Minor updates to 2.11BSD README.

[simh-images] / pdp11-2.11BSD / README.md

# Overview #

This directory contains a 2.11BSD system image for use with the PDP-11
simulator included in SIMH. If using this image on a real PDP-11, note that
2.11BSD requires a PDP-11 with Supervisor Mode and requires a split I+D
machine.

The major change in 2.11BSD was the addition of backported networking code from
4.3BSD on the VAX. It also incorporates a number of other small 4.3BSD changes
like long filenames.

Otherwise, 2.11BSD is extremely similar to 2.10BSD. It retains the same 4.3BSD
structure and system calls and the largely 4.3BSD user-land software. It also
retains the same hardware support as 2.10BSD which added 22-bit QBus support,
an MSCP driver, and etc.

This was the final BSD released for the PDP-11 and it feels remarkably modern.
In fact, the similarities are so strong that no user manuals were ever printed;
users were simply instructed to use 4.3BSD manuals from the VAX. 2.11BSD is
also the fastest BSD for the PDP-11, incorporating many backported
efficiency-related changes from 4.3BSD. For example, whereas ULTRIX-11 V3.0 on
a PDP-11/73 takes 1.1 seconds to start `vi`, and 2.9BSD takes 0.9 seconds
(likely due to use of `vfork`), the same `vi` image takes only 0.2 seconds to
start from the main memory cache on 2.11BSD.

This 2.11BSD system is up to date, currently sitting at patch 450 released on
Mar 19, 2016. All patches were obtained from <ftp://moe.2bsd.com/pub/2.11BSD/>
or <https://www.retro11.de/data/211bsd/patches/>. The system was built (and
rebuilds itself) regularly on `kryten.subgeniuskitty.com`, a real PDP-11/83.


# Status #

Fully tested on SIMH 3.9-0 and a real PDP-11/83.


# Instructions #


## Power On ##

To power up a simulated PDP-11/73 and run this 2.11BSD disk image, simply
un-gzip the disk image file and start up SIMH with the provided configuration
file.

    % gunzip disk0_ra90_211bsd.dsk.gz
    % pdp11 simh.conf
 
    PDP-11 simulator V3.9-0
    Disabling CR
    Disabling RK
    Disabling HK
    Disabling TM
    .
    .Select a kernel at the ':' prompt.
    .For example, ': ra(0,0,0)unix'.
    .At the first '#' prompt you are in single-user mode.
    .Use Ctrl-D to logout and continue the boot.
    .Login with username 'root' and password 'temppass'.
    .Shut down with 'sync; sync; halt'.
    .
    
    73Boot from ra(0,0,0) at 0172150
    :

The `:` prompt is from the bootloader, to whom we must communicate a device and
file to continue the boot process. We're booting from the first MSCP-compatible
disc, using the file `/unix`, so type `ra(0,0,0)unix` followed by `ENTER`.

    : ra(0,0,0)unix
    Boot: bootdev=02400 bootcsr=0172150
    
    2.11 BSD UNIX #1: Sat Aug 11 20:38:20 PDT 2018
        root@curly.2bsd.com:/usr/src/sys/KRYTEN-NONET
    
    ra0: Ver 3 mod 3
    ra0: RA90  size=2376153
    
    phys mem  = 4186112
    avail mem = 3990464
    user mem  = 307200
    
    August 12 00:03:32 init: configure system
    
    ra 0 csr 172150 vector 154 vectorset attached
    cn 1 csr 176500 vector 300 skipped:  No CSR.
    cn 2 csr 176510 vector 310 skipped:  No CSR.
    cn 3 csr 176520 vector 320 skipped:  No CSR.
    cn 4 csr 176530 vector 330 skipped:  No CSR.
    erase, kill ^U, intr ^C
    # 

The system has now booted up to single-user mode and you are logged in as
`root`. To continue booting to multi-user mode, simply type `Ctrl-d` to log
out and system startup will proceed.

    # Fast boot ... skipping disk checks
    checking quotas: done.
    Assuming non-networking system ...
    checking for core dump...
    preserving editor files
    clearing /tmp
    standard daemons: update cron accounting.
    starting lpd
    starting local daemons: sendmail.
    Sun Aug 12 00:03:38 PDT 2018
    
    
    2.11 BSD UNIX (curly.2bsd.com) (console)
    
    login:

The system is in multi-user mode. Login as `root` with password `temppass`.

    login: root
    Password:
    erase, kill ^U, intr ^C
    #

That's it! 2.11BSD is up and you're logged in.

The system includes a full set of man pages to get you started. If the Bourne
shell used on the root account grows tiring, `tcsh` (and others) are already
installed and include features like tab-completion.


## Power Off ##

To power off, assuming you are logged in as `root` and the system is otherwise
inactive, use the `sync` command to flush any buffers to disk and then `halt`
to halt the system. On the simulated PDP-11 this drops us back to SIMH's
command prompt where we can exit the simulation.

    # sync; sync; halt
    syncing disks... done
    halting
    
    HALT instruction, PC: 000014 (MOV #1,10544)
    sim> quit
    Goodbye

Note that you can also press `Ctrl-e` at any time and SIMH will halt the PDP-11
simulation and drop to the `sim>` prompt where you can exit. However, doing
this is likely to corrupt a disk as it is equivalent to yanking the power cord
from the wall. To resume from the `sim>` prompt, simply type `go` and execution
will resume from where it left off..


## Ethernet ##

The PDP-11/83 upon which this image normally resides includes a DEC DELQA-T
ethernet card and this 2.11BSD image is configured to use it. The driver should
work with any of the DEQNA, DELQA, or DELQA-T cards in a real PDP-11.

SIMH can also emulate a network card, though it requires `libpcap` and some
manual configuration. Following these instructions will guide you through the
process:

<http://www.retrocmp.com/how-tos/installing-211bsd-unix-on-pdp-1144/123-installing-211bsd-networking>

## Transfer Files ##

The easiest way to transfer files to/from the running 2.11BSD instance is over
the network, via FTP. As discussed in the "Ethernet" section, the system is
preconfigured for network use if running on a real PDP-11 with compatible
network hardware or via emulation through SIMH. Simply login via FTP as a
normal user and `GET`/`PUT`/etc to transfer files.

If networking is unavailable, output to the line printer or input/output via
the paper tape are also an option. The relevant options to enable that hardware
in SIMH are present but commented out in `simh.conf`.

This image is also configured to expect a DLV11-J compatible quad serial port
card installed at the base of the relevant CSR space. These ports, if actually
present, can be used to transfer files using `kermit`, pre-included in this
2.11BSD image.