Talk:VAXstation 3200/3500 - Revision history

Jnc: Move Nav VAX discussion to its Talk: page

2024-01-01T23:45:27Z

Move Nav VAX discussion to its Talk: page

Vaxorcist: /* Documentation issues */

2023-03-22T12:56:19Z

‎Documentation issues

Jnc: /* Documentation issues */ new section

2023-03-22T11:34:07Z

‎Documentation issues: new section

Jnc: /* VAXserver */ Yes, two-part nav boxes can be done, if you want

2022-06-19T00:10:40Z

‎VAXserver: Yes, two-part nav boxes can be done, if you want

Jnc: /* VAXserver */ We can do a collapsible nav box if you want

2022-06-18T23:37:28Z

‎VAXserver: We can do a collapsible nav box if you want

Jnc: /* MS650 page */ It is complicated

2022-06-17T22:34:01Z

‎MS650 page: It is complicated

Jnc: /* VAXserver */ +start here

2022-06-17T20:16:38Z

‎VAXserver: +start here

Jnc: /* VAXserver */ Clarify me response; doc on collapsing

2022-06-17T19:56:06Z

‎VAXserver: Clarify me response; doc on collapsing

Jnc: /* VAXserver */ Here is an example of a 'click to expand' navigation box

2022-06-17T17:27:14Z

‎VAXserver: Here is an example of a 'click to expand' navigation box

Jnc: /* VAXserver */ I am OK with adding them - will the nav box be too big, though?

2022-06-17T16:53:37Z

‎VAXserver: I am OK with adding them - will the nav box be too big, though?

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 :: Each of the memory array cards could/should have its own page, I think.
 :: I moved it (for the moment, anyway) to [[KA650 Memory Subsystem]], since that's what [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/650/EK-KA650-UG-002_KA650-AA_CPU_Module_Technical_Manual_Aug88.pdf EK-KA650-UG-002]] calls it (pg. 72; pg. 88 of the PDF). [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 00:32, 18 June 2022 (CEST)
 == Documentation issues ==

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	That document is a really inferior information source; it seems to mostly be aimed at non-technical users. (But I see on page 4-19 - pg. 135 of the PDF - mention of the 3200 using [[MS650]] memory, so the [[KA650]] is correct.) I looked, but could not find any other 3200/3500 documentation online anywhere; do you know of any? [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 12:34, 22 March 2023 (CET)		That document is a really inferior information source; it seems to mostly be aimed at non-technical users. (But I see on page 4-19 - pg. 135 of the PDF - mention of the 3200 using [[MS650]] memory, so the [[KA650]] is correct.) I looked, but could not find any other 3200/3500 documentation online anywhere; do you know of any? [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 12:34, 22 March 2023 (CET)
		+
		+	:I've got the printed German "DECdirekt" Catalog 10/1989 from the time when we bought / I managed two VAXstation 3200s as a start for our newly introduced CAD system "MEDUSA". It mentions the VAXstation 3200 as well as the VAXstation 3500.
		+
		+	:The MicroVAX II document in Appendix B of the VAXstation 3200 Owner's Manual was probably used as an interim solution as long as there was no updated manual for the newer models: "MicroVAX II Maintenance Information Kit (Order No. ZNA3X-C3) is for users who want to service their own systems." Both the VAXstation 3200 and the MicroVAX II/VAXstation II use the same BA23 enclosure as well as the same Qbus modules, disk & tape drives. The only difference is the CPU and the memory. [[User:Vaxorcist\|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist\|talk]]) 13:55, 22 March 2023 (CET)

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:34, 22 March 2023
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	: Yes, we can have a two-part nav box; see sample [[User:Jnc/Test\|here]]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 02:10, 19 June 2022 (CEST)		: Yes, we can have a two-part nav box; see sample [[User:Jnc/Test\|here]]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 02:10, 19 June 2022 (CEST)
		+
		+	== Documentation issues ==
		+
		+	Ah; I was only going with the [[MicroVAX II]] based on the mention of the MicroVAX II document in Appendix B of the [https://manx-docs.org/collections/hcps/154aaow1.pdf VAXstation 3200 Owner's Manual, BA23 Enclosure]. But now that I look closer, I see the KA650 in the line above, so it really is the same CPU as the [[MicroVAX III]]. I wonder why they mentioned the MicroVAX II document, then? Maybe it uses the same enclosure?
		+
		+	That document is a really inferior information source; it seems to mostly be aimed at non-technical users. (But I see on page 4-19 - pg. 135 of the PDF - mention of the 3200 using [[MS650]] memory, so the [[KA650]] is correct.) I looked, but could not find any other 3200/3500 documentation online anywhere; do you know of any? [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 12:34, 22 March 2023 (CET)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:10, 19 June 2022
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	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template Here] is the help page which explains how complex templates (ones with arguments, and conditionals) work, if you care / are interested. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 01:37, 19 June 2022 (CEST)		[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template Here] is the help page which explains how complex templates (ones with arguments, and conditionals) work, if you care / are interested. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 01:37, 19 June 2022 (CEST)
		+
		+	: Yes, we can have a two-part nav box; see sample [[User:Jnc/Test\|here]]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 02:10, 19 June 2022 (CEST)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 18 June 2022
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	: Very complicated; start [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Navbox here] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Collapsing here]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 21:55, 17 June 2022 (CEST)		: Very complicated; start [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Navbox here] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Collapsing here]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 21:55, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
		+
		+	Ahah! I have worked out how to do collapsible nav boxes on the CHWiki. So if you want to list dozens of VAX types in the VAX nav box, and have them hidden, normally, we can do that. I'm going to investigate further; it should be possible to have a nav box where entries 'above the line' are always shown, and entries 'below the line' (for less 'interesting' ones) are initially hidden, and one has to click the '[show]" button to see them.
		+
		+	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template Here] is the help page which explains how complex templates (ones with arguments, and conditionals) work, if you care / are interested. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 01:37, 19 June 2022 (CEST)

