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DEC Networking components like DEChub 90/900/600 / DECnis/bridge etc. -- What do you still have or use ?

Wildfire

Experienced Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Messages
252
Location
Germany, near Göttingen
It would be interesting to know who has (had) some equipment in use for his hobby / at work or only in his collection.

And also some pictures, i will take some and post them when i update my list here.
It would be cool when this thread has at least one picture of each networking item dec sold, for documentation; as pictures via websearch will not become more.

Eventually i am interested also in modules / items one don't wanna have anymore, feel free to get in touch with me :)
 
DEChub 90 backplane ( DEHUB-AX ) with attached powersupply ( H7876-AA ) and with some DECserver 90M 1M Flash ( DSRVH-N ) and DECrepeater 90T-16 ( DETML-M ) modules.
 

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DECNIS 500 frame ( DNSXA-AD or DNSDA-BC ) with 4 installed modules:
DNSAN-AH B1000-AA CPU Module ( DECNIS Processor )
DNSAM-AH B1050-BA MEM Module ( 8MB Packet MEM )
W614/618 DNSAA-AA B1408 WAN Module ( Sync Card 8 Line DB50 )
L602 DNSAE-BA B1103-BA 2 Port AUI NIC Network Module

DNSXH-BX 4-Port Distribution Panel

BN23B-02 Cable to Distri Panel

Cable Guide and Rackmount Utils

BC190-02 X.21 Adapter Cable

H3199 Loopback Adapter


Up to now i did only a power on test - looking good.
The Unit wants to boot a MOP image, i have to figure out which and where this eventually is.
Who has worked with DECNIS and can share some experiences / Tips etc. :) ?

And eventually did you notice that there is written DNSXA-AD on the frame itself, but there is also a sticker with DNSDA-BC written on it... --- So what is right / does that mean ?
 

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Here are all the DEChub 90 modules I've got:
stack.jpg

What I'm after but have so far failed to find anywhere for a reasonable price is the DEChub90 backplane and especially the PSU (backplanes don't seem so expensive/hard to get but they're not much use on their own). All I've got is a single working standalone power brick (H7082-AB) meaning I can only power up one DEChub 90 module at a time :(

I've also got some DEChub 90 multistack things though not very useful without more working power bricks. And a pair of DELNIs and a DECserver 100 which I've used with my VAXen from time to time. Some more (not very good) photos and notes on the stuff I have including the DELNIs are here: https://www.zx.net.nz/computers/dec/networks/

As far as support stuff goes, I've got a mirror of the final DEC network products support website complete with all the manuals, drivers, etc, here: https://www.zx.net.nz/mirror/h18007.www1.hp.com/support/digital_networks_archive/
 
Here are all the DEChub 90 modules I've got:
View attachment 1257211

What I'm after but have so far failed to find anywhere for a reasonable price is the DEChub90 backplane and especially the PSU (backplanes don't seem so expensive/hard to get but they're not much use on their own). All I've got is a single working standalone power brick (H7082-AB) meaning I can only power up one DEChub 90 module at a time :(

I've also got some DEChub 90 multistack things though not very useful without more working power bricks. And a pair of DELNIs and a DECserver 100 which I've used with my VAXen from time to time. Some more (not very good) photos and notes on the stuff I have including the DELNIs are here: https://www.zx.net.nz/computers/dec/networks/

As far as support stuff goes, I've got a mirror of the final DEC network products support website complete with all the manuals, drivers, etc, here: https://www.zx.net.nz/mirror/h18007.www1.hp.com/support/digital_networks_archive/

Nice collection ! Do you also have the Wlan modules for the roam about cards ?

Hmmm, shipping to your place would cost some real money i assume; what prices should you pay at your location for such an powersupply ?
Thank you very much for sharing the archive, seems to be very helpful imo :)
 
I think I've got four PCMCIA cards with antennas and three access points. Each AP requires a PCMCIA card though, so with three APs that only leaves me with enough cards for one laptop. Or one AP with three laptops would make more sense - especially as I'm only able to power one DEChub 90 module at a time anyway.

