test-drb October 2003

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

252 participants
500 discussions

by witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk

> -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org > [mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Ian Primus > Sent: 22 October 2003 01:59 > To: cctech(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Can anyone ID this Digital board? > > recognized it as Digital. What did this come from? My best guess would > be a VaxStation, but I don't really know. I would like to get this > machine functional (I always wanted something I could run VMS on). Can It looks like a lower-end VAXstation 3100. Compare it to the board in my Infoserver 150VXT, which is a MicroVAX 3100 model 10: http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Digital/infoserver/infoserver.php Those machines have a single on-board SCSI channel (the wide connector middle rear) but you need the proprietary cable to plug anything in. The console connector is the one nearest the thin ethernet port and halt switch - the four ports are labelled 0,1,3,2 with 2 being the DB25 full modem socket. Going from memory the 2 sockets furthest away from the back panel are for a framebuffer card and extra memory and one of the back ones next to the SCSI connector were for the 2nd SCSI card for external devices. Can't remember what the other one was for, maybe a synch comms board? Can't help with the power pinouts right now..... cheers -- adrian/witchy www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(

20 years, 9 months

Popular Science article

by jrasite＠eoni.com

GEEK DIY BY PAUL WALLICH The Pride of FrankenMac Lurking in the shadows of Moore's Law is a subculture of retrocomputerists who believe PCs only get better with age. DOWN IN THE SPARE ROOM IS the computer I affectionately call Frank. As in FrankenMac. It has the case and motherboard of a Macintosh clone from 1997, stuffed with new RAM and a CPU upgrade six times the speed of the original. It's on its second video board and Ethernet card, and has a USB adaptor (a technology barely invented when Frank was born) and a replacement 60GB disk. I installed Linux on it a while back because the last few generations of MacOS never did run quite right. And what with the realities of my eat-at-your-desk household, I've lost count of how many keyboards Frank has gone through. In the world of active-yet-obsolete, the polite term is "vintage computers." Frank is an infant. As the era of mass-market personal computing heads for its 30th year, no one knows how many superannuated desktops are still out there chugging away, though reports from around the Net mention still-active Apple IIs, Commodore 64s, first-generation IBM PCs and clones, and even the odd IBM PCjr (a scaleddown, overpriced PC offshoot that garnered widespread ridicule when it was introduced back in 1983). There are three types of people responsible for this computing-with-the-undead phenomenon. I like to think of them as the nostalgists, the pragmatists and the adaptists. The nostalgist impulse sequesters ancient machines in ad hoc museum collections-veteran programmer Bruce Darner's Digibarn (digibarn.com), for instance, houses hundreds of PCs dating back to the mid-'70s. Damer says he keeps old hardware and software running because static museum displays do nothing to convey the actual experience of using a Radio Shack TRS-80 with its subminiature tape drives, or one of Steve jobs's original Next cubes. Damer invites computer builders and users to his museum to put their reminiscences on video for the day when old components finally give up the ghost. Meanwhile, says Vintage Computer Festival organizer Sellam Ismail, the pragmatists are plugging away at dayto-day office work on uncounted thousands of archaic PCs. When Dell ran a contest back in 1999 for the oldest small-business PC still in use, the company turned up more than 200 worthy entries in addition to the winner, an Altair 8800b that had been used for word processing since October 1976. And aging control computers that run industrial or lab equipment generally don't get replaced until the machinery they're attached to wears out --one classic-computer aficionado says his mass spectrometer has been hooked up to the same Apple II for 20 years. Finally, adaptists around the world continue to bang out letters, novels, e-mail and code on revamped elderly machines. Consider British electronics designer and ex-particle physicist Tony Duell, whose primary machine is a pervasively upgraded PC-AT from 1986. (Among the many other computers running in his house is a 31-year-old PDP-11 minicomputer.) "Why?!" asks the megahertz junkie in me. "Why not?" replies my retrocomputing alter ego. Fact is, if you don't absolutely need your computer to play broadcast-quality video clips in 3-D windows while you navigate via throbbing full-color control buttons that unleash CD-grade stereo sound with each click, you probably don't need a machine built in the past 10 years--certainly not for your backup basement machine. Sticking with the same computer ("same" being a relative term) also yields real benefits, says Duell. You seldom have