Filesharing a 286 running dos 6.22 and Suse ~ "INTERSRV" <-> "Linux"
Greetings folks, I just recently ran into a dilema. I was handed an old 286 running DOS 6.22 on MFM Harddrives, and told to burn it to CD. The data was a book someone had written. The first problem I had was the BIOS had dumped because it had been shut off for at least a year. No problem, enter the magic numbers and boom it's 1980 Jan 1st, and we have 2 harddrives C: and D: ;o) Second problem was Floppy Disk drive was a 5 1/2" So, trying to back up the data that way was a total joke. After formating several 5 1/2 " floppies and half of em being bad, I quickly decided that was a bad idea. So, what was left? I have no other computers that even USE a 5 1/2" floppy so anything that I was going to put on the 286 was going to be after I ripped the drive out and slaved it into another box. Not to mention the hassle of running that damned setup disk to get into the bios over and over. Even if I Had a spare 3.5" 1.44M floppy (which I don't) it's a pain. I had a null modem cable (parallel) and I used to run interlnk / intersrv all the time back in my bbs days. This I thought would be my best hope. So, I used a win98 box and intersrv on the 286. Sucked the drive dry, burned the requested CD; and hey--now I can nuke the box for parts. ;o) However, in hindsight, I was wondering what in Linux could connect to intersrv on that 286? Getting that win98 box running meant shutting down a Linux workstation. (I didn't like that, it wasn't the end of the world though.) I searched all over and couldn't come up with anything on how to get data transfer from "INTERSRV" to "Linux." If anyone has ever done this, do let me know. I don't expect to have to do this again but, should it come up, I want to be able to do it in the time it takes to connect the cable and copy the data to a linux box. If there is no way to do it with a linux box, then my plan is to rebuild that box into a dual boot, win98 / DOS box. (obviously it won't be a 286 anymore) Just in case I ever have to do that again--purpose the box would be the ability to solve this kind of problem if it ever came up again. It would be a tool I guess. A lot of folks would laugh at this problem, I did too at first, but the data was important on that old 286. Once that was realized it was no longer funny.
Don't give up on the 5 1/2" floppy yet. Did you clean the rw heads with a Q-tip and isopropol alcohol? (Or run one of those cleaning floppies in it?) JLK On Sunday 04 November 2001 05:42, phil wrote:
Greetings folks,
I just recently ran into a dilema. I was handed an old 286 running DOS 6.22 on MFM Harddrives, and told to burn it to CD. The data was a book someone had written.
The first problem I had was the BIOS had dumped because it had been shut off for at least a year. No problem, enter the magic numbers and boom it's 1980 Jan 1st, and we have 2 harddrives C: and D: ;o)
Second problem was Floppy Disk drive was a 5 1/2" So, trying to back up the data that way was a total joke. After formating several 5 1/2 " floppies and half of em being bad, I quickly decided that was a bad idea.
So, what was left? I have no other computers that even USE a 5 1/2" floppy so anything that I was going to put on the 286 was going to be after I ripped the drive out and slaved it into another box. Not to mention the hassle of running that damned setup disk to get into the bios over and over. Even if I Had a spare 3.5" 1.44M floppy (which I don't) it's a pain.
I had a null modem cable (parallel) and I used to run interlnk / intersrv all the time back in my bbs days. This I thought would be my best hope.
So, I used a win98 box and intersrv on the 286. Sucked the drive dry, burned the requested CD; and hey--now I can nuke the box for parts. ;o)
However, in hindsight, I was wondering what in Linux could connect to intersrv on that 286? Getting that win98 box running meant shutting down a Linux workstation. (I didn't like that, it wasn't the end of the world though.) I searched all over and couldn't come up with anything on how to get data transfer from "INTERSRV" to "Linux."
If anyone has ever done this, do let me know. I don't expect to have to do this again but, should it come up, I want to be able to do it in the time it takes to connect the cable and copy the data to a linux box.
