What's a VAX 6000/300 ?

-----Original Message----- From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)freegate.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, 13 January 1999 5:30 Subject: What's a VAX 6000/300 ? It's from around 89-91 era, so it might be. I have a couple. One built in 89, (A Classic!) 1 in 90. It's a medium sized Vax, about the size of a very big fridge. The 300 series cpu's were good for about 3.8 VUPS (1 VUPS ~ 1MIPS). The middle digit of the 300 indicates the number of cpus in the system. Depending on individual machine config, this could be anything from 1-4.. The internal tape drive would be a TK70, a 280mb version of a TK50. They will also read TK50 tapes but not write to them. A typical 6000-310 would probably have 64Mb of RAM, and an ethernet adapter, plus it may or may not have either a KDB50 SDI Disk/Tape controller and/or KLESI-B controller for TU81+ tape drive. It could also have instead of a disk controller a CI bus adapter to allow it to use HSC mounted disk/tape drives in a VAXCluster configuration. Apart from the size and weight, if you have the room, they are a good, reliable machine. VMS or Ultrix only. NetBSD not supported (No XMI Bus support). They are 3 phase, but it's fairly easy to convert to single phase, and they only consume around 500w. My 6000-220 (slightly slower, but a 2 cpu version) draws about 2A @240vac from a domestic power outlet. FWIW, it can be moved by hand, though it takes about 6 guys, weighs about 200Kg, about 30 of which is a 3 phase autotransformer in the bottom. (First thing I get rid of!) They need a VTxxx terminal as a console. One of these was my first Vax, so I guess I'm sort of an enthusiast. Oh yeah, they are just about unkillable, dropping one from a great height will distort the cabinet somewhat, but it will probably not stop it working. Hope this helps. Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au