File: README.1ST    RT-11  DISTRIBUTIONS  V5-0

This CD of RT-11 distributions holds twenty-four binary RT-11 distributions
for V05.07 and prior.  In addition, this CD contains RT-11 file structures
along with the normal ISO9660 file structure.  Individuals who have access
to hardware and software which can read the CD correctly (in an emulated
512 byte block file format under either a real DEC PDP-11 or an emulated
PDP-11) will be able to BOOT V05.03 of RT-11 directly from this CD.

Although this CD is probably not unique in having two file structures, it
is probably one of the very few in which the files are NOT duplicated.  The
actual contents of each file are present on the CD only ONCE.  While most
users will look at only the ISO9660 file structure, all of the file entries
within the four RT-11 file structures (one is required for each 32 MByte
RT-11 partition and each have exactly 65536 blocks) point to the same
location on the CD insofar as each file is concerned.

There was no contact at all, in respect of the production of this CD, with
Mentec, DEC, Compaq or HP.  None of these four companies provided any of
the files.  None helped to verify that the files are correct.  Future
support is not anticipated and will not be requested.  A license from one
or more of the companies is required to legally use any of the RT-11
distributions.  Hobby users have been provided with a license from Mentec
to use V05.03 and prior distributions of RT-11 under the Supnik emulator.

Both V1-0 and V5-0 of this CD were being prepared at about the same time.
It was anticipated that the extra eleven binary RT-11 distributions on
V5-0 would result in a very different CD.  V1-0 of this CD ended up being
identical as to the file structures and the total space allocation for
each file.  However, if this file is V1-0, then the contents of all of
the RT-11 distributions after V05.03 of RT-11 contain zeros.  On the other
hand, if this file is V5-0, then this CD is available only to those users,
companies and individuals who have a legal license for V05.07 of RT-11 and
have requested a complete set of RT-11 distributions on a single CD.

Future CDs for the current versions (V1-0 and V5-0) will be produced as
significant improvements become available.  In addition, a second set of
CDs, V2-0 and V6-0 have been started which will contain layered products
such as FORTRAN IV, FORTRAN 77, Multi-User Basic and C.  Source files
for all distributions are also a goal for inclusion.

If you are reading V1-0 of this file via Usenet or Google, then it is
possible to download a Zipped copy of the file image for the CD at:
http://www.classiccmp.org/PDP-11/RT-11/dists/RT11DV10.ISO.zip
If you are reading V5-0 of this file, then it is most likely that it
is on the actual CD or at least from a file image of the CD.  If you
are a commercial user reading V1-0 of this file and are legally licensed
to use V05.07 of RT-11, you can request a copy of the CD from:
"RT-11 Distributions" <[email protected]>
or alternatively via the Usenet groups alt.sys.pdp11 or vmsnet.pdp-11
Commercial users who have a license for a distribution of RT-11 prior to
V05.07 may also request a customized copy of V5-0 of the CD with the
RT-11 distributions they are not licensed for set to zeros.



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This file contains important information which even some expert RT-11
users will wish to know.  It is STRONGLY suggested that everyone read
this complete file even if they are an expert under RT-11.

These RT-11 distributions were made available from almost a dozen sources
over many decades.  As a result, there are just too many people to whom
acknowledgement is due without having to leave out some individuals for
whom there is no longer even a name.  If you are one of the many people
who helped, THANK YOU!

A pristine RT-11 distribution is defined as:

(a) Originally being directly made by DEC
(b) Copied file by file to a media which was originally all zeros so that
    no additional non-zero data is included except when DEC decided to
    distribute files which were not documented
(c) The RT-11 Volume ID and Owner are correct
(d) The order of the files is correct
(e) If the file image also contains boot information which is sufficient
    to allow the image to be booted using real DEC hardware or an
    emulator, then any files which were modified as a result of a boot
    operation (such as LD.SYS) were returned to their original state
(f) Any file which contains no valid information (such as SWAP.SYS) was
    zeroed

Although DEC did produce pristine distributions for some distributions,
in many cases not all of the above criteria were used.  In particular,
items (e) and (f) were usually not considered and item (b) was often
a problem for unused blocks of the media.  This CD of RT-11 distributions
contains file images that, as much as is possible, adhere to the above
criteria.

