gauging interest in VAX 6000-530

----- Original Message ----- From: Richard W. Schauer <rws(a)enteract.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Sent: Sunday, October 24, 1999 2:00 PM Subject: Re: gauging interest in VAX 6000-530 1. Big. Think refridgerator. Weight is around 500lbs. If you need to know exactly, I'll dig out a manual with all the dimensions weights etc. 2. Probably built circa 1988-91 3. Since it doesn't have a Disk controller (the poster said this is a CI only machine) it can only be netbooted, either over the CI from a HSC50/70 etc or via ethernet from another Vax that is configured to be a MOP bootserver. The TK70 tape is bootable also. Currently the only OS's that it will run are VMS and Ultrix. A net-bsd port is being considered at the moment. There is a hobbyist license (free) available for VMS via DECUS. Ultrix is a proprietary/commercial/ugly Unix variant. So to use it effectively, you'd need to install an internal disc controller or a HSx server of some kind. (I don't recommend getting a HSC50 or 70, they are medium size filing cabinet sized gizmos and require a passive hub (star coupler) the same size before they can be used in anger. The HSC uses about the same amount of power as the vax, and is 3 phase, though it's fairly trivial to convert to single phase.) HSJ's are smaller but more expensive. Never had one to play with.... SCSI, DSSI and SDI controllers are available for these, so it would be possible to obtain say, a s/h BI bus scsi controller, and mount the drives inside the main cabinet powered from the system supplies. (Trust me, they can handle it) There are both Digital and 3rd party controllers available. (I have some 3rd party ones) If you want heavy metal, an SDI controller will talk to 4 drives, from RA8x series (don't recommend these, big, heavy (64kg), noisy and unreliable) to RA7x series, (House bricks in the size/weight dept - but reliable enough & 12v/5v powered. RA72's are 1gb and make nice system disks.) RA9x are ok, though a bit hungrier (mains powered) and really need a SAxxx cabinet to mount in. Weigh in around 30kg each. Add terminal/s and a network connection and you have a very nice, fairly quick SMP system. We use a 6000-440 as a web/ftp/mail/pop3 & proxy server. Performance : ---- Mariah chip series (1991) - Decimal SID = 301989888 --------+------------ 12 | 2 | 1202|13-58 | XBCD | VAX 6000 model 510-560 | Calypso/XMP Around 13 VUPS per cpu, (1 VUP ~ 1 MIPS) on this scale a 530 (3 cpu version) is good for around 39 VUPS, depending on how well the SMP works for that app.. 4. 3 phase. However it can be modded to single phase without too much drama. Actual power requirements are only around 500-600w depending on the board fit etc. FWIW a 6000-300 with 1 cpu uses 1.9A @ 240vac. As "Big" boxes go, it's probably the easiest to run in a home user environment, especially in the power consumption department. I have an 8530 at home as well, but am not contemplating running it at present. Hope this helps. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Mark's College Port Pirie, South Australia geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au