Networking issues running alongside SIMH

Greetings from Windermere, UK

I am having some fun and games getting FreeAXP and SIMH to cooperate WRT networking on a Windows Server 2012 r2 HP DL380. I have tried FreeAXPâ„¢ V2.6.4.598 & V2.6.4.595.

The symptoms generally are that either one or both of FreeAXP and SIMH hang. For FreeAXP the configuration application hangs at the point that I load a configuration file. For SIMH it hangs at the point that a network device is attached.

If I start SIMH first startup proceeds correctly:

< class='quote' style='width:400px;white-space:nowrap;overflow:auto'><code style='white-space:nowrap'>
&#92;orac&gt;vax_mp

VAX MP simulator V3.8-3(2)
vSMP revision: 1, primary interlock: portable/native
Asynchronous I/O enabled
NVR: buffering file in memory
vax_mp.ini&gt; set r1 disable
Non-existent device
RQB1: unit is read only
WinPcap version 4.1.3 (packet.dll version 4.1.0.2980), based on libpcap version 1.0 branch 1_0_rel0b (20091008)
Eth: opened OS device &#92;Device&#92;NPF_{0118092A-1164-4A91-AD2A-DCC8CF27EAA3}
Listening on port 10024 (socket 824)
Loading boot code from ka655x.bin
Waiting for console Telnet connection<br><br><br></code>

If I then start up FreeAXP configuration, attempt to load a configuration file or create a new one that hangs, then subsequently if I try and start SIMH it hangs here:

< class='quote' style='width:400px;white-space:nowrap;overflow:auto'><code style='white-space:nowrap'>
&#92;orac&gt;vax_mp

VAX MP simulator V3.8-3(2)
vSMP revision: 1, primary interlock: portable/native
Asynchronous I/O enabled
NVR: buffering file in memory
vax_mp.ini&gt; set r1 disable
Non-existent device
RQB1: unit is read only
WinPcap version 4.1.3 (packet.dll version 4.1.0.2980), based on libpcap version 1.0 branch 1_0_rel0b (20091008)
<br><br><br></code>

Both FreeAXP and SIMH are 'hard' hangs, that is, the processes can't be killed short of a reboot.

The DL380 has two built in GB ethernet ports, one of which is used for Windows. It also has an HP 4 port GB card, and each of SIMH & FreeAXP are allocated a separate port.

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks, Mark.<hr>

I'm having the exact same trouble here. I used to be able to run a FreeAXP Alpha and a SIMH VAX clustered together on the same Windows PC. Not anymore. Does anyone know of a solution?

Sorry, I missed the November post. The problem is likely with the network NDIS driver. I've seen hangs like this with FreeAXP and WinPCAP 4.1.3 under Windows 10 and Server 2012 R2. Try de-installing all versions of WinPCAP and FreeAXP 598. Then re-install WinPCAP 4.1.2 and FreeAXP 598.

The problem may also manifest itself with the FreeAXP Configuration Utility. If the Config Utility hangs when opening a configuration file, it is because it is hung trying to parse the NICs on the system.

FYI: In my experience logging out and back in is sufficient to kill a hung instance of FreeAXP or SimH.