3 Mar
2008
3 Mar
'08
3:23 p.m.
Hello IBM folks,
as an absolute (IBM) mainframe dummy
I would like to know what an IBM 3088 was used for?
I don't know anything about mainframes therefore
many of the infos I found on the net don't give
much meaning to me.
Additional questions:
Is its functionality limited to CTC?
Can it be used as a standalone system, server, machine, ...?
I am asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Thanks
Gerold
3 Mar
3 Mar
3:54 p.m.
I would like to know what an IBM 3088 was used for?
These were used to link two mainframes up directly.
Is its functionality limited to CTC?
More or less.
Can it be used as a standalone system, server,
machine, ...?
Not really. I suppose the firmware could be hacked so you could do
other fun stuff, but you might as well get a more friendly machine to
work on.
I am asking these questions because I might get hands
on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
--
Will
4 Mar
4 Mar
4:41 a.m.
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
I am asking
these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
7:23 a.m.
Am Di, den 04.03.2008 schrieb r.stricklin um 10:41:
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
I don't know because I haven't seen them yet.
But I will have a look at them this week.
So at the weekend I can give an update.
Maybe with some pics too.
--
Gerold
I am
asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can. 
8:34 a.m.
r.stricklin wrote:
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
As can I. Probably more than two, if they're available.
Peace... Sridhar
I am
asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can. 
9:42 a.m.
From: bear at typewritten.org
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging.?You IM, we give.
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I am
asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
9:54 a.m.
dwight elvey wrote:
Nowhere near the same kind of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
From: bear at
typewritten.org
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models. I am
asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but
there are people here that can.
5 Mar
5 Mar
12:55 a.m.
From: ploopster at gmail.com
dwight elvey wrote:
Nowhere near the same kind of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
Hi
That sounds better. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to
power up a 3081. Between water cooler and motor generator,
it used more than $20K USD a month in electricity.
We also had a couple 43?? computers as well. These were
waste high and about as long as a couch. I think these were
also water cooled.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging.?You IM, we give.
http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join
From:
bear at typewritten.org
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models. > I am asking these questions because I might
get hands on 3 of them
> and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
> So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
9:13 a.m.
dwight elvey wrote:
I would. That's a beautiful machine.
In fact, for a number of years, I ran a newer water-cooled IBM machine
continuously.
Peace... Sridhar
From:
ploopster at gmail.com
dwight elvey wrote:
Nowhere near the same kind
of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
Hi
That sounds better. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to
power up a 3081. Between water cooler and motor generator,
it used more than $20K USD a month in electricity.
We also had a couple 43?? computers as well. These were
waste high and about as long as a couch. I think these were
also water cooled. From:
bear at typewritten.org
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
>> I am asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
>> and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
>> So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
> Likely no, but there are people here that can.
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models.
12:55 a.m.
From: ploopster at gmail.com
dwight elvey wrote:
Nowhere near the same kind of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
Hi
That sounds better. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to
power up a 3081. Between water cooler and motor generator,
it used more than $20K USD a month in electricity.
We also had a couple 43?? computers as well. These were
waste high and about as long as a couch. I think these were
also water cooled.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging.?You IM, we give.
http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join
From:
bear at typewritten.org
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models. > I am asking these questions because I might
get hands on 3 of them
> and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
> So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
12:55 a.m.
From: ploopster at gmail.com
dwight elvey wrote:
Nowhere near the same kind of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
Hi
That sounds better. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to
power up a 3081. Between water cooler and motor generator,
it used more than $20K USD a month in electricity.
We also had a couple 43?? computers as well. These were
waste high and about as long as a couch. I think these were
also water cooled.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser!
http://biggestloser.msn.com/
From:
bear at typewritten.org
On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models. > I am asking these questions because I might
get hands on 3 of them
> and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
> So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear 
3:30 p.m.
Sounds like 4341 (or maybe 4331)'s (waist high, couch wide).
They were air-cooled.
-Bob
bbrown at harpercollege.edu #### #### Bob Brown - KB9LFR
Harper Community College ## ## ## Systems Administrator
Palatine IL USA #### #### Saved by grace
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of dwight elvey
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:56 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: IBM 3088 - Dummy questions
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models.