Since it is hoped that additional versions of RT-11 will be found in the
future (and perhaps are already available but not known about when these
RT-11 distributions are being copied), periodic updates will be made.
It is also very likely that some of information in this file and in the
file images is incorrect.  It would be very appreciated if corrections
are provided.  Please send an email with the information to Usenet or to:
"RT-11 Distributions" <[email protected]>

If an image file of this CD is being used (probably under an emulator), the
image file should ALWAYS be used in a READ ONLY mode.  Each of the three
bootable RT-11 partitions contain file directories which cover the bootable
distributions TWICE, first as the last RL02 image followed by over two
hundred files which are contained within that same RL02 image.  As before,
the actual file contents are not duplicated.  This highly unusual situation
was produced by manually setting the fifth word of the second directory
segment (starting block number of the first file in that directory segment)
back to the actual block number where the file (SWAP.SYS in this case)
begins within the RT-11 partition (RT-11 does not try to check the value).
Although a limited set of changes might be possible for those experts who
are fully aware of the potential disaster which any changes might produce,
it is strongly suggested that none are likely to be worth the attempt.

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One problem that is known about is when the PUTR utility by John Wilson
is used to copy any of the files from the RT-11 directories for the
bootable RT-11 partitions.  While the large image files of complete RT-11
distributions can be copied using PUTR, it is not possible, at the time
this CD is being prepared, to use PUTR to copy ANY of the individual files
within any of the bootable RT-11 distributions, specifically for V05.03 of
RT-11.  John Wilson is aware of the problem; hopefully it will eventually
be fixed, although if an actual CD is being used, just copy the file (under
the ISO9660 file structure on the CD) in the normal manner to a file on the
hard drive and avoid the problem.  In the interim, when any individual file
within any of the bootable RT-11 distributions of RT-11 is needed, starting
with the file SWAP.SYS, first copy that bootable RT-11 file image for that
distribution (such as RTV5RL.03) to a file on the hard drive.  Then MOUNT
that file image so that any individual file can be copied.  A copy of PUTR
can be obtained from John Wilson at http://www.dbit.com/pub/putr/

The choice of which RT-11 distributions are included on this CD is based on
the following criteria:

(a) All available RT-11 distributions are included in addition to those  
    which hobby users are allowed to legally run under the SIMH emulator;  
    SIMH can be found at: http://simh.trailing-edge.com/
(b) For V05.0x distributions, an RL02 image is included
(c) Prior to V05.00, an original RK05 image is included whenever possible
    in preference to any other media.
(d) If an RK05 image is not available, then a group of RX01 images is the
    only other choice.  For this case, an RK05 file image is also present,
    but the Volume ID and Owner are probably not correct nor are the files
    likely to be in the same order as for the DEC version; however, at
    least there is the convenience of being able to use a single file
    image.  For V01-15, a rare DT file image is available which is almost
    certainly incomplete; a bootable RK05 file image is also present.

All file names are 6 alphanumeric characters followed by at least the
character "0" for the file type when there is no explicit sub-version,
such as for V03 of RT-11.  When the subversion is an integral portion
of the RT-11 version such as for V03B, then the file type is the single
character "B".  The naming conventions for the files on this CD are:

RTVnmd.sss     where

RT  is for RT-11 binary distributions
Vn  is for the primary version number and is one of V01, V02, V03, V04
    or V05
md  is for the media of the single bootable file image
    DT is for DecTape images
    R1 is for RX01 images for which there will be individual subsets
    R2 is for RX02 images for which there will be individual subsets
    R5 is for RX50 images for which there will be individual subsets
    RK is for RK05 images
    RL is for RL02 images
sss is the sub-version as best as it can be represented


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            File: README.1ST    RT-11  DISTRIBUTIONS  V5-0

For RX01 media, the internal file images are indented.  The internal
file image names use the "md" portion of the name as "n of total" for
each of the files (hopefully total will never exceed 9).  When there
is also a separate "Auto-Install" file image, "md" will be the two
characters "AU".  Some of the information which follows may not be
correct and the files in the images may not be in the correct order.
Where the level of confidence is not of the highest level that the
information is correct and that the files are in the correct order,
then that file is flagged with an asterisk "*".  For a few of the
file images for RL02 media, only RX02 file images could be found.
For these isolated cases, the order of the files within the RL02
file image was assumed to be the same as the order from a previous
or a subsequent RT-11 binary RL02 distribution which was available.

In addition, for the very early distributions of RT-11, especially
V01-15, V02B and V02C, while every effort was made to include as many
files in the distribution as possible, it is very likely that many
files are missing, especially the source files which are needed for
to generate a monitor or a device driver.  V03 and V03B distributions
are also suspect, although an examination of these two distributions
shows that most, if not all of the files to be expected are present.

