[Simh] Serial Console

[Göran Åhling]

I'd concider a DEC-server 900, or possibly a DEC-server 90, 
communicating over TCP/IP. Use that for a console connection from your 
VT-xxx to the SIM-H console port.

That would give a connection with "total DEC devotion", most surely 
working properly also.

Some yerars ago, I found a program for M$ W-?? (like 2000 or XP, can't 
remember) that presented itself to be a TCP/IP server using COM-port for 
I/O, this worked "a bit" but not right 100%, though I can't say exactely 
what link of a long communications chain that really lost those final  
%... I can check program name etc tomorrow if some-one wants to have it.

I used it for a LAP-top running VPN over public Internet, into a 
corporate network where a VAX was running DEC TCP/IP and DECnet, and I 
wanted to use a proper VT-320 terminal with full keyboard for off-site 
access (ie from a distant site that wasn't directely connected).

On 2012-07-03 13:38, Mark Benson wrote:
> On 3 Jul 2012, at 12:03, Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> wrote:
>
>> On 2012-07-03 11:49, Mark Benson wrote:
>>> Simple question: Can SimH's CONSOLE output be directed to a Serial port
>>> (i.e. via /dev/ttyS0)?
>>>
>>> If so how does it handle waiting for a terminal connection?
>>>
>>> If not, is there a reason why?
>> I think I looked into this a few years ago, and found that it can't. There is no absolute reason why it would not be able to, but exactly how you control a physical serial port differs between OSes, so I suspect it would be hard to write generic.
> Ah, that makes sense, yes, different OSs use different device names
> etc. even within common UNIX methods. This wouldn't be such a big
> hurdle if the onus was on the user to provide the full device path
> though. That, of course, doesn't help with Windows or VMS but it might
> widen it's UNIX campatibility?
>
>> However, I think that under Unix, if you just log in on a serial port and start simh, you'd be more or less there already?
> No, you see what I would like to do is connect a VT terminal directly
> to SimH to use either as the OP console or to provide a real VT access
> for the DZV11 emulation. This is all about cutting out multiple layers
> if terminal emulation to get real VT interaction direct to the
> emulator.
>
> The reason is I have noticed that over Telnet VMS is pretty robust but
> only offers a 'cut down' cinnection to remain compatible. Conversely,
> GNU screen working directly as the console convinces VMS that it's a
> real VT then it pukes when you run something like EVE or
> TCPIP$CONFIG.COM because VMS is assuming the terminal can handle
> features that screen cannot. There are also other things like
> softloaded fonts etc that only real VT terminals handle properly that
> break ir don't work in screen or telnet.
>
> It'd be nice to hook the VT510 up and use that instead... wasjyst a thought.

As for terminal emulators... I've heard much fine words upon that one 
that was included with DEC Pathworks. I used it back in those days (the 
PC/AT was a fast computer;-), but I can't say I have a running copy 
these days, sadly enough.

This one communicated using DEC-net (can't even remember if LAT 
alos...), I guess it wont make TCP/IP even if it would be installed on 
the same PC...

All my best,
Göran
>