17 Jan
2003
17 Jan
'03
9:45 p.m.
Wow! I thought the CQBIC was not populated on the
KA50.
I'm fairly sure the mainboards are identical (i.e. the same part
number).
I've never been inside a VAX 4000-100 so I've never had the
chance to personally check this, but the last time I saw a
parts list, the part numbers were the same.
Hmm. I do not suppose that this identity flag can be
permanently stored anywhere other than in the firmware flash
ROM. I'm sure DEC wouldn't want people to suddenly discover
that their machine shape-shifts when the NVRAM battery is
disconnected. So does this console test actually erase and
reprogram a sector in the firmware flash ROM, or is the
change only in effect until the next power cycle?
It's stored in the flash EPROM - it rewrites it as
part of the test (and warns you not to switch off
while it is doing so). The change is permanent (until
you run the test again and switch back).
I doubt HP care whether customers know this or not now. I
doubt they cared even back then: switching from a UV3100-90
to a VAX 4000-100 didn't get you anything extra (unless
you paid for a new case) and it did cost you more
in licence fees. Switching the other way disabled Qbus
and DSSI, so although your licence cost you less, you
got less for it. And if you wanted the cheaper licence
you would have bought the cheaper machine anyway!
Antonio
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Antonio Carlini arcarlini(a)iee.org