to throw away your old software, and you're less likely to misplace crucial files, as can happen when upgrading from one machine to another. "I never trust people who say they'll copy all the files over to the new machine," Duell laments. "They never do, and five years later some poor person like me is called in to recover a file from some unknown floppy disk." If you're willing to install Linux or FreeBSD instead of the bloated monsters that pass for in dust industry-standard operating systems, a 386 or 486 machine with 16 or 32 megabytes of RAM will do just fine for everyday work. Even if you're addicted to windows and mice, there are some minimal windowing systems whose entire program code takes up less RAM than half a dozen icons on a fancier box. (A simple Google search for "minimal window system" yields a range of options,) And all the hype about Internet-optimized Pentia notwithstanding, 386 and 486 computers around the globe serve as firewalls and routers, e-mail and Web servers directing Internet packets to their destinations in homes and small offices. It only stands to reason, after all, that a machine capable of performing tens of millions Of 32-bit operations per second should be able to keep up with a pipe that delivers no more than a million bits of new data in that time. Finally, in an age when bleeding-edge hardware can set you back a few thousand dollars every year or two, the price of obsolete technology looks right. Used-computer dealers sell perfectly capable machines for $50 to $100-or you can try to snag one of the millions of working PCs that end their lives in dumpsters every year. Even vintagecomputer users who bought new and pay top dollar for parts upgrades are saving a bundle: Duell, for one, hasn't bought a new kit since 1995. 1 have mixed feelings about the whole enterprise. On the one hand, I'm always going to lust after the newest, fastest hardware out there. On the other, I can't bear to get rid of my old toys. Maybe Frank will become a Web server or an image-processing engine or an outlet for some of my stupider software ideas. And if I make some terrible, terrible hacking error on Frank, I'll still have the working--if far less romantic-machine on the desk in my office. SO YOU WANT TO RESUSCITATE AN OLD PC? IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE AN old computer cluttering up your closet, you'll have to cadge one from a friend, find the nearest office trashing old machines this week, or visit your local computer junk store -the place on the other side of town from me offers 30OMHz Pentium Ils with 128MB of RAM and a 4GB drive for $95, or 20OMHz PenHum Is with 48MB of RAM and a 2G8 drive for $50. When I asked about 486 boxes, one of the techs pointed me toward the clumpsters in back and asked, "How many pallets do you want?" (YOU can also find old computers on eBay, but the cost and risk of shipping 30 or 40 pounds of iron across the country tends to kill any price advantage.) Once you've got the machine, junk its obsolete Windows system, flip a coin to decide between FreeBSD and Linux (the first will probably be more work; the second probably requires a slightly heftier computer) and start downloading. (You can find either system at linuxiso.org.) if you have a computer with a CD-ROM burner, you'll typically be making three installation CDs-if you don't, you can scrounge one, order one online for $50 or so, or read the instructions for installing from floppies. (A barebones installation sufficient for sucking the rest of the software down over an Ethernet connection is only a few disks, and a no-name Ethernet card, if you don't have one, is about $ 10. While you're at it, consider another $60 for a 30GB hard drive. Don't worry: These days all the plugs for such things fit in only one way.) Depending on what you want your new old machine to do -browse and read e-mail, serve files, act as a router or firewall -installing the operating system and the appropriate free software (on FrankenMac, that's Mozilla, Open Office and probably Portable AllegroServe) should take about half a day. TOTAL COST: Anywhere from zilch to about $200.

20 years, 9 months

Assorted cards available

by cb＠mythtech.net

Anyone want an UltraStore SCSI/Floppy controller card for EISA bus? Its got an internal 50 pin SCSI and floppy connectors, and an external 50 pin high density SCSI connector. I also have some Intel AboveBoard ram expansion cards. Some are AT some are 286, all have at least their main banks filled, some have a daughter card attached that is also filled. And I have some PS/2 ram expansion cards (two that use 72 pin simms, one that uses 30 pin simms). And I have some ram expansion cards similar to the AboveBoard, but that have serial ports on the card as well. And I've got some FDD controller cards. Has an old card edge connector on it, so I'm guessing it predates 3.5" drives. Don't know what drives they work with, but I'm assuming 360k 5.25 and maybe HD 5.25 as well... I have 3 of them (and one cable). And some Winchester Drive controller cards And some EGA video cards Any or all of the above are available, just cover shipping. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net> w + p = -?

