TOPS-10 in a Box: Simplified Installation for Historical PDP-10 Operating System
By
exvi
Crackles when you bite it. Shows the baker did the work.
Summary
The article discusses the author's creation of 'TOPS-10 in a Box,' a simplified installation package for running the PDP-10 operating system TOPS-10 on modern PCs. This project responds to growing interest in experiencing historical PDP-10 software, particularly following the discovery of the original Adventure source code. While tools like SIMH and archives like bitsavers.org exist to recreate these systems, the author acknowledges that setup can be challenging for those without historical system administration experience. The article presents the author's solution: a pre-configured, nearly one-click installation that recreates a typical TOPS-10 system from the 1976-1983 period.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledEspecially since Dennis Jerz's discovery of the original Adventure source code, there's been some interest expressed around the IF community and even in academic circles in experiencing PDP-10 software in its original form.
The good news is that, thanks to projects like SIMH and archives like bitsavers.org, the tools are out there to recreate history on an everyday PC.
The bad news, though, is that getting everything working can be tricky for anyone who didn't administrate these systems back in the day.
I thought maybe I could help some others out by offering as close to a one-click installation of a PDP-10 running TOPS-10 as I could manage.
So, here it is: TOPS-10 in a Box, being a typical installation circa 1976-1983.
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