test-drb June 2000

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

160 participants
580 discussions

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote: > > Zane. You wimp. An 8350 is a fairly friendly BIbus system. > > Yep, in this case feel free to call me a wimp. I've seen pieces of a 8350, > I really don't want to mess with something that big, and slow unless it's > a 11/780. The 8350 CPU is 10.5" tall, 3' deep and fits in a standard 19" rack. You typically see them in a 42" rack because the bottom is filled with room for cables and I/O bulkheads. I have an 8300 - same thing but with slower CPUs. Yes... CPUs... the 8200/8250 is a single CPU box (slow/fast), the 8300/8350s are slow and fast dual boxes. You can expand an 82x0 to an 83x0 as long as the firmware/microcode is the same on both CPU boards. This can be done in the field (which is how my 8200 was bumped up to an 8300) Fun little box. My employer paid $12,000 for mine in 1989. I got to haul it away for free five years later (w/RA-81, etc.) At the moment it has an MBA ESDI<->SDI box on it with 2.4Gb of 5.25" disks in a tray that's half the size and 1/8th the weight of the RA-81. -ethan ===== Even though my old e-mail address is no longer going to vanish, please note my new public address: erd(a)iname.com The original webpage address is still going away. The permanent home is: http://penguincentral.com/ See http://ohio.voyager.net/ for details. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/

24 years

Your dream computer exhibit [Was: Re: Your dream computer room]

by mgregory＠vantageresearch.com

I've always envisioned at least four rooms for my museum: 1) a static display hall, with a variety of shelves extending out from the walls, holding a variety of micros with monitors/TVs. The computers would be running random demos (e.g. the Juggler or the Boing ball, for Amigaphiles) or programs. The aim is to provoke a "Wow!" reaction at the sheer variety of shapes, sizes, and colours of cases, monitors, and graphics. 2) A "period" gallery, where examples of important computers are shown in their natural habitat. e.g. a TI-99/4A with cassette recorder and wired remote controllers would be connected to a TV in a recreation of an early 80s rec. room, complete with red carpet, photoprinted wood panelling, Farrah Fawcett poster, and battered 60's Formica and steel furniture. 3) A "hands-on" arcade or exhibit, where relatively "expendable" common computers (e.g. C-64, TI-99/4A, Atari 800XL) are set up with a variety of games carts and business software (complete with tape drives, disk drives, dot matrix printers, etc) so people can experience what it was like to actually use these machines. 4) A restoration gallery, where people can see old computers on the workbench, and restoration/repair techniques. Displays on the walls could show exploded or cutaway views of disk drives, joysticks, printers, etc. and explain the technology thay was used in these machines. Then, there would be the vault, with retina and handprint scanner, that only lets me in to play with my favourite machines. If there's anyone in Western Canada who would like to collaborate on building such a museum (or just dream about it) please contact me off-list. I'd like to get a ClassicComp club for Western Canada off the ground, and maybe even plan for VCF North in ? 2002 ?. Cheers, Mark

24 years

Getting into VAXing

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On June 28, healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote: > Yep, in this case feel free to call me a wimp. I've seen pieces of a 8350, > I really don't want to mess with something that big, and slow unless it's > a 11/780. 11/780s definitely have personality. > Um... I saw this on eBay yesterday, and as I read it, it's basically just > the CPU. I'm sorry, I do not consider this a good first system. I > maintain that the best first system is either a 3100 or 4000 series system. Call me adventurous... ;) > BTW, what's the power and cooling requirements for one of these puppies? Not too bad, actually, as long as you don't try to run RA-series disks on it. > You really need to consider that, and the fact it's apparently in a 40" > Rack! Remember shipping was one of his concerns <shudder>. True...But the 8350 is a 10.5" chassis that can be re-racked to coexist with other hardware. I really like the BA32 chassis. :-) -Dave McGuire

24 years

Your dream computer room.

