leg·a·cy - Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past. legacy [ˈlɛgəsɪ] - (Computer Science) surviving computer systems, hardware, or software

DEC Legacy Event, 8th & 9th October, Windermere, UK

08-MAY-2012 - DEC Legacy 2012 Update

I'm starting to plan DEC Legacy 2012. Apologies for the lack of updates after the 2011 event, suffice to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I think that sentiment was echoed by the majority of attendees.

There is a gallery of pictures from the 2011 event here.

I recorded some demonstrations which are now available on youtube:






12-SEP-2011 - DEC Legacy is nearly upon us!

Just a quick update with regard to one of the planned activities at DEC Legacy 2011. Firstly to let you know that it is definitely still on! Although numbers are a little down on last year we have a good mix of 2010 attendees and new visitors. My intention this year was always to keep it a little more informal so that we can be more hands-on and focus more on the equipment that will be sharing the room with us.

At the moment we have two remote talks planned, one by Stephen Hoffman and one by Steve Davidson. Jim Austin will be entertaining us in person, probably making us all jealous of the content of his pig sheds again and Derek Holloway will be giving us the latest from the 'front line' of terminal equipment.

One of my goals this year is to provide attendees with the opportunity to add their machines (or indeed hopefully any machines that owners can spare for the lighter travellers who fancy a dabble) to HECnet. Those of you who attended Johnny Billquist's remote presentation last year might remember hearing about HECnet.

This is a worldwide DECnet network hosting all manner of lovely DEC hardware, some real, some emulated, from PDPs to the latest IA64 kit. I will be providing a DECnet area router pre-configured (node SLAVE, 4.249) and I'm hoping we can introduce other hardware to this area on the day. Connection will be via a 3G modem and Vigor 2800 router, with a Debian box providing Johnny's DECnet to TCP/IP bridge. Of course I haven't tested all this just yet, but I'm fairly confident it will work!

The currently allocated node numbers are shown below:

Known Node Volatile Summary as of 12-SEP-2011 12:19:34
Executor node = 4.256 (BUBBLE)
State                    = on
Identification           = DECnet for OpenVMS VAX V7.3
    Node           State      Active  Delay   Circuit     Next node
                              Links
 4.1 (B7)        reachable                                  4.256 (BUBBLE)
 4.249 (SLAVE)   unreachable
 4.250 (ORAC)    unreachable
 4.251 (ZX6000)  unreachable
 4.252 (NODE3)   unreachable
 4.253 (NODE2)   unreachable
 4.254 (ZEN)     unreachable
 4.255 (X60)     unreachable
 4.257 (ELLEN)   unreachable
 4.258 (TIGER)   unreachable
 4.259 (ALEPH)   unreachable

 

If you'd like to arrange a node name/node number prior to the day just drop me an email with the preference and I'll make a note so any pre-configured machines don't clash. I'm only just getting my head properly around clustering, but it would be nice to get a multi-architecture cluster running as well. Node SLAVE contains a full copy of the DECUS archive (courtesy of a recent hard disk round trip to Jur van der Burg of digiater.nl) and will be available via the default DECnet account (always a good source of inspiration!)

 

If you have any questions about the day please feel free to ask. Last year we had a gathering in the Brookside Inn on the Friday evening - I would suggest the same again this year (the Guinness is first-class there!)

 

I was planning on running the Saturday session into the evening, but I'm going to play that by ear depending on whether there is any interest and whether it will be a requirement to have someone on-site till 10pm. I'd welcome people's thoughts about this - regardless I'm happy to book a table for dinner for those who will have had enough by then!

 

Looking forward very much seeing you all there.

 

 

Returning for a second year, I'm pleased to announce DEC Legacy 2011.

With a focus on Digital Equipment Corporation and their legacy of hardware, software and ethos I'm also extending an open invitation to those who are interested in SGI, HP, Sun, IBM and other high end hardware to come along and share their passion with us. Several formal presentations will be mixed with plenty of hands on time with hardware brought by enthusiasts.

Enthusiasts are encouraged to bring along hardware and software to exhibit. The personal nature of the event brings a unique atmosphere within which friendships are easily forged.

For those new to DEC Legacy feel free to browse the image gallery of the previous years event.

Registration is now open.

Background on DEC:

DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION was an American Computer Manufacturer originally formed in 1957 by Ken Olsen and Harlan Anderson and existed until 1998 when it was aquired by Compaq. The company manufactured a huge range of hardware and software over the course of its history, including:

  • PDP Minicomputers
  • VAX Minicomputers
  • Alpha Minicomputers
  • Early Personal Computers (DEC Professional, DECmate, Rainbow 100)
  • VT Terminals
  • Printers
  • Networking Hardware
  • Storage Hardware
  • Intel Based Personal Computers & Laptops

Operating Systems that DEC Hardware supports includes:

  • VAX/VMS, OpenVMS
  • Digital Unix, OSF/1, tru64
  • Ultrix
  • RSX-11
  • RT-11
  • RSTS/E
  • TOPS-10, TOPS-20
  • CP/M
  • Linux
  • OpenBSD
  • NetBSD
  • DOS
  • Windows

The DEC Legacy continues in the products that HP now provides in form of the OpenVMS Operating System and the Itanium based hardware on which it runs.

The two day event will take place at the Marchesi Centre in Windermere, The Lake District.