Vax Charon Emulator

[Duncan Crichton]

We have been told to use Vax Charon to connect to a Wintel platform. We need to install VMS6.2 can anyone give any advice into what we need to do

[Volker Halle]

Duncan,

first, you may need to buy a CHARON-VAX license and kit. You can find CHARON resellers near you using:

http://www.softresint.com/representations.htm#ho

Then you need to install and configure CHARON-VAX on your WIndows PC. This will provide a 'virtual emulated VAX' running on Windows.

You can then either install OpenVMS VAX from CD or use some tool (VAXELN system, which can use DECnet to copy files) to get a copy of your existing OpenVMS VAX disks to the CHARON-VAX disks. Then boot your VAX system disk on the CHARON-VAX.

Volker.

PS: There is also a CHARON-VAX/Demo version and a free VAX emulator called simh.

[Robert Gezelter]

Duncan,

Charon VAX is an implementation of a VAX emulator that runs on Wintel platforms, among others.

Once the emulator is installed, a normal installation is performed, generally from a CDROM (or simulated CDROM). It is also possible to restore the backup image of an existing VAX configuration, but the precise process depends upon the exact configurations of the two systems.

I admit puzzlement by the phrasing "... use Vax Charon to connect to a a Wintel platform." Perhaps a clarification of the term "connect" in this context would be helpful?

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[Duncan Crichton]

When I said connect, all I really need to know is how easy is it to configure the Wintel platform as VAX-VMS6.2. The customer has alread bought the Vax Charon emulator and license. If it replicates a VAX there shouldn't really be any problem as I assume it is then the same as using a VAX

[Volker Halle]

Duncan,

you configure the CHARON-VAX (disks, serial lines etc.) using a text .cfg file. Then you start the CHARON-VAX emulator and you'll see the familiar selftest display and the '>>>' prompt. From there on a VAX is a VAX is a VAX...

Getting the contents of the existing disks over to CHARON-VAX may be a little tricky, if you've never done that before.

Enjoy,

Volker.

[Volker Halle]

Duncan,

if you want to prepare yourself and practise using CHARON-VAX, you should download (less than 6 MB) the CHARON-VAX/Demo version from

http://www.softresint.com/charon-vax/Tools_and_tips.htm#demo

Then install it on your PC and see how it works. The GUI for starting it is a little bit different than the CHARON-VAX commercial version, but as soon as you see the '>>>' prompt, you'll feel at home ;-)

Volker.

[Robert Gezelter]

Duncan,

I agree with Volker. Charon is generally not difficult. For practice, the personal use one is definitely worth the effort (and it was rather entertaining to see someone looking at my mobile's screen at 35,000 ft., clearly recognizing the MicroVAX startup sequence).

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[Hoff]

There's an introduction to hardware emulation as related to OpenVMS here:

http://64.223.189.234/node/70

If you're getting going and experimenting here, SIMH is available at no cost. (This simply for the startup costs for a quick experiment or a test; this is not to dissuade you from the SRI products SIMH isn't supported. The SRI products are.)

[Duncan Crichton]

I have received answers to my question