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jun 28, 15:26, Shawn T. Rutledge wrote: > I'm already doing it to an extent. I have a 10x20 room in the middle > of my house. Sounds pretty cool... > This room is not quite ideal; it could be bigger. I've had some sort of workshop or hobby room in every house I've lived in, and I've noticed there seem to be only two sizes: too small, and not big enough. > away with that. Also if I was building from scratch, I think I would > do the raised-floor thing. Maybe use aluminum diamondplate squares. > (or not... I do walk around barefoot in there a lot) Don't, it's cold and noisy, and actually less strong than most computer flooring. I had the choice of carpet-tiled floor panels or vinyl. If you could get linoleum instead of vinyl, that's even better (more expensive, though). I went for vinyl because it's easier to sweep than a carpet (in a workshop, where there's sawdust and metal swarf) and much easier to lift vinyl-covered panels (the panel lifter is a suction device like the ones glass workers use for large sheets of glass) than carpet (velcro-backed lifters work on some types, but most use metal teeth to bite into the carpet tile). I was also put off by experience at work: the hardware techs tell me that the failure rate on PSUs and fans has risen three-fold since we moved from a building with a vinyl-surfaced flooring to one with carpet (more dust). However, carpet is much better acoustically. > In this house the floors are concrete and all at the same height, so > I'd rather keep it that way rather than having to step up into the > computer room. It doesn't cost much to have a layer of concrete screeding added. The utility room which occupies the part of the garage I didn't get, plus the extension, is 4" concrete screed on top of 2" expanded polystyrene insulation/damp-proofing, to make the two floors the same level. If it's not practical to raise the floor elsewhere, you might consider excavating the middle room a few inches. Damp isn't a big issue unless the level would be below the water table; in my room, there was an extra damp-proof layer added (basically thick polythene sheet) bonded into the existing damp-proof course in the original brick walls (and the interior layer, which is 4"x2" timber framing with glass fibre fill, set 2" back from the brickwork, sits on top of that, one layer of the sheeting continuing up the inside of the brickwork for a couple of feet). There's a 5" step up to our new utility room; that's very little really, but I'm going to build a small ramp so I can trundle a rack or the trolley in and out (I sometimes take stuff to University Open Days and suchlike). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

24 years

College

by allisonp＠world.std.com

From: Passer, Michael <PasserM(a)umkc.edu> To: 'classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org' <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 2:48 PM Subject: OT: College >degree. Doing so right after high school is the path of >least resistance--it _is_ harder when you're older (from >experience). However when older it can be a more directed activity. >have filled that time--such as having served in the Peace >Corps, the military, or a real-world job--that might just >have made a person who waited to go to college appreciate >the opportunity laid before them. A person who did such a >thing may well be a better candidate for it. Big time. >While there is no shortage of the kind of people >who will not take a second look at those whose resumes >don't fit the mold, there are also plenty of others less >closed minded who would likely be more satisfying to >work for. so very true. Those are the people willing to offer challenges that both benefit the business and the people. Allison

24 years

PDP-11/44 on eBay

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Well, it says "do not assme item includes anything other than what is shown in the pictures" and the pictures clearly show the cardcage full of cards, so I wouldn't worry too much. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

24 years

Time spent Looking VS time spent "Playing"

by fauradon＠mn.mediaone.net

Howdy all, Another free for all question: How much time do you devote searching for old machines? How much time "Playing" (fixing, using etc...) these machines? I've found lately that when I'm done with the rounds (that is when I can do the rounds) I usually don't have time to do the play and the machine often end up on a shelf (or floor or table or....) until I finaly free myself up. Also as the collection grows I have less time to spend with each machine and some don't get out anymore (C64, C128, ADAM etc...). It seems that the longer the setup time the less likely the machine is going to be used. I used to try to get one representative of each group easilly accessible but it is now impossible. What do you do? How do you manage your "quality" time with your machines? Do you feel guilty for neglecting that old (insert machine name here)? Francois

24 years

Available: RL02K-DC disk pack

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

Anybody have a use for an RL02K-DC disk pack? In original box, even. I had intended to make it into a clock, but the shock meter isnt red yet, and it would be a sin to destory a still-usable piece of no-longer-made media... Bill -- +-------------------\ /-----------------+ | Bill Bradford | www.sunhelp.org | | mrbill(a)mrbill.net | www.decvax.org | | Austin, Texas USA | www.pdp11.org | +-------------------/ \-----------------+

24 years

Your dream computer room.

