[Simh] Interesting problem in using the (new) VAX emulation code

[Mark Pizzolato - Info Comm]

Hi Gregg,

I just downloaded the vaxcd-5.1.2.iso and did an install.  I installed from CD (and selected the cd device as ra1c).  I had to use a telnet session for the console so I could read the various install menus which presumed a VT100 capable terminal session.

I didn't do a network install since although the correct device name was mentioned (qe0) I didn't know a valid answer to the media type prompt which came shortly after.  This isn't a simh issue though.

I selected a 'minimal install' from CD (as mentioned above), and after a few minutes there was a kernel panic and a resulting HALT instruction executed similar to what you saw.

I tried again with the same target ra92 disk, but this time using an older NetBSD 5.1 image (not the NetBSD 5.1.2 which is current).  This install went fine.  I say that there is something wrong with the vax CD image for 5.1.2.  You may want to pursue that issue with the NetBSD folks or run with an older version.

Good Luck,

- Mark Pizzolato

On Sunday, March 18, 2012 1:20 PM, Gregg Levine wrote:
> On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 4:31 AM, Mark Pizzolato wrote:
> > Hi Gregg,
> >
> > On Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 7:52 PM, Gregg Levine wrote:
> >> Hello!
> >> I am trying to use the instructions for installing (and then running)
> >> NetBSD with the VAX emulation. Since it seems to be a bit of a SNAFU
> >> for installing via CD, I decided to try and make use of the improved
> >> networking code to fetch the sets via FTP and install that way.
> >> However the installer is causing a strange dump effect. Here's a cut
> >> and paste of what is happening:
> >>  Status: Running
> >>     Command: progress -zf /targetroot/usr/INSTALL/base.tgz tar
> >> --chroot - xhepf -
> >>
> >>
> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> -----------
> >>  73% |*************************          | 53420 KiB  178.64 KiB/s
> >> 01:48 ETApanic: Segv in kernel mode: pc 80058e6f addr 32
> >>
> >> dumping to dev 23,1 offset 8
> >> dump succeeded
> >>
> >> HALT instruction, PC: 800DC7A4 (PUSHAB 80103B88)
> >> sim>
> >> --
> >> What is interesting is that always happens that way. Even with a new
> >> disk image being created. I did once manage to get the original one
> >> to accept the NetBSD instructions and install the OS a while ago, but not
> on this machine.
> >> Mark this is something running on a snapshot from your collection, it
> >> is not what is being offered from the site.
> >
> > The above info is interesting, but hardly enough for me to make any sense
> of...
> >
> > I don't think I've ever done a NetBSD vax install, and certainly never done
> one via ftp.
> > What specific set of instructions were you following?
> > What simulator (vax or vax780) are you using?
> > What host OS are you running under?
> > What specific simulator source are you using? (a snapshot from my
> collection isn't very specific since it is changing over time (when was this
> taken))?
> > What does your simulator configuration file look like?
> >
> > Give me enough to work with and I'll probably have some input...
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > - Mark Pizzolato
> >
> >
> 
> Hello!
> Mark according to my system the source code drop was made last Monday,
> 3/12/2012. As for the routines used to start the emulator, here they
> are:
> load -r /usr/local/bin/ka655x.bin
>  set cpu 64m
>  set rq0 ra92
>  at rq0 /usr/local/vax-netbsd/netbsd.dsk  set rq1 cdrom  at rq1
> /usr/local/vax-netbsd/vaxcd-5.1.2.iso
>  at xq0 eth0
>  boot cpu
> ---
> I believe its the regular vax simulation at work rather then the vax780 one.
> -----
> Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8 at gmail.com
> "This signature fought the Time Wars, time and again."