museum? Where?
Maybe a poor choice of words. New as in location (building) at InfoAge. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry kd2zrq@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies KD2ZRQ
I wasn't sure from the context if it was Dave McGuire or you so I asked. Glad to hear everything is moving along well. On Wed, Jan 4, 2023 at 9:00 PM Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Right. New museum space.
On 1/4/2023 4:05 PM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 1/4/23 13:56, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
New Museum? Where?
Maybe a poor choice of words. New as in location (building) at InfoAge.
participants (6)
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Bill Degnan -
Christian R. Fandt -
Dave McGuire -
David Gesswein -
Douglas Crawford -
Neil Cherry