I've not seen PSUs (or backplanes) available locally at all, so I'd be limited to buying internationally from eBay or hoping one just falls in my lap someday (I've had these DEChub modules for nearly 15 years so chances seem low). At the moment the cheapest I could could get those for (including shipping) is NZ$138 for the backplane and NZ$292 for the PSU, for a total cost of NZ$430 - a bit much IMO.

Shame really as having a bunch of these things up and running would be pretty handy at the moment - especially the DECservers 90s.
 
I use a DECserver 900TM for my serial to network connections for consoles and such on my various VAXen, Alphas and storage infrastructure.
 
One topic that comes up every now and then is DNAS (DECserver Network Access Software).

One discussion of it 5 years ago turned up an image of a "DECserver Network Access Software 2.4" CD-ROM:

Looking for DECserver MNENG2.SYS, MNENG3.SYS, and MNENG4.SYS boot files
https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/62810/

That image was archived here:

http://terminals-wiki.org/collections/DEC/DECserver/

There is now also an image of that here:

https://archive.org/details/digitalnetworksnetworkaccesssoftware24

That CD-ROM contains V2.4 versions of MNENG2, MNENG3, and WWENG2.

As far as I know the final version of DNAS was V3.6. A few years ago you could buy a copy of that from VNETEK. If I had known they were going to go out of business I might have considered buying a copy while it was still available:

https://web.archive.org/web/2015112...7-dnas-decserver-network-access-software.aspx

Since the last time this was discussed here, has anyone turned up a copy of the DNAS V3.6 CD-ROM?

Since the discussion last time, I managed to find an H0345-AA 2MB flash card with V3.6 of WWENG2 that works in my DECserver 900TM. The V3.6 image of WWENG2 on that flash card could be cloned to another flash card outside of the DECserver, but as-is, I don't think the image could be downloaded over the net to a DECserver. It appears that there is a 512-byte header of some sort that differs between the file that would be used for a download and the image as it is stored on a flash card. It might be possible reverse engineer that the 512-byte header needs to contain to be able to use the flash image for a file download. I haven't spent any time looking into that yet.

The H0345-AA 2MB flash card I have is a Mitsubishi MELCARD MF82M1-77DAT01, which is basically equivalent to a Centennial Technologies, Inc. FL02M-15-10138 Intel 28F008SA Series II Flash Memory Card, which my device programmer is capable of reading and writing.

The card I have appears identical to the image below that I found on the net. I forget where I bought the H0345-AA card, possibly this could have been the source:
 

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I think I've got four PCMCIA cards with antennas and three access points. Each AP requires a PCMCIA card though, so with three APs that only leaves me with enough cards for one laptop. Or one AP with three laptops would make more sense - especially as I'm only able to power one DEChub 90 module at a time anyway.

I've not seen PSUs (or backplanes) available locally at all, so I'd be limited to buying internationally from eBay or hoping one just falls in my lap someday (I've had these DEChub modules for nearly 15 years so chances seem low). At the moment the cheapest I could could get those for (including shipping) is NZ$138 for the backplane and NZ$292 for the PSU, for a total cost of NZ$430 - a bit much IMO.

Shame really as having a bunch of these things up and running would be pretty handy at the moment - especially the DECservers 90s.

You're right, no hobbyist prices. Here in germany i saw b2b prices for the hub ps about 300,-€ +tax+shipping.
But sometimes the hub backplane pops up for 10-20€+shipping...

I hope to also get one day a roam about module complete with wlan card. As time goes by this will happen...
Hmmm, would you be able to repair a defective hub ps ?
 
You're right, no hobbyist prices. Here in germany i saw b2b prices for the hub ps about 300,-€ +tax+shipping.
But sometimes the hub backplane pops up for 10-20€+shipping...

I hope to also get one day a roam about module complete with wlan card. As time goes by this will happen...
Hmmm, would you be able to repair a defective hub ps ?
I've considered trying to just replace the standalone PSUs with something else, just need to find the pinout. The H7082-AB is only 5.1V at 1.8A which is perhaps within the abilities of a regular USB phone charger so maybe making a USB to Mini-DIN cable is an option. H7265-AA provides 12V too which is a problem, but I think the only modules I've got that need 12V is the DECserver 90TL.

