Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Don't Nurse Old Hardware - Emulate It

Posted by timothy on from the stand-ins dept.

gManZboy writes "Bob Supnik, former team lead for DEC's VAX microprossesor, has an article up on Queue about his Computer History Simulation Project and how emulating old servers may be a better way to keep them running that servicing the physical machines. So how many PDP-11's can you run on a Pentium 4 anyhow?"

5 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. SimH by awx · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Bob's emulation software SimH is a *fantastic* bit of kit. Runs vanilla OpenVMS without modification - VMS doesn't even know it's in a sim until you tell it so when you licence it.

    (re-posting my anon comment)

    --
    Feel that power? That's mah MOUSING FINGER
  2. Re:Good idea... but... by ikegami · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Some programs create virtual CD-ROM drives when you give them an (.iso) image of a CD-ROM. If the computer you are emulating had a some kind of old disk drive, the drive itself would be emulated. The data would be read from a file on the emulator's host's hard drive. Or maybe it could even read 3.5" disks that were formatted to hold no more data than the old disks. Either way, you woulnd't actually use one of the old disks.

  3. Re:Good idea... but... by awx · · Score: 0, Redundant

    A PC 5.25" drive won't read hard-sectored RX50 (DEC VAX) floppies. The world is not a PC.

    You use your old VAX to make disk images for you before you give it to a collector.

    --
    Feel that power? That's mah MOUSING FINGER
  4. Gotta spend money to earn money, right? by maynard · · Score: 0, Redundant

    They haven't upgraded a critical piece of equipment in 30 years? No wonder US manufacters are losing out in the global marketplace.

    It's not like the guy's exporting to the international market. The guy makes custom sheet metal ducts for heating and A/C systems and services a local market. It's only one part of his business, but that one purchase (originally bought by his father) has earned its original investment many times over. If his market position was declining due to lack of modern tooling I'm sure he'd re-invest. I guess. Not that he clues me in on the particulars of his finances and business. Would you buy something you didn't need on credit just to "win in the global marketplace"? --M

  5. Somewhat amazing... by c0p0n · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster running on top of that 1000 emulated machines...

    --

    Your head a splode