On the other hand, because there is often more than one distribution
of RT-11 available for V02B, V02C, V03 and V03B, it is difficult to
decide which is a more accurate reflection of the historical situation
during the first decade of the emergence of RT-11 as one of the major
operating systems for the PDP-11 computer from DEC.  Although it seems
doubtful, at this point, that anyone will actually be concerned, let
alone look at the actual files or even use them in some manner, the
attempt to reconcile which set of files are the most appropriate will
continue for the files in the very early distributions of RT-11 prior
to V4.00 of RT-11.  Most specifically, V03B seems to have been used over
an extended period of time, probably for about three years.  The V30B
included on this CD is seems to be from a point near the end of those
years and includes the relatively new DD (DecTape II) and PD (for the
PDT-11) device drivers.  If there is a request to include some of the
many alternative distributions for V02B, V02C, V03 or V03B, please make
the request known via an email to Usenet or at:
"RT-11 Distributions" <[email protected]>

AND FINALLY, a full size and complete RK05 file image is 4800 blocks
and a full size and a complete RL02 file image is 20450 blocks. However,
it can be seen that neither the RK05 nor the RL02 file images have that
many blocks.  While the CD is able to hold full size file images without
any impact (most of the CD is empty), in an effort to reduce the number
of RT-11 partitions, all of the blocks in each RK05 file image and RL02
file image which are all zeros AFTER the end of all of the files within
the RT-11 file directory have been omitted.  For this reason, two empty
file images, ZERORK.DSK (with 4800 blocks or a total of 2,457,600 bytes)
and ZERORL.DSK (with 20450 blocks or a total of 10,470,400 bytes) are
present on the CD.  Under V05.03 of RT-11, the command:
COPY/DEVICE/FILE DU3:ZERORL.DSK  DL0:
can be used to copy ZERORL.DSK from DU3: to clear all of DL0: (substitute

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            File: README.1ST    RT-11  DISTRIBUTIONS  V5-0

RK0: for DL0: when an RK05 is being used).  Obviously the user must be
within RT-11 to execute this command.  Another alternative is to copy the
file from the CD to a file on the hard drive and use that individual file
image as a device in the command:
COPY/DEVICE  DU0:  DL0:

If the user has the "Full" (Commercial) version of Ersatz-11 and wishes
to use a "RAM:" disk under that emulator, the command is:
MOUNT  DL0:  RAM:/RL02/SIZE:10470400 (Use 20450 blocks after V3.1)
Any other size will probably not work correctly.  Also, the "/RL02"
switch must be first.  Initially, RAM: is always cleared.

Note that the size of ZERODL.DSK is larger than the user area by
30 blocks or 15,360 bytes since it includes the system area required
by both SIMH and Ersatz-11 during the RT-11 command: INITIALIZE  DL0:
Under SIMH:       ATTACH  RL0:  ZERODL.DSK
Under Ersatz-11:  MOUNT   DL0:  ZERODL.DSK
Consequently, ZERODL.DSK is for use ONLY when running RT-11 under an
emulator such as SIMH or Ersatz-11.  If the user needs a file under
RT-11 which is exactly the size which RT-11 specifies for the user
area (namely 20450 blocks), use the file ZERORL.DSK which is exactly
20450 blocks.  Obviously the file ZERORK.DSK can be used for any empty
RK05 image under both real DEC hardware and an emulator.  The three
files discussed in this paragraph can be found within the fourth RT-11
partition (RT-11 partition three or PART=3 or DU3:).

File Name       Media   Version   Date Issued   Volume ID      Owner
---------       -----   -------   -----------   ------------   -------------