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jun 28, 17:22, Bill Sudbrink wrote: > Peter Turnbull wrote: > > Six weeks ago was the point at which it all got moved out, > > and the conversion/extension work began. By this weekend, > <extreme jealousy> Well, I can temper that a little, maybe :-) Firstly, it's smaller than it sounds, and secondly, this is the culmination of 10 years saving to do it: when we moved here 10 years ago, it was obvious that the garage was designed to be extended to the house, joining the car port and leaving the latter as the garage (it would then be fully enclosed). However, the week we got the keys, I was made redundant, and all plans/dreams were put on hold. After a while I went back to uni to finish my degree[1], and it wasn't at all clear that we'd stay in York when I graduated. I got a job on a 2-year contract as a sysadmin at the uni, still no security, and meanwhile my wife was doing a weekly commute to work in Edinburgh (200 miles away) because she had too good a job to give up. So we continued to save any spare money, and last year my job was made permanent (with a raise) at about the same time my wife landed a good job in Yorkshire. We spent quite a while chewing over plans before we decided to call the builder, organise a loan, and the garage plus small extension is now (nearly) a computer room-cum-workshop and a utility room (for the washing machine, freezer, etc). A lot was done "on the cheap". I got the flooring from someone who reclaims such things from old buildings; a friend was buying a large quantity and I got mine extra cheap -- but I had to spend a weekend with a blowtorch removing the old glue from the supports, wire brushing them, and a day getting them cut down to size and so on. Another day sorting out good panels from bad (on top of 7' stacks) and moving them 25 miles (and they're heavy!). I got the modular shelf supports as surplus, from another building project, along with locks and door fittings I wanted. I got a lot of network cable and fittings cheaply, over a period of time. I got a patch panel free, a while ago, for example. A local kitchen unit supplier has a 50%-or-more-off sale -- guess where I got the cupboard units. My 5" metalworking vice was a "found object" several years ago. [1] Actually, to start again from scratch. First time around, I went to University straight from school, realised partway through 1st year I'd made a bad course choice, and gave up. Anyway, it was so many decades ago that it counted for zero credit. > Ok. Let's start a fun thread for a change. Who among us didn't > spend some time with paper and crayon as a child designing the ideal > "fort"? What kind of computer shop would you build given sufficient > time/money/space? Much what I'm doing now, but bigger, of course :-) The new room is 2.7 metres (9') by 4.6m (15'). One side is computer space, the other side will have my drill, miniature lathe, electronics bench, workbench and vise, etc. Only about 1/2 - 2/3 of my collection of micros will fit and be usable, and there's no room for the PCB developing tanks I acquired, nor for my photographic tanks and enlarger. Nearly all the DEC equipment will fit in the two racks. Honest. OK, maybe something will have to go on top. What did that brochure say the maximum floor loading was? I'd make it two rooms, each about 10' x 15', one for computers, the other for electronics/photo/mechanics. Or maybe the PCB and photo stuff should be separate again, away from the dust. Lots of power sockets in both; let's say one twin socket per linear foot of wall. Surge and RFI suppressors, of course, and separate circuits for computers/electronics/tools. RCD on the tools but maybe not the minis. Network connections (or rather, structured wiring, since some will be used for serial or control lines) everywhere, even beside the lathe (maybe I'll use those stepper motors one day). One bench with a built-in light box. Floor-to-ceiling shelves, fully adjustable, in units 600mm wide (2') and 700mm deep for all the micros. And their monitors! I'd want about 4 of those units (I will have 2). Make them strong (the brackets in mine are rated for a 67kg load). Space to walk all round the 19" racks (I'll have about 20" behind mine, accessible from one side only). A place to put the microfiche reader where I can use it with moderate comfort (it used to be on top of a 5' high shelf unit!). Desk space for a few favourite machines, and a trolley with 'scope, BBC Micro, terminal and printer, and of course make sure there's space to wheel it around to where it's needed. Plenty of bookshelves - I have a full set of RSX manuals, two sets of RT11, one Solaris, lots of other Unix, Acorn, programming, and networking stuff, and shelfloads of data books. I just had to turn down a couple of shelfloads of SGI manuals because I have no room left :-( Leave some wall space for a noticeboard and/or whiteboard. Air conditioning would be nice, but I've settled for a large(ish) extractor fan. No budget left! Heating is, of course, largely by minicomputer :-) though now there is a small central heating radiator and we have a portable dehumidifier which I used to use to keep the workshop air dry (cheaper than heating, and saves a lot of tools from condensation/damp damage). Good lighting -- I'd go for those fluorescent fittings with the aluminium diffuser grids built in if I could afford it (they're about 70 UKP a throw). Ah well, next time around ;-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

24 years

PDP-11/44 on eBay

by pat＠transarc.ibm.com

Someone just listed an 11/44 on eBay today; the URL is http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=369721415 System seems to include no disk or tape other than "dual tape drives" (e.g., dual TU58's ...). It has no bids right now, so I couldn't even make a guess at what the reserve is. I'd bid on it myself, if I had a reasonable way to get it to the East Coast .... --Pat.

24 years

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test-drb June 2000