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💻1980s PDP-11 Still Running Unix, Shows Old Hardware in Action

An 80s minicomputer running Unix is still alive and kicking

TL;DR

A 1980s PDP-11 minicomputer is still running Unix, displaying live processes every five seconds. Visitors can watch but not control the machine, which includes upgrades like a Mentec M11 CPU and 4MB RAM.

A 1980s PDP-11 minicomputer is still running Unix, showing off its live processes every five seconds. This relic from the past is a fascinating look at how old hardware and software work together to bring an internet presence to life. If you're into retro computing or nostalgic for the early days of the web, this is a must-see. The machine, a PDP-11/83, has been upgraded with a Mentec M11 CPU complex and 4MB of RAM, running inetd, ftpd, httpd, and sendmail to manage its web and email presence.

1980s PDP-11 Still Running Unix, Shows Old Hardware in Action — theregister

Key Points

1

A 1980s PDP-11/83 minicomputer runs Unix, displaying live processes every five seconds.

2

The machine has a Mentec M11 CPU complex and 4MB of RAM, a significant upgrade from its original specs.

3

Visitors can watch the hardware at work but cannot issue commands themselves, ensuring the machine's stability.

4

The process list includes inetd, ftpd, httpd, and sendmail, showcasing how old systems managed web and email.

5

The site is a tie-in to the author's love for Task Manager, which started when they were a kid in the 80s.

Why It Matters

If you're into retro computing or nostalgic for the early days of the web, this PDP-11 running Unix is a must-see. It shows how old hardware and software work together to bring an internet presence to life, with upgrades like a Mentec M11 CPU and 1980s disks, tapes, and terminals.

PDP-11Unixretrominicomputer1980s

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