Hey Bill
We hope this message finds you well.
It's been almost three years now since we last 'spoke'.
Randy Hill managed to get through three more tax seasons thanks in part
(mostly) to your help.
When we last talked, you had some stuff hanging over your head and we wanted
to
give you the space you seemed to need. With your notes and the assistance
of
another technician, we were successful in cobbling together a few more disk
drives.
Apparently Randy finds himself now with a single 8" drive. He had, at one
time,
mailed you three of his 'original' drives. Randy would appreciate some
status on
those three drives.
We look forward to hearing back from you
Thanks
John Buckner
PS Saw you and your son in a UMD press clipping. Kids can be a real Joy.
Bill Sudbrink, 38, and his 9-year old son Ben had front row seats last
night. The Sudbrinks also attended the three previous Physics is Phun events
this year.
"I'm a computer science major from the class of '88," Bill Sudbrink said. "I
came here and I just thought I'd bring my son."
>Was the pun intended? The term is "moot point" -- to be "mute" is to be
>unable to speak/make sounds,
Spelling error on my part, but it did make for an interesting pun.
>Define "Normal" -- If you can't define "normal" to us, and can accept or
>dismiss anything any way you like, then we cannot give you a logical answer
>to your original question and the entire discussion up to this point is
>moot.
I can't define Normal. I'm intested in hearing all opinions of what is
the oldest comptuer still in "normal" use. From there I'll make my own
personal decision of which I feel provides the best answer. That doesn't
mean anyone else has to consider my choice to be valid.
>So, does that leave the gubbermint out?
I'd accept the government, and actually I rather expected the answer to
be some government system.
>My SWAG's would be that your best bets are: a) the gubbermint, and b) older
>CNC/punch/cutting machines
That was the other place I figured the best answer might turn up. Some
kind of factory automated system that still uses its orginal systems
simply because its working so has no reason to be replaced.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
> >If somebody fires up an old 50's analog computer in a museum just to see if
> >it still kicks is it really "in use"?
>
> No, because my ORIGINAL question was, what is the oldest computer still
> in normal use. So for MY question, that is, the answer I am looking
> for.... I will only consider a computer that was put into service when it
> was reasonably new, and is still functioning today. I will also accept an
> old computer that was put back into service either as a replacement for
> one the died, or because it was needed to do a job, and it was the best
> option for the job.
Well to fit such restrictive criteria it would have to be:
Digital computer - abacus - 4000 years without a service pack or patch
to the OS.
Analog computer - Stonehenge - It has lost most of its functionality
but it is still in use.
=========================================
Doug Coward
@ home in Poulsbo, WA
Analog Computer Online Museum and History Center
http://dcoward.best.vwh.net/analog
=========================================
On May 10, 19:20, Zane H. Healy wrote:
> >I have a StorageWorks unit that's surplus to requirements. It's a
> >floor-standing box, complete with the doors and keys, 2 PSUs, and
some
> >"innards". Can anyone tell me if all thse bits belong in the same
> >unit?
> >
> >2 x SWXBP power supply
>
> Unless the HSD10 is pulling a LOT of power, you should be able
> to get by using just one of these, while having two gives you
> redundant power, I prefer to have the slot open for another device.
I'm fairly sure it was set up that way to have redundant power (from
two different sources).
> >1 x HSD10-AA DSSI-SCSI controller (what does this do, exactly?)
>
> As mentioned, it lets you use SCSI devices on a MicroVAX with DSSI.
It has three connectors on the front; two 50-pin high-density
D-connectors (like SCSI-2 conectors) and an RJ11. I assume those
50-way connectors are DSSI, and the RJ11 is for a terminal?
> >1 x 70-32155-01 8-bit interface (SCSI? or what?)
>
> Does this plug into the end opposite the powersupplies? It
> sounds like you've got a BA356 shelf. If so, I'm envious,
> I've only got BA350's, the BA356 supports both 8-bit and
> 16-bit interface modules. Oh, yes, if we're talking about
> the same thing, it's SCSI. It's a High Density 50-pin
> connector, right?
Yes, it is. Two of them, in fact. The module is in the top, inserted
>from the front, same as everything else. Ah, I guess you're thinking
in terms of a horizontal rack-mounted unit (the other one that the
VAXes had was mounted like that); this unit has the extra pieces for
floor mounting and (AFAIK) doesn't have the brackets for rack mounting.
Does it make sense to have both the 70-32155-01 SCSI interface and the
HSD10-AA DSSI/SCSI unit in the same shelf?
> >1 x RZ29B 4.3GB fast wide disk
>
> RZ29B-VW?
RZ29B-VA, it says on the outside.
> >1 x TLZ06 DDS tape drive
>
> You have an SBB, with a TLZ06 in it? Now I'm even greener with
> envy! I've only got disks. Plus, I don't have any of the nice
> enclosed models with doors.
