VAX PK2K Preview Kit

This document package describes and provides "PK2K" software kits, an experimental SCSI driver (PK2KDRVR), and associated patches for VAXstation 2000 and MicroVAX 2000 systems running various versions of OpenVMS VAX (V5.5-2, V6.1, V6.2, V7.1).

Key components and functionality:

• PK2KDRVR: An experimental driver designed to enable SCSI disk support and allow booting from SCSI disks on Vs2000/uVAX2000 machines, replacing the default MUA0 (magtape) driver. It aims to emulate the behavior of the Vs3100 SCSI driver (PKNDRIVER).
• PK2K Kits: Binaries for different VMS versions, along with SYSBOOT images to facilitate SCSI booting.
• KA410WV23ROM-0013.PATCH: An ASCII patch file for the KA410-B V2.3 ROM, intended to:
  • Enable SCSI booting from the ROM.
  • Fix known SCSI self-test errors (e.g., 000000C4, 03C6).
  • Add a utility (T 56) for setting the SCSI host ID.
  • Replace the TVBTDRIVER (tape driver) with the custom DK2KBTDRIVER within the VMB.

Critical disclaimers and limitations:

• HIGHLY EXPERIMENTAL: The software is repeatedly stressed as "highly experimental" with "NO WARRANTIES AT ALL!"
• RISK OF SYSTEM CRASH & DATA CORRUPTION: It explicitly warns that the software "could not only crash your system, but *could cause CORRUPTION on all media connected to the computer*." It even contains code that "attempts to crash the system if a chance for corruption gets noticed."
• Untested for Newer VMS: While kits for V6.2 and V7.1 are provided, they are noted as "not yet tested."
• Data Transfer Restriction: PK2KDRVR cannot handle data transfers of 16KB or more, which impacts tape operations and may break programs like DUMP.
• Installation Requirements: Specific installation steps are outlined, including placing PK2KDRVR.EXE in SYS$LOADABLE_IMAGES, running a patch command file, and ensuring the standard MUA0 and TVDRIVER are not loaded. The SCSI host adapter is expected to have ID 0.
• Feedback: The author (Wolfgang J. Moeller, moeller@gwdg.de) requests feedback and offers assistance, particularly if users are willing to share their results when building for unsupported VMS versions.

The documents span from 1997 to 1999, illustrating the development of this experimental SCSI solution for older VAX systems.