 
What it is:

        An RD54 disk image containing the VAX/VMS 4.6 & 4.7 installation media
        and layered products, building a VAX 8650 with 256mb memory under
        SimH v4 beta. Oh, and the "A" at the end of the RD54 disk label just
        indicates that I built it.

        This installation is more complex than the previous 4.6 version, in that
        I could not find a directly installable 4.7 distribution anywhere. The steps
        you need to follow to get to 4.7 are as follows:

        1) Install the VMS 4.6 and MUP using Standalone backup on the RD54 disk.
           (File: vms046-MUP-install-prep-for-4.7-upgrade.txt)
        2) Install DECnet
           (File: vms047 netrtg install.txt)
        3) UPGRADE your VMS 4.6 installation to VMS 4.7 AND install the two security updates.
           (File: vms047 upgrade and MUP install.txt)
        4) Copy and configure anything you want from the [extras] file
           (no example supplied)
        5) Install any of the layered products you wish to use. All included LP's
           will install, but some have dependencies - notibly LSE and FMS which
           I can't find. Use VMSINSTAL to install them.
           (FILE: vms047 product installs.txt) ==> Read through this document carefully before installing!

        While VAX/VMS 4.7 is a pretty ancient version of the operating system,
        it does have the advantages of less bloat and the last VMS version with NO REQUIREMENT FOR A PAK.

        The top directory on the RD54 contains all the OS and MUP/SecUP files needed for installation.

        Included on the RD54 is a subdirectory named [PRODUCTS] which contains:

         1) BASIC       v3.2
         2) BLS320      V4.4
         3) CDD         V3.4 (requires FMS & LSE)
         4) CMS         V3.0
         5) CMU-TEK-65  Several versions (no installations tried)
         6) COBOL       V4.1
         7) DECNET      Phase IV, both routing and non-routing)
         8) DIL         V2.0
         9) DTR         V4.1 (installs with CDD, fails remote DB IVP)
        10) DTR         V4.2 (Has unfulfilled dependency on CDD)
        11) EXTRAS      No versions
        12) FORT        V4.7
        13) FORT048     V4.8
        14) LAV         V1.0
        15) MMS         V2.4
        16) PASCAL      V3.7
        17) RDBVMSDEV   V2.3 (Fails remote DB IVP)
        18) RSX         V2.3
        19) VAXC        V2.4 (Installs, but fails IVP)
        20) VMSSHD      V1.0

        DECnet Phase IV is fully functional as far as I can determine, as are
        the compilers.

        The installation procedure is adapted from Phil Wherry’s excellent 
        guide at: http://www.wherry.com/gadgets/retrocomputing/vax-simh.html

        If you wish to use the SimH V39, as detailed in Phil’s guide, start
        your search here: http://simh.trailing-edge.com. Beta source may be
        found on GIThub and is not difficult to build.

        Another excellent reference and FAQ well worth looking at may be found
        here: http://www.hoffmanlabs.org/vmsfaq/vmsfaq.html.

        And thanks to everyone in comp.os.vms newsgroup for the tips and pointers.

        See in-line comments within TESTVAX.INI for configuration details and
        the installation example in the /doc directory.

        This kit was built using a number of different internet sources, mostly
        TU58, TK50  and 9Track tape images, and the archivists who keep these
        images alive have my eternal gratitude.

        No Product Authorisation Keys (PAK's) are needed for this installation.

Enjoy!

Andy Hoffman
SenaCal Consulting Ltd. UK
