IBM 4701-2 branch controller, software needed

[inmbolmie]

Hi, this is my little IBM 4700 Finance Communication System project. I have so far a restored 4704 terminal with the matching monitor and a 4701-2 branch controller that provides the local loop where the terminal should be connected.





So far I have both pieces working and I managed to get all the pinouts for the missing connection cables. I've also made a converter to be able to use any ps2 keyboard with the terminal. But sadly I don't have any software to IPL the controller. This machine needs an 8'' install diskette that is used to configure and diagnose it and to generate boot diskettes. The controller has no functionality at all without the boot media.

I publish this in the hope that someone that finds a suitable install diskette in the future could see it and contact with me.

If I'm able to IPL the controller, I hope I can use it to reverse engineer the local loop protocol and maybe make a replacement controller to be able to connect the terminal to a modern system.

The install diskettes are not to be confused with the 5 1/4 media for the later 4702 branch controller, the media for this controller is an older 8-inch Diskette.

Some image galleries:

Controller:

https://imgur.com/a/f37ceOv

Terminal:

https://imgur.com/a/fgHU2au

Monitor:

https://imgur.com/a/vtnY4qs

 

[thierry]

 

[thierry]

Cross your fingers , rip this weekend

 

[thierry]

 

[thierry]

Now that I've read the entire post, I can see that I don't think the software is useful.

 

[Al Kossow]

I just scanned and uploaded the entire 6 volume set of programming manuals to bitsavers.
Software was cross-developed on a 370. About the only useful thing to find will be the stand-alone
diagnostic floppies. The 4700 8" drive controllers appear to use the same "Keystone II" CPU board
as 3274 establishment controllers.

 

[thierry]

I just scanned and uploaded the entire 6 volume set of programming manuals to bitsavers.
Software was cross-developed on a 370. About the only useful thing to find will be the stand-alone
diagnostic floppies. The 4700 8" drive controllers appear to use the same "Keystone II" CPU board
as 3274 establishment controllers.

Impressive, by chance they would have the 4702-1 ones?, I finished ripping the 4702-1 diskette, after cleaning I was able to rip it with the DCP, Eplcopy, Copy II PC + Snatchit and it was able to recover 100%, today I share it, I'm sure it will help someone, the strange thing is that it is 1.2MB, I don't know why

 

[thierry]

 

[Al Kossow]

Sorry, nothing more has turned up
I bet your diskette is exactly the same track and sector format as the 8" version

 

[thierry]

Here we go

 

[Al Kossow]

a picture of the label would be helpful

also, an imagedisk image is more useful than something only PCs can deal with
you need to preserve the original sectoring information. if it has the layout of an 8"
IBM floppy there will be single density information on the first track and double-density
on the rest

 

[thierry]

Here we go again

Add Image Disk ripping, also use the Grese Weasel, generate an image of Kryoflux, HFE, SCP.

IBM 4702-1 branch controller software

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

 

[thierry]

The label doesn't say much I guess, it's the only diskette that was inside the 4702

Now that I have the GW open I guess it's time to update, I use GW 0.27, it has been obsolete for a while

 

[inmbolmie]

The label doesn't say much I guess, it's the only diskette that was inside the 4702

Now that I have the GW open I guess it's time to update, I use GW 0.27, it has been obsolete for a while

Hi and thanks for posting this Thierry. Sorry, it seems I didn't have the email notifications properly configured and I was not aware of the replies on this thread.

But I was told of your software by other means, in the end it seems that it was some kind of archive file, database or backup of applications or data (EDAM format?), but doesn't look like it will boot the controller. It will be also interesting to know if you progressed any further with your 4702-1 unit after the previous posts.

I just scanned and uploaded the entire 6 volume set of programming manuals to bitsavers.
Software was cross-developed on a 370. About the only useful thing to find will be the stand-alone
diagnostic floppies. The 4700 8" drive controllers appear to use the same "Keystone II" CPU board
as 3274 establishment controllers.

Thanks also for this, I've read it and is awesome to have this reference available and it will be invaluable when we have this thing running.

Best regards.