20 years, 9 months

ID this card: MPPi Ltd

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

Hi It looks like a ROM card. I'd check the pinouts before plugging it into a PC. Many cards like these were for various proprietary busses and have the power leads in different locations. If it is for a PC, trace down the address leads from the edge connector. These will usually go to some kind of comparitor ( ls688 or similar ). You should be able to figure where to look for it in the address of the PC. You can then use some simple code to transfer the EPROM to a disk file. Still, doesn't look like a PC card so be careful about plugging it in until you've traced a few leads. Dwight >From: chris <cb(a)mythtech.net> > >I found a rather old looking card. It appears to be an 8 bit ISA card (or >at least has that size/style looking connector). > >The only writing on it is MPPi Ltd. There are no connectors on it, not >even a case dust plate for filling a blank slot (so they must have >planned on you leaving the slot cover in place when this was inserted, or >it isn't an ISA card). > >There are 4 chip sockets on it, with the 2nd of the 4 containing an EPROM >chip (M5L2764K). Remaining chips appear to be maybe support chips (SN74L >series chips). > >There is a small bank of 4 dip switches, and two clusters of jumper poles >(no jumpers installed, poles are labeled A thru G). > > >Anyone have any clue what this card is? I'm wondering if maybe it is an >early security dongle. Maybe this was done as an internal card rather >than an external parallel or serial block. > >A pic of the card is at <http://www.mythtech.net/card.jpg> > >-chris ><http://www.mythtech.net> > >w + p = -? > > >

20 years, 9 months

ID this card: MPPi Ltd

by cb＠mythtech.net

I found a rather old looking card. It appears to be an 8 bit ISA card (or at least has that size/style looking connector). The only writing on it is MPPi Ltd. There are no connectors on it, not even a case dust plate for filling a blank slot (so they must have planned on you leaving the slot cover in place when this was inserted, or it isn't an ISA card). There are 4 chip sockets on it, with the 2nd of the 4 containing an EPROM chip (M5L2764K). Remaining chips appear to be maybe support chips (SN74L series chips). There is a small bank of 4 dip switches, and two clusters of jumper poles (no jumpers installed, poles are labeled A thru G). Anyone have any clue what this card is? I'm wondering if maybe it is an early security dongle. Maybe this was done as an internal card rather than an external parallel or serial block. A pic of the card is at <http://www.mythtech.net/card.jpg> -chris <http://www.mythtech.net> w + p = -?

20 years, 9 months

TI 99/4a Looking For A Good Home

by ohh＠drizzle.com

Hey, all: I've met another generous person. :) Anyone after a TI 99/4a? I just received the following e-mail, with permission to forward: > I have recently retired and relocated to the Puget Sound area. I do > have a COMPLETE Texas Instruments TI 99/4a system. Yes, SYSTEM. As we > have settled in smaller quarters, I presently have no place for this > system and no immediate plans for its future. I am willing to donate > this system to a good home. If there is interest on your part, please > e-mail and I will gladly send specifications and software list. It is > presently in seven or eight boxes and is located in the south King > County area (Des Moines, WA (Redondo Beach)). Anyone in or handy to Seattle, Washington can presumably pick this system up directly from the owner. If someone further away would like it, you'll have to sound him out about how willing he is to ship elsewhere. I'm hoping he may be willing to as long as you pay the expenses, but I _don't know_ this; so, if you ask, be polite. :) Anyway, if you're interested you can e-mail Thomas Roughton at <T_Roughton round-thing-with-an-a-in-it msn black-spot com>, with the appropriate anti-spam alterations. -O.-