If there is no way to do it with a linux box, then my plan is to rebuild that box into a dual boot, win98 / DOS box. (obviously it won't be a 286 anymore) Just in case I ever have to do that again--purpose the box would be the ability to solve this kind of problem if it ever came up again. It would be a tool I guess.
A lot of folks would laugh at this problem, I did too at first, but the data was important on that old 286. Once that was realized it was no longer funny.
Jerry, No, I didn't clean the heads, or run a cleaning floppy in it. That still would solve the problem of none of my other boxes having 5 1/2" 1.2M floppy drives. I could have just bought some new drives. It really wasn't what I was after however. I have a feeling that what I am after is something along the lines of mounting /dev/lp as a file system. But I don't know so I figured I would ask. The laplink cable ought to work to linux, but I am clueless as to how to make it so. Thanks for the ideas and help. On Sunday 04 November 2001 06:39 am, you wrote:
Don't give up on the 5 1/2" floppy yet. Did you clean the rw heads with a Q-tip and isopropol alcohol? (Or run one of those cleaning floppies in it?) JLK
On Sunday 04 November 2001 05:42, phil wrote:
Greetings folks,
I just recently ran into a dilema. I was handed an old 286 running DOS 6.22 on MFM Harddrives, and told to burn it to CD. The data was a book someone had written.
The first problem I had was the BIOS had dumped because it had been shut off for at least a year. No problem, enter the magic numbers and boom it's 1980 Jan 1st, and we have 2 harddrives C: and D: ;o)
Second problem was Floppy Disk drive was a 5 1/2" So, trying to back up the data that way was a total joke. After formating several 5 1/2 " floppies and half of em being bad, I quickly decided that was a bad idea.
So, what was left? I have no other computers that even USE a 5 1/2" floppy so anything that I was going to put on the 286 was going to be after I ripped the drive out and slaved it into another box. Not to mention the hassle of running that damned setup disk to get into the bios over and over. Even if I Had a spare 3.5" 1.44M floppy (which I don't) it's a pain.
I had a null modem cable (parallel) and I used to run interlnk / intersrv all the time back in my bbs days. This I thought would be my best hope.
So, I used a win98 box and intersrv on the 286. Sucked the drive dry, burned the requested CD; and hey--now I can nuke the box for parts. ;o)
However, in hindsight, I was wondering what in Linux could connect to intersrv on that 286? Getting that win98 box running meant shutting down a Linux workstation. (I didn't like that, it wasn't the end of the world though.) I searched all over and couldn't come up with anything on how to get data transfer from "INTERSRV" to "Linux."
If anyone has ever done this, do let me know. I don't expect to have to do this again but, should it come up, I want to be able to do it in the time it takes to connect the cable and copy the data to a linux box.
If there is no way to do it with a linux box, then my plan is to rebuild that box into a dual boot, win98 / DOS box. (obviously it won't be a 286 anymore) Just in case I ever have to do that again--purpose the box would be the ability to solve this kind of problem if it ever came up again. It would be a tool I guess.
A lot of folks would laugh at this problem, I did too at first, but the data was important on that old 286. Once that was realized it was no longer funny.
On November 4, 2001 10:26 am, phil wrote:
Jerry,
No, I didn't clean the heads, or run a cleaning floppy in it. That still would solve the problem of none of my other boxes having 5 1/2" 1.2M floppy drives. I could have just bought some new drives. It really wasn't what I was after however. I have a feeling that what I am after is something along the lines of mounting /dev/lp as a file system. But I don't know so I figured I would ask. The laplink cable ought to work to linux, but I am clueless as to how to make it so.