README.1ST      This file         31-Oct-1998
README.2ND      Important RT-11 information on the access of RT-11 partitions
RTV1DT.15 *     DT      V01-15    25-Jul-1973   RT-11 V01-15   DEC
RTV1RK.15 *     RK05    V01-15    25-Jul-1973   RT-11 V01-15   DEC
RTV2R1.B **     n/a     V02B      01-May-1975   RT-11 V02B     DEC
  RTV212.B *    RX01    V02B      01-May-1975   ORTSA-A-YB1    DEC DISTRIB
  RTV222.B *    RX01    V02B      01-May-1975   ORTSA-A-YB2    DEC DISTRIB
RTV2RK.B *      RK05    V02B      01-May-1975   ORTSA-A-YB     DEC DISTRIB
RTV2R1.C **     n/a     V02C      20-Nov-1975   RT-11 V02C     DEC
  RTV213.C *    RX01    V02C      20-Nov-1975   ORTSA-B-YB1    DEC DISTRIB
  RTV223.C *    RX01    V02C      20-Nov-1975   ORTSA-B-YB2    DEC DISTRIB
  RTV233.C *    RX01    V02C      20-Nov-1975   ORTSA-B-YB3    DEC DISTRIB
RTV2RK.C *      RK05    V02C      20-Nov-1975   ORTSA-B-YB     DEC DISTRIB
RTV3R1.0 **     n/a     V03       14-Aug-1977   RT-11 V03      DEC
  RTV319.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC1    DX1 DISTRIB
  RTV329.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC2    DX2 DISTRIB
  RTV339.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC3    DX3 DISTRIB
  RTV349.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC4    DX4 DISTRIB
  RTV359.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC5    DX5 DISTRIB
  RTV369.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC6    DX6 DISTRIB
  RTV379.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC7    DX7 DISTRIB
  RTV389.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC8    DX8 DISTRIB
  RTV399.0      RX01    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YC9    DX9 DISTRIB
RTV3RK.0 *      RK05    V03       14-Aug-1977   ORTSB-A-YB     DEC DISTRIB

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            File: README.1ST    RT-11  DISTRIBUTIONS  V5-0

File Name       Media   Version   Date Issued   Volume ID      Owner
---------       -----   -------   -----------   ------------   -------------

RTV3R1.B **     n/a     V03B      27-Mar-1979   RT-11 V03B     DEC
  RTV319.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5777C-BC    DX1 DISTRIB
  RTV329.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5779C-BC    DX2 DISTRIB
  RTV339.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5780C-BC    DX3 DISTRIB
  RTV349.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5781C-BC    DX4 DISTRIB
  RTV359.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5782C-BC    DX5 DISTRIB
  RTV369.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5783C-BC    DX6 DISTRIB
  RTV379.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-5784C-BC    DX7 DISTRIB
  RTV389.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-H756C-BC    DX8 DISTRIB
  RTV399.B      RX01    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AS-H757C-BC    DX9 DISTRIB
RTV3RK.B *      RK05    V03B      27-Mar-1979   AN-5752B-BC    RK05 DISTRIB
RTV4RK.00       RK05    V04.00    21-Feb-1980   AN-5752C-BC    RT-11 V04.00
RTV4RK.00C *    RK05    V04.00C   01-Feb-1982   AN-5752D-BC    RT-11 V04.00C
RTV5RL.00       RL02    V05.00    12-Mar-1983   BC-P607A-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.01       RL02    V05.01    01-Feb-1984   BC-P607B-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.01B      RL02    V05.01B   19-Mar-1984   BC-P607C-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.01C      RL02    V05.01C   01-Sep-1984   BC-P607D-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.02       RL02    V05.02    17-Jun-1985   BC-P607E-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.03       RL02    V05.03    20-Dec-1985   BC-P607F-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.03S      Dummy file required on the CD for the next RT-11 partition
                                                                 
RTV5RL.04       RL02    V05.04    03-Sep-1986   BC-P607G-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04A      RL02    V05.04A   05-Jan-1986   BC-P607H-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04B      RL02    V05.04B   04-May-1987   BC-P607I-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04C      RL02    V05.04C   02-Sep-1987   BC-P607J-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04D      RL02    V05.04D   17-Nov-1987   BC-P607K-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04E      RL02    V05.04E   01-May-1988   BC-P607L-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04F      RL02    V05.04F   06-Sep-1988   BC-P607M-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.04G      RL02    V05.04G   19-Dec-1988   BC-P607N-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.05       RL02    V05.05    31-Oct-1989   BC-P607O-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.06       RL02    V05.06    31-Aug-1992   BC-P607P-BC    RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.06S      Dummy file required on the CD for the next RT-11 partition

RTV5RL.07       RL02    V05.07    31-Oct-1998   480046511      RL2 1/1
RTV5RL.07S      Dummy file required on the CD for the next RT-11 partition

ZERODL.DSK      RL02    n/a    This file contains all zeros in the user area
                               and is for use only under SIMH or Ersatz-11
ZERORK.DSK      RK05    n/a    This file contains all zeros
ZERORL.DSK      RL02    n/a    This file contains all zeros

*  Some of these fields may be incorrect along with the order of the files

** Although this file contains all of the file images for the complete
   distribution, this file is NOT a DEC RT-11 distribution, but can be
   MOUNTed as a "subset" under any V05.0x distribution of RT-11;  PUTR
   can also be used in a similar manner to obtain the actual file images




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