A restored PDP-11/83 is presented as a fully operational system running 2.11BSD with a Mentec M11A single-board CPU that consolidates processor and onboard memory. The setup spans two Q-bus chassis linked by M9404/M9405 adapters and combines classic DEC and aftermarket controllers: RQDX3 for MFM disks and RX50 floppies, Emulex UC07 bridging SCSI disk and TKZ50 tape, M8061 RLV12 for RL02 drives, a KDA50 pair providing MSCP access to RA82/RA92 arrays, DEQNA Ethernet for TCP/IP, and an M3104 serial multiplexer for terminals. Storage includes MSCP RA8x/RA9x disks, an MFM bootstrap/swap disk, RX50 floppies, RL02 images and tape backups. A small native HTTP server and the BSD networking stack expose live kernel and process activity through a cached webtop snapshot.
The presentation emphasizes architecture and maintenance specifics: 22-bit memory management, SPL-aware drivers, MSCP uniform disk/tape handling, console ODT for diagnostics, and Q-bus grant continuity across chassis. Boot choices include MSCP disk and RL02, with backup rotation to TKZ50 and periodic RL02 imaging; ODT scripts speed diagnostics. Reliability measures include a front-end cache, five-second webtop snapshot caching, paused updates when hidden, and source/assets preserved in Git. The result is a working, preserved PDP-11 environment that demonstrates vintage hardware, storage paths, and live UNIX operation.
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Gravity Linux has released an early alpha version for the M4 Mac mini, supporting GPU and DCP features. The release is aimed at developers for testing and bug fixing, with several known limitations and ongoing development plans. (gravitylinux.org)
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Google has launched new laptops priced at over $899 that feature integrated AI capabilities. These devices are produced by major manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus. (bloomberg.com)
Raspberry Pi has implemented a restriction that prevents users from changing or upgrading the RAM chips on their devices. This move limits user repairability and upgrade options for Raspberry Pi hardware. (forums.raspberrypi.com)
NEC V20 CPU offers a performance boost for IBM XT computers, providing an upgrade option. It enhances processing capabilities, extending the life and utility of vintage hardware. (dfarq.homeip.net)
The Raspberry Pi 5 EEPROM update now prevents users from manually upgrading the RAM. This change aims to improve security and stability of the device. (reddit.com)
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