20 years, 9 months

HP3000 users have a "wake" on Oct 31 2003

by dzubint＠vcn.bc.ca

Story web page: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/61/33536.html "Many tears were shed when HP announced that the e3000 would meet its maker at the end of this month. But loyal fans of the product will meet on Oct. 31 at bars and restaurants around the globe to put down several cold ones and discuss their good times with the server. Take a trip over the HP wake Web site to see your nearest venue." "Introduced in 1972, the HP 3000 was loved and adored as being one of the most solid systems around. Running the MPE operating system, HP 3000s chugged along for three decades, but in 2001 HP said it would stop sales and end support for the product in 2006." The "HP 3000 Wake web site" is listed as http://207.21.244.161/hpwake/ (I hate URLs with IP numbers) "For those who want to reminisce about the good old before getting blotto, there is a nice history of the HP 3000 " http://www.robelle.com/library/smugbook/classic.html

20 years, 9 months

Digital software, books and misc hardware clearout :(

by witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk

Hi folks, Continued redundancy is forcing me to start sorting and selling most of my rather considerable DEC CD collection that goes back to almost the beginning of the CDDS service in the early 1990s and features VAX/VMS, Alpha VMS, Ultrix VAX, Ultrix MIPS and OSF/1 stroke DEC Unix software product CDs. They're all complete sets, and rather than bung 'em on epay I'll give you all the chance to have first go. This is just a toe-in-the-water bijou list-ette to gauge interest. I've also listed my spare hardware. There are 2 ways to do this I think, either I give you all a week to mail me off-list with your offers and best one gets it or I stick it all on the Vintage Computer Marketplace. Let me know if you need pictures of any of it. I'll ship anywhere as long as you pay for it :o) A brief list of CDs: OpenVMS Alpha V6.2 in blue distro box with manuals, never been used OpenVMS VAX V7.0 in blue distro box etc OpenVMS Alpha V7.0 in blue distro box etc (complete with firmware CD) DEC OSF/1 Layered Product set December '94 (nearly on topic :o) OpenVMS CDDS March 1995, 2 boxes containing 12 product CDs and 4 documentation CDs (many many many more CDDS box sets are there somewhere, like 20 or 30+) Books (all Digital Press): Terminals and Printers handbook 1983-84 Microcomputer Processors 1978-79 Microcomputer Interfaces handbook 1980 Processor Handbook PDP 11/04/24/34a/44/70 1981 (2 off) PDP-11 Micro PDP-11 handbook 1983-84 PDP-11 Microcomputer Interfaces handbook 1983-1984 Microcomputer Products Handbook 1985 Terminals and Communications handbook 1981-82 Microcomputers and Memories 1982 Introduction to Local Area Networks 1982 Misc hardware/software: Unopened DECnet/SNA ST Gateway software pack QA-S01AA-H5 (2 off) Unused DNSES Synchronous comms board for AXP 3000 series, EISA. Alphastation 600 motherboard and CPU MicroVAX 3100-40 motherboard Alpha 3000-400 motherboard and CPU MicroVAX 3100 model 40 and 80 memory SIMMs Alpha 3000-400 complete with (I think) 64mb memory, PMAGB graphics. VAXstation 3100 M48, unknown condition for now. MicroVAX 2000, slight case damage A stack of QBUS cards for VAX/PDP, all untested. Obviously the latter 3 are rather heavy :) Let me know! cheers -- adrian/witchy www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(

20 years, 9 months

Dust covers

by teoz＠neo.rr.com

What is the best material for making dusk covers for computers? I want to make covers for my 8/16 bit computers like the Amiga 500/1200 Atari 1040ST, C64c, C128, Tandy 1000HX, etc.

20 years, 9 months

AT&T General Purpose Sychronous AT/Enhanced card

by cb＠mythtech.net

I have an AT&T GPSC-AT/E serial card here if anyone wants it. Its a 12 inch, 16 bit ISA card with a single DB-25 Male port on the back. It was pulled a while back from an AT&T computer. No idea if it works or not. The computer did before it was stripped down, so my guess is the card is fine. I don't really know anything about it, but it looks like it could be a decent serial card, and since so many of you use serial terminals, I thought maybe someone would like it. Just cover postage and its yours. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net> w + p = -?

20 years, 9 months

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test-drb October 2003