Serial Number Configuration Utility for UPG3600 Owners

Within each original GCA 3600/3600F pattern generator is a BOOT ROM used to load the Master Operating System (MOP) from 9-track mag tape. At the end of this 64-word (128 byte) ROM are two locations which define the serial number of the machine and certain of its options. The BOOT ROM normally covers the area of memory between 173000 (octal) and 173176 (octal) and contains the following:

173000.. 046524 000176 000261 012700 000000 012701 172522 010704

173020.. 103050 000411 165020 000340 012700 000001 000766 012700

173040.. 000001 000261 000762 010003 000303 010311 006011 177776

173060.. 103375 012761 177777 000002 052711 060011 105711 100376

173100.. 005711 100415 012761 177000 000002 011103 042703 000377

173120.. 152703 000003 010311 105111 100376 005711 100004 000005

173140.. 000724 000137 165564 042711 000377 005007 000000 000000

173160.. 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 023036 037760 010006

If you are an owner of an original pattern generator (controlled by the DEC PDP-11/04) then you can usually examine this memory area using ODT (the Octal Debug Tool) as follows:

• at the ODT prompt (usually @ or $) type L 773000 followed by the Enter key
  
• type E then the space-bar to examine the ROM addresses in sequence.

The values of interest are in the last two locations of the table above ( octal 037760 and 010006 in this example ) and are unique to each machine.

Our UPG3600 software ships with some general default settings for these locations which work for most machines, and, where possible, we try to get customers to tell us the values in these locations so that we can customise the UPG3600 software accordingly.

Alternatively, you can download a DOS utility (in ZIPped form) from here which will do the customisation for you as follows:

• Examine the locations of interest in your pattern generator using ODT and note the values at locations 173174₈ and 173176₈
• Copy the programme SERNUM.EXE, that you downloaded above, into the directory that holds the copy of UPG3600.EXE that came with the UPG3600 upgrade kit. Make a backup copy of UPG3600.EXE just in case.
• At the DOS prompt, type SERNUM, follwed by the Enter key. The startup screen will appear as shown below:

• Press |Load| to load the current settings defined in the UPG3600.EXE file. Enter the desired values from your BOOT ROM into the two input lines shown.
• Press |Save| to write the changes to the UPG3600.EXE file.
• Press |Done| to put away the dialogue box, and then <Alt-X> to exit the programme.

The UPG3600.EXE should now be properly customised to match the original system. At startup, in Control Mode, the introductory message should now show a serial number which matches your original installation.

If you have any questions about this software, or need further information, please contact us

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