----- Original Message -----
From: "Huw Davies" <Huw.Davies(a)kerberos.davies.net.au>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: DEC Star Coupler
<SNIP>
A Star Coupler is a passive interconnect for systems
using CI (Cluster
Inconnect). It is used by VAXen and Alpha based systems to form Clusters
which can
share
various things.
I understand (and hope to be corrected by posting
here) that the CI
technology was originally developed as a method of sharing storage
for DECSYSTEM-20 systems.
Didn't realise it was that early, but it's certainly been around a while,
and the hardware went through
considerable evolution. The circa 1984 Vax 8530 here has a second 5'
cabinet, which contains a box 19" wide, 12" high and about 12" deep full
of
boards that is the CIBCI? CIBCA?. Equivalent thing in my Vax 6430 is two BI
cards.
I still have a couple of HSC50's and a Star Coupler at home, and we use a
HSC70 and another one
at work on the Vax 6440.
Asides:
Still looking for the Vax Console (Pro380) to 8530 cables so I can try and
get the 8530 running again.
I have the console and reinstalled all the stuff on it, just need the
cables, then I will have to try and mod the 8530 psu
to work on 240v single phase if possible.
If anyone out there has info on converting a Vax 7000 to single phase ops
(US single phase initially) I'd be interested to hear from them as a US
based acquaintance has one he wishes to play with.
Cheers
Geoff in Oz