>
> >I should have mentioned it's a BA35X-MD box.
>
> These are actually the fans on the back of the shelf. The
> good news is they're the good dual-speed ones that support
> the 7200RPM drives.
Ok, so I shouldn't just dump it, then ;-)
To be honest, though, I don't think I want to keep it. I have two
MicroVAXes, a uVAX-II in a BA23, and a uVAX 3100 (DV-31AT1-A, on the
label on the back). Both have internal drives. I'm not likely to use
either for anything serious, and I need the space the StorageWorks unit
is occupying.
> >It came wih a MicroVAX some time ago, but I've never used it.
Anybody
> >want it, for a suitably low price?
>
> You might just want to keep it... I really like using StorageWorks
on my VMS systems. I've got a BA350 attached to the PWS 433au I use as
a server via a Narrow SCSI card.
>
> If you want, I should be able to dig up all the manuals on this, as I
think I've got PDF's of them.
I'll have another look round, where it came from. They may still be
there.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On Sun, 11 May 2003 "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> wrote:
> >Even better, how about the Digital PDP-11.
>
> Doesn't someone have a PDP-8/e hooked up to the Internet in such a manner that visitors to his site can run stuff on it?
crap-1.update.uu.se is a PDP-8/I. It's unfortunately offline for now...
> > > >1: What is the oldest computer or comptuer system still in normal
> > > >operational use
>
> Define what you mean by "Oldest Computer or Computer System". That can
> figure heavily into the correct answer. After all, systems that you
> might not consider still under production, such as the PDP-10 or PDP-11
> are to at least a certain extent (and I don't mean emulation). Also, if
> emulation counts, that might skew the answer as well. Remember
> emulation has been used for production systems for a *LONG* time.
PDP-11 is still in production. I know a few companies that make and sell
new PDP-11 systems.
> There are still PDP-8's, PDP-10's and PDP-11's in daily use. I'm sure
> there are at least a couple older ones out there. Just look for
> industrial and scientific applications.
True.
> > > >2: What is the oldest that is connected to the internet
>
> Well, various platforms that were connected to Arpanet are still being used.
>
> > > >3: What is the oldest connected to the internet AND hosting web pages
> >> >that can be visited (I know of an Atari that is acting as a web server,
> >> >don't remember the URL, but it shouldn't be tough to find... didn't know
> >> >if there was something older)
>
> I'm aware of systems running TOPS-20 and RT-11 serving web pages.
Me too, such as shop-pdp.kent.edu...
Oh, and anyone who thinks anything with a microprocessor in it has a
chance in this competition can walk out the door now.
Johnny
Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus
|| on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt(a)update.uu.se || Reading murder books
pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
On May 11, 11:09, Barry Skidmore wrote:
> I think the answer is yes to both questions if it is running Unix
(BSD),
> but no if it is running RT-11.
Then go and look up "fuzzball" :-)
(hint: try http://wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/ )
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On May 10, 23:46, Antonio Carlini wrote:
> > anybody out here has a manual for the falcon, 11/21 PLUS
> > board ? (real names: EK-SBC02-UG & EK-SBC02-CG )
>
> There's a manual that looks close here:
> http://www.spies.com/~aek/pdf/dec/pdp11/
> (look for the KXT11-UG).
It probably won't help as the Falcon and Falcon PLUS are very different
boards.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
On May 10, 19:00, Zane H. Healy wrote:
> Strange question, how deep are the drawers in punch card cabinets,
> the tops are pretty much flush with the card aren't they? I'm
> assuming I couldn't be lucky enough for them to be another 0.25-1
> inch deeper.
Yes, they're not much bigger than they need to be, but maybe deep
enough for your purpose. I have drawers from two cabinets, both
measure
internal: 16 1/4" x 7 5/8" x 3 11/16"
external: 17 5/8" x 7 11/16" x 3 3/4"
There's a vertical flange sticking up at one or sometimes both ends, to
stop the drawer being accidentally slid right out. Iincluding that,
the overall external height is 4 1/16", but the aperture in the cabinet
will be just over 3 3/4".
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
>I'm not 100% sure of this, but I think that stereo cards are pretty much
>the same size as IBM punch cards. If this is correct, I'll bet there are
>hundreds (maybe thousands) of IBM punch card cabinets, of varying sizes,
>for varying numbers of cards, that could be had, at who knows what price.
>
> Obie
Try not to be to scared.... :^) I actually have a card punch and reader, so grabbing a ruler, they're 7 3/8's x 3 1/4 inches. Unfortunately while I've got a punch, reader, and a few blank cards, I don't have any cabinets. The person I got the reader from wasn't about to give up his cabinets (or blank cards).
This might be an excellent idea. Unfortunately as I recall the drawers are flush with the cards. I've just posted a question to a mailing list where there are people that should know the exact dimensions of the drawers.
Zane
--
--
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
| | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
