6 Apr
2010
6 Apr
'10
4:47 p.m.
My guess is that you don't want to know where these might be headed.
Seriously. And no, I don't know. If they have such a specific requirement
as four 8250's it is a safe bet the requirements extend to the peripherals,
and that the likely need something like RA80 or RA82 drives. SCSI disks are
likely not an option. I've sold hardware in the past to a dealer filling
such specific requirements. If you have the hardware, and it is obscure
enough, it is a good day for you.
I'm reminded of Compaq searching for VAX-7000 machines after 9/11. They
contacted me, and I'm assuming other hobbyists.
As for availablility, I'd say contact a few dealers that specialize in such
things. I would imagine it wouldn't be that hard to turn up 4 systems.
Though I shudder to think what it might cost. I can't believe what
Alphastations are selling for now. :-(
Zane
On Tue, 6 Apr 2010, Brad Parker wrote:
Hi,
Someone on linked in this morning asked if anyone had four (4) VAX 8250's.
I tried to explain that they were hopelessly old and slow. And all the obvious
simh/charon/etc...
But he says he has an RFP which has no room for changes or negotiation.
So I gots to thinking. What if someone really did want four 8250's? Could they even
find them?
And, if they did (which is the scary part), could they find a complete set of spares,
including
power supplies?
(I don't know if the RFP includes spares, but I'd sure put a business card inside
each machine
with my number and "CALL ME FOR SPARES" :-)
And, what about disks? Can you connect a SCSI disk to an 8250? I would think SCSI would
be the only hope for a reliable production machine in 2010. Did all 8250's come with
UNIBUS?
If so, then a unibus scsi board would be the right option.
Anyway, consider it a thought problem. Unless of course, you have 1-4 VAX 8250's
you'd like to
sell ASAP :-)
I was just curious if it could even be done...
-brad
Brad Parker
Heeltoe Consulting
781-483-3101
http://www.heeltoe.com