Why not just hookup the serial ports? http://freshmeat.net/projects/rzsz/ or http://www.ohse.de/uwe/software/lrzsz.html which looks like an improved version. It won't be blinding fast but if all you want to do is transfer some files. The dos system would have to have a terminal program with rz/sz. What's intersrv any way? Nick
On Sunday 04 November 2001 01:40 pm, you wrote:
Why not just hookup the serial ports?
http://freshmeat.net/projects/rzsz/
or
rz/sz that's same thing that dsz.com does if I recall. example (com 1 57600 baud.) dsz port 1 speed 2400 d t that along with running a bbs on the linux side might just work.
which looks like an improved version.
It won't be blinding fast but if all you want to do is transfer some files. The dos system would have to have a terminal program with rz/sz.
I think dsz would be the smallest program that would allow a terminal.
What's intersrv any way?
intersrv is the server portion of interlnk. It comes in dos 6.22 as two files interlnk.exe and intersrv.exe I wish I knew the protocol it used but I don't. Both drive C: and D: simply shows up as a "removable storage device" in explorer in win98. I thank you much for the suggestions.
On November 5, 2001 10:28 am, phil wrote:
On Sunday 04 November 2001 01:40 pm, you wrote:
Why not just hookup the serial ports?
http://freshmeat.net/projects/rzsz/
or
rz/sz that's same thing that dsz.com does if I recall. example (com 1 57600 baud.) dsz port 1 speed 2400 d t that along with running a bbs on the linux side might just work.
No need to do that. Your linux box is a server well accustomed to serial connections. Look at /etc/inittab. Start up a getty on the linux side. That should allow you to login into the linux box. You'll need to check the settings. But once you've logined into the linux box type rz [or whatever you are using to receive] and then from the terminal program tell it to send a file. Onc of these days I'll try to setup my old Mac 512 like this. I like the idea of having a console plus it's gathering dust-) Nick
On Sun, Nov 04, 2001 at 03:42:02AM -0800, phil@osbtown.com wrote:
However, in hindsight, I was wondering what in Linux could connect to intersrv on that 286? Getting that win98 box running meant shutting down a Linux workstation. (I didn't like that, it wasn't the end of the world though.) I searched all over and couldn't come up with anything on how to get data transfer from "INTERSRV" to "Linux."
You can get packet drivers, and a TCPIP stack for DOS - then just run FTP and upload it to the linux box. Or maybe you could use a modem cable and zmodem/kermit/whatever? Or if the MFM controller was on an ISA card, pull it out and stick it in a Linux box? -- David Smith Tel: +44 (0)1454 462380 (direct) STMicroelectronics Fax: +44 (0)1454 617910 1000 Aztec West TINA (ST only): (065) 2380 Almondsbury Home: 01454 616963 BRISTOL Mobile: 07932 642724 BS32 4SQ Work Email: Dave.Smith@st.com Home Email: David.Smith@ds-electronics.co.uk
On Sun, Nov 04, 2001 at 03:42:02AM -0800, phil@osbtown.com wrote:
However, in hindsight, I was wondering what in Linux could connect to intersrv on that 286? Getting that win98 box running meant shutting down a Linux workstation. (I didn't like that, it wasn't the end of the world though.) I searched all over and couldn't come up with anything on how to get data transfer from "INTERSRV" to "Linux."
You can get packet drivers, and a TCPIP stack for DOS - then just run FTP and upload it to the linux box. I have actually seen these packet drivers and TCPIP stack. I believe it was
On Sunday 04 November 2001 08:57 am, you wrote: ppp.zip or something like that. But then does that mean I need to install a network card? Or a modem. (I had neither available)
Or maybe you could use a modem cable and zmodem/kermit/whatever? I am looking at several suggestions in that arena at the moment. minicom to iniquity bbs, dsz to mystic bbs, rz/sz
Or if the MFM controller was on an ISA card, pull it out and stick it in a Linux box? That's an interesting idea I never considered. I never knew you could mix IDE and MFM. That would by far be the fastest method yet.
Thanks for all your input and ideas, they do help.
participants (4)
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Dave Smith -
Jerry Kreps -
Nick Zentena -
phil