Though really buying a backplane & PSU would be best; running a bunch of them standalone would be too much unnecessary cable mess with the required 10base2 cabling and a PSU for each module.
 
One topic that comes up every now and then is DNAS (DECserver Network Access Software).

One discussion of it 5 years ago turned up an image of a "DECserver Network Access Software 2.4" CD-ROM:

Looking for DECserver MNENG2.SYS, MNENG3.SYS, and MNENG4.SYS boot files
https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/62810/

That image was archived here:

http://terminals-wiki.org/collections/DEC/DECserver/

There is now also an image of that here:

https://archive.org/details/digitalnetworksnetworkaccesssoftware24

That CD-ROM contains V2.4 versions of MNENG2, MNENG3, and WWENG2.

As far as I know the final version of DNAS was V3.6. A few years ago you could buy a copy of that from VNETEK. If I had known they were going to go out of business I might have considered buying a copy while it was still available:

https://web.archive.org/web/2015112...7-dnas-decserver-network-access-software.aspx

Since the last time this was discussed here, has anyone turned up a copy of the DNAS V3.6 CD-ROM?

Since the discussion last time, I managed to find an H0345-AA 2MB flash card with V3.6 of WWENG2 that works in my DECserver 900TM. The V3.6 image of WWENG2 on that flash card could be cloned to another flash card outside of the DECserver, but as-is, I don't think the image could be downloaded over the net to a DECserver. It appears that there is a 512-byte header of some sort that differs between the file that would be used for a download and the image as it is stored on a flash card. It might be possible reverse engineer that the 512-byte header needs to contain to be able to use the flash image for a file download. I haven't spent any time looking into that yet.

The H0345-AA 2MB flash card I have is a Mitsubishi MELCARD MF82M1-77DAT01, which is basically equivalent to a Centennial Technologies, Inc. FL02M-15-10138 Intel 28F008SA Series II Flash Memory Card, which my device programmer is capable of reading and writing.

The card I have appears identical to the image below that I found on the net. I forget where I bought the H0345-AA card, possibly this could have been the source:

👍
Thanks for your detailled reply.

While going through some sw items i also found an 2.4 CD, but nothing newer.
Over the last few years i got some versions of flash cards with different DNAS versions, starting with 1.2 ... 2.0..2.4..3.6
Yes, 3.6 is the last version.

The interesting thing is that one can take the flash cards from different systems DEC once had.
F.e. from all the generations of external raid controllers like HSZxx, HSDxx, HSGxx have the same 2mb flash cards that one can use also in the DECserver900TM, DECserver7xx.
At the moment i do not have a device programmer for the cards, which one do you have ?

Hmmm, i also will try to get in touch with a few people bc of the 3.6 CD - would be very nice to have.

Eventually i read in the 900TM manual that the image when the DECserver is booted via network can be saved to a flash card when you attach one to the DECserver and store it with a build in procedure -- i will try to verify this...

The different Melcards pop up on ebay, but they are also used in music instruments like synthesizers so they are not cheap when offered for those.
 
Eventually i read in the 900TM manual that the image when the DECserver is booted via network can be saved to a flash card when you attach one to the DECserver and store it with a build in procedure -- i will try to verify this...

That was asked and answered by both of us on the thread 4 years ago. I was able to boot a DECserver 900TM from the V2.4 WWENG2 load image over the network and store the load image on both the 4MB Intel iMC004FLSA-15 and the 10MB Intel iMC010FLSA-15 cards that I had on hand to try at the time:

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/62810/page-2#post-870785

There might only be a small set of linear flash cards that are supported on the DECserver itself for writing the load image to the card.

At the moment i do not have a device programmer for the cards, which one do you have ?