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 : We do indeeed need a separate MS650 page, because the MS650 memory modules were used with a lot of CPUs:
-* KA640 (MicroVAX/VAXserver 3300/3400)
+:* KA640 (MicroVAX/VAXserver 3300/3400)
-* KA650 (VAXstation 3200/3500, MicroVAX/VAXserver 3500/3600)
+:* KA650 (VAXstation 3200/3500, MicroVAX/VAXserver 3500/3600)
-* KA655 (MicroVAX/VAXserver 3800/3900)
+:* KA655 (MicroVAX/VAXserver 3800/3900)
-* KA660 (VAX/VAXserver 4000-200)
+:* KA660 (VAX/VAXserver 4000-200)
-* KN210 (DECsystem 5400)
+:* KN210 (DECsystem 5400)
 : I'm not sure there might even be more ...
-: The Systems and Options Catalog 1991 July-September just calls it 'MS650 Memory'. [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 16:21, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
+:: I read up on it a bit. The ''controller'' is on the CPU card; it talks to the ''array cards'' over a private bus. So probably that bus is what is standardized (in which case the bus should have a page - and most of the detailed description of how it works should be there) - or do all the cards you listed use the same memory controller chip?
 ==VAXserver==

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	: I have yet to see how it does that; there is a complex set of nested templates involved. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 19:26, 17 June 2022 (CEST)		: I have yet to see how it does that; there is a complex set of nested templates involved. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 19:26, 17 June 2022 (CEST)

−	: Very complicated; start [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Collapsing here]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 21:55, 17 June 2022 (CEST)	+	: Very complicated; start [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Navbox here] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Collapsing here]. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 21:55, 17 June 2022 (CEST)

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Another topic: All VAXserver models are missing in the "Nav VAX" ... [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 16:27, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
-: Fine with me. Will that not make the navigation box large, though? There is some way to have blocks of things 'hidden', so you have to click on them to see the detail. That would reduce the size of the VAX navigation box, but leave everything accessible: i.e. there would be a 'VAXservers' button that one would have to click on to see the list of all the models. I don't know how to do that, though; I do not recall seeing one here on the CHWiki. I have seen them on Wikipedia, though, so there is a way to do it with MediaWiki. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 18:53, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
+: Adding them is fine with me. Will that not make the navigation box large, though? There is some way to have blocks of things 'hidden', so you have to click on them to see the detail. That would reduce the size of the VAX navigation box, but leave everything accessible: i.e. there would be a 'VAXservers' button that one would have to click on to see the list of all the models. I don't know how to do that, though; I do not recall seeing one here on the CHWiki. I have seen them on Wikipedia, though, so there is a way to do it with MediaWiki. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 18:53, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
 : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ammunition_Hill Here] is one. If you look in the bottom right corner, you will see a "[show]" button which, when clicked, expands that section of the b0x.
 : I have yet to see how it does that; there is a complex set of nested templates involved. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 19:26, 17 June 2022 (CEST)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:27, 17 June 2022
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	: Fine with me. Will that not make the navigation box large, though? There is some way to have blocks of things 'hidden', so you have to click on them to see the detail. That would reduce the size of the VAX navigation box, but leave everything accessible: i.e. there would be a 'VAXservers' button that one would have to click on to see the list of all the models. I don't know how to do that, though; I do not recall seeing one here on the CHWiki. I have seen them on Wikipedia, though, so there is a way to do it with MediaWiki. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 18:53, 17 June 2022 (CEST)		: Fine with me. Will that not make the navigation box large, though? There is some way to have blocks of things 'hidden', so you have to click on them to see the detail. That would reduce the size of the VAX navigation box, but leave everything accessible: i.e. there would be a 'VAXservers' button that one would have to click on to see the list of all the models. I don't know how to do that, though; I do not recall seeing one here on the CHWiki. I have seen them on Wikipedia, though, so there is a way to do it with MediaWiki. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 18:53, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
		+
		+	: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ammunition_Hill Here] is one. If you look in the bottom right corner, you will see a "[show]" button which, when clicked, expands that section of the b0x.
		+	: I have yet to see how it does that; there is a complex set of nested templates involved. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 19:26, 17 June 2022 (CEST)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 17 June 2022
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	Another topic: All VAXserver models are missing in the "Nav VAX" ... [[User:Vaxorcist\|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist\|talk]]) 16:27, 17 June 2022 (CEST)		Another topic: All VAXserver models are missing in the "Nav VAX" ... [[User:Vaxorcist\|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist\|talk]]) 16:27, 17 June 2022 (CEST)
		+
		+	: Fine with me. Will that not make the navigation box large, though? There is some way to have blocks of things 'hidden', so you have to click on them to see the detail. That would reduce the size of the VAX navigation box, but leave everything accessible: i.e. there would be a 'VAXservers' button that one would have to click on to see the list of all the models. I don't know how to do that, though; I do not recall seeing one here on the CHWiki. I have seen them on Wikipedia, though, so there is a way to do it with MediaWiki. [[User:Jnc\|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc\|talk]]) 18:53, 17 June 2022 (CEST)