Nowhere near the same kind of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
Hi
That sounds better. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to power up a
3081. Between water cooler and motor generator, it used more than $20K
USD a month in electricity.
We also had a couple 43?? computers as well. These were waste high and
about as long as a couch. I think these were also water cooled.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser!
http://biggestloser.msn.com/
From: ploopster at gmail.com
dwight elvey wrote:
>> From: bear at typewritten.org
>>
>>
>> On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
>>
>>>> I am asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
> and
according to my contact 2 out of 3 are still NOS.
> So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
Likely no, but there are people here that can.
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear 
9:21 p.m.
Sridhar Ayengar wrote:
Bob Brown wrote:
> Sounds like 4341 (or maybe 4331)'s (waist high, couch wide).
> They were air-cooled.
the 4361 was the really desirable one because it had
better comms built
in, and a storage director for FBA. You could run VM on it quite nicely
with a couple of 3370's (and I did on one I wish I could have gotten).
Jim
11:46 p.m.
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:30:12 -0600
From: bbrown at harpercollege.edu
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: IBM 3088 - Dummy questions
Sounds like 4341 (or maybe 4331)'s (waist high, couch wide).
They were air-cooled.
-Bob
4341 sounds right. I wonder what happened to those machines
when the company folded.
Dwight
bbrown at harpercollege.edu #### #### Bob Brown - KB9LFR
Harper Community College ## ## ## Systems Administrator
Palatine IL USA #### #### Saved by grace
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of dwight elvey
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:56 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: IBM 3088 - Dummy questions
Nowhere near the same kind of hardware. A 3081 is a large system. A
3088 is a peripheral.
Peace... Sridhar
Hi
That sounds better. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to power up a
3081. Between water cooler and motor generator, it used more than $20K
USD a month in electricity.
We also had a couple 43?? computers as well. These were waste high and
about as long as a couch. I think these were also water cooled.
Dwight
_________________________________________________________________
Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser!
http://biggestloser.msn.com/
_________________________________________________________________
Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser!
http://biggestloser.msn.com/
From: ploopster at gmail.com
dwight elvey wrote:
>> From: bear at typewritten.org
>>
>>
>> On Mar 3, 2008, at 12:54 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
>>
>>>> I am asking these questions because I might get hands on 3 of them
>> and according to my contact 2 out of 3 are
still NOS.
>> So I wonder if I (as a DEC/Unix Guy) can make any use out of them.
> Likely no, but there are people here that can.
I certainly can use a 3088 or two.
I've never seen one, though. How big are they?
ok
bear
Hi
I never saw a 3088 but I did see a 3081. As I recall, it was about
16 full height racks layed out like a cross except it had two cross
bars. There were a lot of changes between these models.
15 Mar
15 Mar
6:25 p.m.
New subject: IBM 3088 - Dummy questions -- Update and Pictures
Hello,
don't have much time, so only a short update.
To some list members I promised to take pictures.
See list below for a little description.
Pictures are up on
http://pdp8.de/ibm/index.cgi
There are the pictures of IBM and other mainframe(?) stuff
I found at the location. The location has to be freed til
the end of this month (March 2008) and after seeing the
items and with regard to the lack of my knowledge I don't
have any use for them.
If you want some of these item I can give you contact informations
off list. The person would like to get some money (in the amount
a scrapper would pay) but is open for proposals.
The less work for him the cheaper.
He has to free 800 square meters.
Mostly Compaq Proliant and FSC PrimePower stuff.
But also one Unisys ES700 and one or two Compaq Alpha Systems.
All systems located in the southern part of Germany.
Things I found there are:
2 x IBM 3088 Channel Multiplexer
*NOT* new on stock
Pictures IMG_166.JPG - IMG_174.JPG
1 x IBM 3163-12 ASCII Terminal with keyboard
some keys missing
Pictures IMG_175.JPG, IMG_180.JPG
5 x IBM 3174- 2 x 82R, 1 x 81R, 1 x 53R, 1 x 52R
Pictures IMG_160.JPG, IMG_163.JPG
1 x IBM 3745-170 Front End Processor
according to a hand written notice
4 boards missing
Pictures IMG_164.JPG, IMG_165.JPG
and IMG_181.JPG - IMG_186.JPG
1 x SNI 9688 Transdata Front End Processor
very likely incomplete
1 x SNI 9688 ripped
Pictures IMG_155.JPG - IMG_159.JPG
Greetings
Gerold
16 Mar
16 Mar
4:22 a.m.