Someone might spend a long time looking for a universal device programmer with PCMCIA support. I have a BPM Microsystems BP-1610 device programmer. A while back I managed to find some SMPCM PCMCIA socket modules for it. I have never seen any SMPCM socket modules on eBay other than the ones that I bought. It's not all that great in that it has limited algorithm support for linear flash cards. For example, it explicitly supports the 2MB Mitsubishi MF82M1-77DBT01 (Manufacturer ID=8989h, Device ID=A6A6h), but not the 2MB Mitsubishi MF82M1-77DAT01. Fortunately according to my notes the 2MB Mitsubishi MF82M1-77DAT01 should be functionally equivalent from a programming algorithm point of view to a 2MB Centennial Technologies, Inc. FL02M-15-10138 card (Manufacturer ID=89h, Device ID=A2h) which it explicitly supports, which should essentially be a 2MB Intel 28F008SA Series II Flash Memory Card.

It is also possible to read and write PCMCIA linear flash cards on a Linux system with the MTD (Memory Technology Devices) support in Linux.

http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org/

I was able to get that to work for some cards that are not supported by my device programmer. It was non-trivial to get that to work. I forget the details, I'd have to look back through whatever notes I have on that. I think I had to rebuild some kernel drivers with different options enabled, and maybe make some minor tweaks to the source to get it to work. (Maybe something related to the CONFIG_MTD_PCMCIA_ANONYMOUS option?) I used a desktop PC with a PCI add-in CardBus controller card.

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/75979/post-926316
https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/75979/post-926318

The interesting thing is that one can take the flash cards from different systems DEC once had.
F.e. from all the generations of external raid controllers like HSZxx, HSDxx, HSGxx have the same 2mb flash cards that one can use also in the DECserver900TM, DECserver7xx.

The different Melcards pop up on ebay, but they are also used in music instruments like synthesizers so they are not cheap when offered for those.

I recently picked up a lot of HSJ50 program cards. I could tell from the eBay photos that they were MELCARDs under the HSJ50 labels. The turned out to be a mix of 2MB Mitsubishi MF82M1-77DAT01 and MF82M1-77DBT01. I was lucky and the only bidder and got a good deal. My bid was over twice what I ended up paying. I'll have to dump the contents of those cards to save somewhere before I try reusing them.
 
i have a currently nonfunctional DEChub 900MS that i have plans to eventually build a "retronet" with- essentially a physically segregated portion of my LAN with only old machines. unfortunately it seems like the mainboard is dead and i currently lack the skills to repair it myself so the project is on pause.
 
Just spotted these on Epay,


 
Just spotted these on Epay,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193246604124
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193246604186

Those two have been listed for quite a while. Unless someone needed an old DNAS version V1.3 or V2.0 for some reason, those are a bit expensive.

Someone with a DECserver 700 or DECserver 900 could boot from the DNAS V2.4 WWENG2.SYS load file over the network, and write the boot image to a compatible PCMCIA linear flash card, which can often be found are more reasonable prices.

The DNAS 2.4 CD-ROM image is available. So far I have never seen any newer versions of DNAS CD-ROM images, or newer versions of just the WWENG2.SYS load file.
 
Dear fellow hobbyists,

To answer the original question; I do have some DEChub 90 modules and DEChub 900 modules as well in my collection. Used to work with these a lot in the 90's and even early 2000's.
Great equipment at the time.
If there is interest, I can share information about and pictures of them. Most documents can be found on the net, but I have a fair share as well.

About the various DECservers; the most relevant information has already been discussed earlier. Quite right, the DNAS V3.6 should be the latest published version. If you want to use it, do read the Release Notes as it will not run an all DECservers, because it has to be compatible with the hardware revision and the ROM microcode.

One detail which might not have been mentioned is that the software version on the flash card can be updated by the DECserver itself. You just boot the new image from the LAN and then update the flash.
 
About the various DECservers; the most relevant information has already been discussed earlier. Quite right, the DNAS V3.6 should be the latest published version. If you want to use it, do read the Release Notes as it will not run an all DECservers, because it has to be compatible with the hardware revision and the ROM microcode.

The trick is finding DNAS V3.6 or any version newer than V2.4. I have not seen it show up on Ebay nor any other marketplace in any form in the years I have been looking for it. Vnetek Communications seems to have gone defunct. The web site no longer works. It has a Facebook page that hasn't been updated since 2020.
 
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