Installing v7 on SIMH

This is the procedure I'm using to install Research Unix v7 on SIMH's PDP-11 emulator.

I'm using the files from TUHS "/PDP-11/Distributions/research/Keith_Bostic_v7/" directory. I've also uploaded the resulting tape to here.

If you are going to build the tape then you'll need the mkdisttap.pl script to output a v7.tap file.

Tape Install

tapei.ini

set cpu 11/45
set cpu idle
set rp0 rp06
att rp0 rp06-0.disk
att tm0 v7.tap
boot tm0

with the config in hand, then let's install.

installation

c:\temp\v7>'''pdp11.exe tapei.ini'''

PDP-11 simulator V3.8-1
Disabling XQ
Overwrite last track? [N]
Boot
: 

I just hit enter to the "Overwrite last track" question, then the bootloader will appear. We are going to load the 3rd program on the tape, mkfs and format the 'a' partition.

Boot
: '''tm(0,3)'''
file sys size: '''5000'''
file system: '''hp(0,0)'''
isize = 1600
m/n = 3 500
Exit called
Boot
:

The block size comes out of pre-compiled disk sizes in the kernel. Unix back then wasn't as dynamic as what we like in these modern times...

Boot
: '''tm(0,4)'''
Tape? '''tm(0,5)'''
Disk? '''hp(0,0)'''
Last chance before scribbling on disk.
End of tape
Boot
:

Once the formatting is complete, then it'll drop back to the bootloader, and we are going to load the 4th program which is the restore program, and we'll restore the root partition.

Now we can boot up UNIX from the hard disk, and setup the OS. The console driver seems to get confused, and echo's everything back in uppercase, however all command are entered in lowercase.

Boot
: '''hp(0,0)hptmunix'''
mem = 177344
# '''MV HPTMUNIX UNIX'''
# '''RM HP*IX'''
# '''LS *IX'''
RPHTUNIX
RPTMUNIX
UNIX
# '''RM RP*IX'''
# '''CD /DEV'''
# '''MAKE RP06'''
/ETC/MKNOD RP0 B 6 0
/ETC/MKNOD SWAP B 6 1
/ETC/MKNOD RP3 B 6 7
/ETC/MKNOD RRP0 C 14 0
/ETC/MKNOD RRP3 C 14 7
CHMOD GO-W RP0 SWAP RP3 RRP0 RRP3
# '''MAKE TM'''
/ETC/MKNOD MT0 B 3 0
/ETC/MKNOD RMT0 C 12 0
/ETC/MKNOD NRMT0 C 12 128
CHMOD GO+W MT0 RMT0 NRMT0
# '''CD /'''
# '''/ETC/MKFS /DEV/RP3 322276'''
ISIZE = 65496
M/N = 3 500
'''DD IF=/DEV/NRMT0 OF=/DEV/NULL BS=20B FILES=6'''
# 202+80 RECORDS IN
202+75 RECORDS OUT
# '''RESTOR RF /DEV/RMT0 /DEV/RP3'''
LAST CHANCE BEFORE SCRIBBLING ON /DEV/RP3.
END OF TAPE
# '''/ETC/MOUNT /DEV/RP3 /USR'''
# '''DD IF=/USR/MDEC/HPUBOOT OF=/DEV/RP0 COUNT=1'''
0+1 RECORDS IN
0+1 RECORDS OUT
# '''SYNC'''
# '''SYNC'''
# '''SYNC'''
# '''SYNC'''
#
Simulation stopped, PC: 002306 (MOV (SP)+,177776)
sim> '''q'''
Goodbye

Tape boot

Sadly the rp06 doesn't seem to want to boot... I'll have to troubleshoot it more later, but for now I just boot from the tape, and execute the kernel from the hard disk.

tboot.ini

echo
echo at the prompt type in
echo @ hp(0,0)unix
echo
set cpu 11/70
set cpu 2M
set cpu idle
set rp0 rp06
att rp0 rp06-0.disk
att tm0 xx.tap
boot tm0

And let's boot up!

c:\temp\v7>pdp11.exe tboot.ini

PDP-11 simulator V3.8-1

at the prompt type in
@ hp(0,0)unix

Disabling XQ
Boot
: hp(0,0)unix
mem = 2020544
# RESTRICTED RIGHTS: USE, DUPLICATION, OR DISCLOSURE
IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS STATED IN YOUR CONTRACT WITH
WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
WED DEC 31 19:02:48 EST 1969

login: root
Password:
You have mail.
#

The default root password is 'password'.