From: seaohveh@hoffmanlabs.invalid   
      
   On 2025-12-01 01:21:59 +0000, Arne Vajhøj said:   
      
   > On 11/30/2025 7:33 PM, Rich Alderson wrote:   
   >> kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:   
   >>> In article <10gd7ig$6g5c$1@mail.neurotica.com>,   
   >>> Dave McGuire   wrote:   
   >>>> Hi folks, I thought some here might be interested to hear that we at   
   >>>> the Large Scale Systems Museum have gotten our VAX-11/780 to the point   
   >>>> where it will boot VMS.  We fixed a list of hardware issues as long as   
   >>>> my arm, but it runs, and it runs great.   
   >>   
   >>>> Next on the list for that machine is the addition of a DEUNA Ethernet   
   >>>> controller and a permanent system disk.  (For our final testing we   
   >>>> borrowed the VMS v4.7 system disk, an RA90, from our VAX-11/750.)   
   >>   
   >>> What's the last version of VMS that can run on that machine?  I may have   
   >>> a Multinet kit for it but I think I gave my DEUNAs both away.   
   >>   
   >> We ran 7.3 on our 11/780-5 (a field upgraded 780) at Living Computers.   
   >   
   > I don't think DEC/CPQ/HPE would have supported it.   
   >   
   > VMS 7.1 SPD state:   
   >   
   >    
   > VMS V5.1 was the final version to support the   
   > VAX-11/725.   
   >   
   > OpenVMS VAX Version 6.2 was the final version to sup-   
   > port the following:   
   > VAX-11/730   
   > VAX-11/750   
   > VAX-11/751   
   > VAX-11/780   
   > VAX-11/782   
   > VAX-11/785   
   >    
   >   
   > But if it runs then it runs.   
   >   
   > And both 6.2 and 7.3 are generally out of support and has been   
   > so for many years anyway.   
   >   
   > Arne   
      
   Having been directly involved in researching and writing that   
   particular SPD text, the removal of VAX/VMS and OpenVMS VAX support for   
   those VAX systems was promulgated for two reasons:   
      
   1: no supported optical media devices on those VAX models, and no   
   InfoServer boot, and no media; no then-available TK50, 9 track magtape,   
   RC25, or other supported boot media at the Digital Equipment   
   Corporation (DEC) Software Distribution Center (SDC) / Software Supply   
   Business (SSB),   
      
   2: no then-working VAX ystems to test and troubleshoot with, so   
   software support was going to be difficult or intractable for any   
   platform-specific issues.   
      
   DEC could no longer source quantities of blank TK50 or older supported   
   media for those installs and upgrades.   
      
   Which meant those VAX systems need entirely-feasible but less than   
   easily supported shenanigans for performing OpenVMS VAX installations   
   and upgrades.   
      
   Nothing was done to OpenVMS VAX to prevent those VAX systems from   
   booting, and OpenVMS VAX V7.3 will boot and work just fine — assuming   
   sufficient main memory available, and assuming a system manager / admin   
   knowledgable in shuffing OpenVMS VAX installers around and with some   
   spare / swappable storage ardware.   
      
      
      
      
      
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