New subject: IBM 3088 - Dummy questions -- Update and Pictures
Gerold Pauler wrote:
<snip>
Pictures are up on
http://pdp8.de/ibm/index.cgi
<snip>
2 x IBM 3088 Channel Multiplexer
*NOT* new on stock
Pictures IMG_166.JPG - IMG_174.JPG
These are excellent photographs of the 3088. It jogged my memory that
the unit is programmed with a 3278 or such, which you have shown on the
top of the 3088.
Also in IMG_179.jpg you can see the array of bus and tag connectors at
the bottom of the box under the electronics you have swung out.
Maybe there are 16 sets of connector sets total. There are clearly 12
visible in the photo, and I'm guessing another set covered by the card cage.
Hope someone saves these. I suspect they are pretty rare.
Jim
3 Mar
3 Mar
9:23 p.m.
Gerold Pauler wrote:
Hello IBM folks,
as an absolute (IBM) mainframe dummy
I would like to know what an IBM 3088 was used for?
they were a crosspoint switch for channels. The use for them could be
channel to channel, or you could also use them to reassign cabling if
you had a disaster plan or emergency plan.
They had the unique capability to actually function with the power off
of them with the last selected configuration. I do know we tried it
with the unit we had.
We could switch 3880's between a 4381 and a 9221 when we needed to for
testing in our case.
My understanding is they were developed for airline res center use and a
lot of their capability was put in for that use.
There was the capability to configure them to have two switch
capabilities set up in their "firmware" whatever that was, and if the
power was present to them, but not necessarily any CPUs functional, you
could hit a switch on the front to select between configurations
directly on the 3088.
In that mode you could perhaps have a large comm setup like a Res center
would have connected to alternate mainframes, and on the other side you
could configure up switchable dasd farms so you could switch between
those if need be.
I don't know of a lot of systems which would work with the shared DASD,
so it had limited use on that side outside of test switching, as most
applications would want to drive redundant dasd if need be.
I know that Brian Knittel on this list at one time had some mainframe as
does Patrick Finnegan, but Patrick may have all Escon now, and not have
the interest in the 3088 parallel channel stuff anymore.
Jim
4 Mar
4 Mar
7:38 a.m.
Am Di, den 04.03.2008 schrieb jim s um 03:23:
Gerold Pauler wrote:
...
I would like to know what an IBM 3088 was used
for?
they were a crosspoint switch for channels. The use for them could be
channel to channel, or you could also use them to reassign cabling if
you had a disaster plan or emergency plan.
Jim
Thanks for the interesting info.
The more I learn about this interesting machine,
the more likely it is that although interesting
I don't have any use for it :-(
--
Gerold
4:22 p.m.
New subject: IBM 3088 - Dummy questions (size)
Gerold Pauler wrote:
Hello IBM folks,
as an absolute (IBM) mainframe dummy
I would like to know what an IBM 3088 was used for?
I don't know anything about mainframes therefore
many of the infos I found on the net don't give
much meaning to me.
Size is about chest high for me, or probably 40" to the top. There is a
console much like the DASD with switches and indicators, and so forth.
It is probably 36" or 40" square as well.
Bus and Tag cables enter and exit the bottom, and can be serviced by
opening the rear.
I believe there is an 8" floppy service option, but we could program the
thing either from the console or from something on the 4381. I'll check
with my buddy and see what he remembers, as he programmed our setup.
they probably weigh from 400# to 600# like all similar era IBM boxes.
Jim
5973
days inactive
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days old
19 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
-
bbrown＠harpercollege.edu -
bear＠typewritten.org -
dkelvey＠hotmail.com -
gerold.pauler＠gmx.net -
jwstephens＠msm.umr.edu -
ploopster＠gmail.com -
wdonzelli＠gmail.com