This distribution kit contains source and command files to
build a memory resident pseudodisk for RSX-11M or RSX-11M-Plus.
The driver builds as a DX: RX01 floppy disk driver emulator.
You absolutely MUST have a 22-bit machine in order to use
this driver as distributed; this currently means a
PDP-11/23-Plus, 11/44, 11/70 or 11/74.
2.0 Building the Driver
To build the driver, put all the distribution files in a
(preferably) empty UIC and invoke the build command file, SLGEN.
This build file is quite intelligent and almost completely
automatic. It should be able, without manual intervention, to
build a driver for your system.
3.0 When Starting Up Your System
A template command file to install and remove the resident
disk is provided. RESDSK.STA is the startup file. Note that it
makes use of (M V3.2 and M-Plus V1.0) unsupported features in the
indirect command file processor to parse and pass a command line.
RSX-11M users will have to forget about the single command line
feature unless the proper patches to BIGIND to support those
features have been made.
Please note that RSX-11M systems must have previously VMRed
a RESDSK partition into the system; RSX-11M-Plus loads the disk
partition in GEN, on the high end. If you have other things
which go in the high end of GEN, the resident disk and its data
partition must be loaded first.
4.0 If Your System Already Supports a DX: Driver
If your system already supports a DX: driver, certain
changes in in the data base, file names, and the command file to
reflect a different driver name must be made. This is not
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difficult. As most systems do not support both DX: and DY:
devices, a good alternate name for this "device" might be DY:.
5.0 Caveat, RSX-11M Users
Conditionalization of the data base for RSX-11M has been
done, but no guarantee is made that this driver works on RSX-11M
systems. This is particularly true on systems with less than 128
K, because this disk builds for a 512 block (128 K) disk.
6.0 Problems, Suggestions, Further Information
For those who may be interested, a formal treatment of
theory and implementation of memory resident disks will be found
in the Proceedings of the Fall 1982 DECUS Symposium.
If you have problems or suggestions regarding this driver,
please submit them - in writing with pertinent documentation - to
the author at the address below. Phone calls and in-person
visits regarding this package will be politely refused.
Bruce R. Mitchell
3M Engineering Systems and Technology
Building 518-1
3M Center
St. Paul, Minnesota
55144