RETRONET is an open-application collaborative vintage computing resource. It is meant to provide people who are interested in old computers free access to older systems, both physical and simulated, as well as inspire use of these systems in the ways they originally were; set up your .plan file so others can learn about you, ask questions of others via internal messaging systems if you see they know something you are curious about, and learn the ins and outs in a collaborative, communal way.
Eventually there will probably be a Discord server or something like that to gather everyone, but obviously you would be encouraged to use that only when necessary. :)
Systems enrolled in RETRONET and associated information. Each system has its own page, with information about how to get started, what is available to you, and other useful information.
Each OS has a short guide and links to further documentation to assist you with getting started:
All machines are available via warden.rsx11m.io and accessible with the following connection details. Some machines will require a specific client to connect, recommendations are as follows:
3270/5250:
telnet:
| System name | System HW/OS | Access via | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVEL | IBM AS/400-170, OS/400 V4R4 | 5250: | System is running the demopkg so all compilers and programming tools are installed. It is unlicensed so every couple of months it will go down for a fresh install. Backups to tape will be performed regularly so your data will be saved and restored but I recommend you also keep local copies of your user library. |
| BEASTIE | DEC PDP-11/70 (PiDP-11), 2.11BSD | Telnet: | Named for the BSD Daemon. |
| HL-COS | Cray X-MP (cray-sim), COS 1.17 | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-HUSTLER | CDC Cyber 875 (DtCyber), SCOPE/HUSTLER | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-ITS | DEC PDP-10 (OpenSIMH), ITS | Telnet: | Placeholder name. Available only over authpf. |
| HL-MPE | HP 3000/58 (OpenSIMH), MPE V | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-MULTICS | Honeywell DPS-8 (dps8m), Multics MR12.8 | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-MVS | IBM System/360 (Hyperion), MVS TK5 update 2 | 3270: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-NOS | CDC Cyber 875 (DtCyber), NOS 2.8.7 | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-TOPS | DEC PDP-10 (OpenSIMH), TOPS-20 Panda | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| HL-UNICOS | Cray X-MP (cray-sim), UNICOS 10.0.1.2 | Telnet: | Placeholder name. |
| MICROFRAME | IBM P/390, varies | Access limited to bona fide developers with a need to test their code. Multiple OSes available, see the linked page. | |
| OSPREY | Strobe Data J-11 Osprey, RSX-11M-PLUS v4.6 | Telnet: | |
| VERNON | DEC VAX-11/795 (OpenSIMH), VAX/VMS v4.7 | Telnet: | From Creideiki's kit. |
| WOOYOO | DEC Micro{PDP-11/83,VAX II/GPX (sort of)}, varies | Telnet: | RSX-11M-PLUS v4.6 or VAX/VMS 7.3. Depends on what I need it to run, feel free to request a switch. |
| YUKI | Cromemco Z-2D, Cromix-Plus | Telnet: | Serial lines over telnet, might be a little slow. |