A restored PDP-11/83 serving this page on 211BSD Unix

2026-09-21 | original

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Why This Matters

This story is a nostalgic showcase rather than a mainstream tech shift, but it highlights the enduring appeal of vintage computing and retrocomputing communities that keep decades-old hardware and operating systems operational and even internet-connected. It's a reminder of computing history and the durability of well-designed systems like the PDP-11 and 2.11BSD, offering educational value to engineers curious about legacy architectures.

Key Takeaways

A restored PDP-11/83 with a Mentec M11 CPU is actively serving a live web page, demonstrating that decades-old hardware can still interface with modern networking.
The system runs 2.11BSD Unix and uses period-appropriate peripherals like magnetic tape, classic disks, and serial terminals, preserving authentic vintage computing workflows.
The project illustrates the retrocomputing hobbyist trend of integrating legacy systems (Q22 bus, DEC/Emulex controllers) with modern web technology to keep computing history alive and accessible.

Worth a Look

StarTech USB to RS232 Serial Adapter — If you're inspired to tinker with vintage systems like this PDP-11, you'll need a reliable way to connect a modern laptop to old-school serial terminals and console ports. This adapter is a staple for retrocomputing hobbyists bridging USB machines to DEC-era RS232 hardware. It's a practical, affordable gateway into the world of classic Unix and minicomputer restoration.

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A restored PDP-11/83 with a Mentec M11 processor, two chassis, and a mix of DEC and Emulex controllers. Classic disks, magnetic tape, serial terminals, and 2.11BSD keep this collection connected to its roots.

The live panel above shows the system serving this page.

CPU Complex Mentec M11 A single-board PDP-11-compatible CPU with onboard memory, replacing the M8190 and two memory boards.

Memory Onboard RAM The M11 combines CPU and memory on one board. Webtop reports the serving system's physical RAM, usage, and swap.

Bus + Timing Q22 Two Q-bus chassis interconnected by an M9404/M9405 pair, with adapters for storage, Ethernet, and serial I/O.

Explore topics: pdp-11/83 mentec m11 2.11bsd q-bus dec emulex controllers