Tag: DEC

VAX 8600 (Venus) Ibox printset


Here's a complete printset of the Venus Ibox, from 1984. It includes Ibox block diagrams, module and MCA block diagrams, and schematics for the MCAs and modules. I'd bet my bottom dollar that there were ECOs after this version. But this hardware ran VAX/VMS and oodles of software. Most of the page tops are faded. … Continue reading VAX 8600 (Venus) Ibox printset →

Two 1988 papers on DEC culture


I worked with Steve Klosterman for a few years at DEC. He recently shared two 1988 papers written by Reesa Abrams. These may already exist in some online computing history museum. But it's a Sunday night, so here they are.  They're great reads if you're interested in DEC culture. DEC Cultural Operating Manual (1988) DEC Herospeak … Continue reading Two 1988 papers on DEC culture →

VAX 8600 (Venus) System Development Plan


Here are two revisions of the Venus System Development Plan. Revision 2, dated 13-June-1980. Revision 4, dated 16-September-1982. I have Revision 3, but didn't think it was worth having it scanned.  Just imagine the average of revisions 2 and 4. DEC archeological junkies will note the different names on the sign-off page. (Page vii in both … Continue reading VAX 8600 (Venus) System Development Plan →

VAX-11/750 (Comet) specifications


Prodded by comments on my two recent DEC posts, I dug some specs out of the dungeon and had them scanned. Here's the set of internal design specs for the VAX-11/750, a.k.a. Comet.

Vax 8600 (Venus) Ibox microcode


In a comment on my Thoughts on DEC post, Tom Miller offered a rat's ass if I scanned in my VAX 8600 (Venus) Ibox microcode listing. Well, here's Venus Ibox microcode v3.73, generated on 7-May-1984. Tom, you owe me one rat's patootie. This ran on Venus through the end of 1984. I had transferred to … Continue reading Vax 8600 (Venus) Ibox microcode →

Thoughts on DEC


I'm off this week, and while loafing around the house I took an hour or so to search the web about Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), a former employer. That was a mistake, because it got me thinking about my past. This was fun for a while, and then it got sobering. I worked for DEC from February … Continue reading Thoughts on DEC →