18 Mar
2001
18 Mar
'01
10:02 a.m.
Hi
There is a large flea market about 20 minutes from here every weekend. It
fills about 2 to 3 drive-in parking lots during summer and even during the
dead of winter in below 0 temperatures, there are about 100 tables and lots
to look through... Never know what you are going to find...today I found:
Vax Station 5000/200 with 32Megs (?) $5
Amiga 500/mouse/rf mod + Intellivision II (for my game console collector
friends) $7
Box full of C64 stuff : 1541, C64, 2 CBM Power Supplies, TI99 Power Supply,
1530 Mouse, RCA cables, 1541 cable, 1 Fast Load $7
Sensory Chess Challenger 9'' inbox/manual (1981...)...my Phd-teacher brother
is a chess champ and collects old chess sets...I taught he would get a kick
outta this...$4
I passed on a Sharp PC-10 portable computer + printer at $10 as-is...I
offered $5...no go...
Can someone tell me more about the VAX? I know nothing about these things.
Either point me to a good faq or a manual or just tell me how to check this
thing out...I searched the net and after 20 minutes found close to nothing
about this thing...the compaq site is a maze....
Unit powers on PS fans (3!) spin. Small leds in back (6?) near ports seem to
cycle through in a "logical and non erratic way" at start up...
There are 4 large memory boards. Counting the chips I suspect these boards
hold 8 Megs each...4 boards...32Megs...built in ethernet from what I can
see...
Slot -0- in back does not have a cover anymore. There is nothing there...I
suspect this held a video card (?) can I still hook this up headless to a
terminal?
I connected my trusty Wyse60 to this and after a short "POST" I get...:
?IO 5/rzl/vmunix (bb rd)
>
Returns bring more >> prompts so I am talking to the box...So I guess it
works...
The thing has no floppy or keyboard connector...Just a SCSI port....how does
it boot? -- from scsi cdrom? (linux something to try on this I suspect...?)
Sorry about the questions but I know nothing about these VAX boxes...
Thanks for the help
Claude
claudew(a)videotron.ca
17 Mar
17 Mar
10:59 a.m.
Vax Station 5000/200 with 32Megs (?) $5
<snip>
Can someone tell me more about the VAX? I know nothing
about these things.
Either point me to a good faq or a manual or just tell me how to check this
thing out...I searched the net and after 20 minutes found close to nothing
about this thing...the compaq site is a maze....
http://www.netbsd.org
It's not a VAX. Unless I'm mistaken it says DECstation 5000/200 on the
front badge. It's a MIPS based system that was built to run Ultrix, and at
least NetBSD has been ported to it (I think Linux and OpenBSD also). The
NetBSD site I referenced above seems to have the most info on these things.
Zane
--
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
18 Mar
18 Mar
10:49 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Claude.W" <claudew(a)videotron.ca>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 7:32 AM
Subject: Flea Market finds...: VAX 5000/200 point me to a faq please...
Hi
There is a large flea market about 20 minutes from here every weekend.
It
fills about 2 to 3 drive-in parking lots during summer
and even during
the
dead of winter in below 0 temperatures, there are
about 100 tables and
lots
to look through... Never know what you are going to
find...today I
found:
Vax Station 5000/200 with 32Megs (?) $5
It's not a Vax. It's Digital, but it's a Decstation. MIPS RISC chip.
Will run Ultrix or NetBSD, not VMS.
Good catch.
Search under Decstation 5000 instead of Vax 5000. (TINVax5000)
Lots on the NetBSD site about the port for these.
Cheers
Geoff
19 Mar
19 Mar
12:12 a.m.
Can someone tell me more about the VAX? I know nothing about these things.
Either point me to a good faq or a manual or just tell me how to check this
thing out...I searched the net and after 20 minutes found close to nothing
about this thing...the compaq site is a maze....
As other people on the list have mentioned this really isn't a
VAX, even though it is labeled that way. Its a MIPS R3000
based workstation. At the time these workstations came out
a number of the Dec naming schemes were a bit confusing, and
quite often the same hardware was labeled differently depending
upon the software it ran.
What you have sounds like a Decstation 5000/200. This is a
nice R3000 based workstation, though it sounds like the configuration
of your system is somewhat minimal.
Unit powers on PS fans (3!) spin. Small leds in back (6?) near ports seem to
cycle through in a "logical and non erratic way" at start up...
There are 4 large memory boards. Counting the chips I suspect these boards
hold 8 Megs each...4 boards...32Megs...built in ethernet from what I can
see...
Slot -0- in back does not have a cover anymore. There is nothing there...I
suspect this held a video card (?) can I still hook this up headless to a
terminal?
I connected my trusty Wyse60 to this and after a short "POST" I get...:
?IO 5/rzl/vmunix (bb rd)
>>
Your system is trying to boot Ultrix (the dec version of Unix) and
it can't find the kernel. There are two common reasons for this.
First, there isn't a disk on your system, or the disk with Ultrix
is missing. It wasn't uncommon for the 5000/200 workstations to
not have an internal disk, they quite often had a second chassis
with disk and/or TK50 tape. The other possibility is the version
of Ultrix on your disk is corrupt.
First check to see if there is a disk (open up the box, take
a look). Also check what your system thinks is attached to it.
There is a command for this that you can enter at the >> prompt.
I don't remember the name now, but type help at the >> prompt
at it should tell you. This will tell you the devices attached
to the SCSI interface so you can determine whether it is looking
at the right drive.
Returns bring more >> prompts so I am talking to the box...So I guess it
works...
The thing has no floppy or keyboard connector...Just a SCSI port....how does
it boot? -- from scsi cdrom? (linux something to try on this I suspect...?)
Sorry about the questions but I know nothing about these VAX boxes...
It will have a keyboard connector, it will probably look like a RJ11
phone jack if I remember correctly. There should also be a video
connector on the back. The video connector has 3 pins, its doesn't
look like a VGA connector, or any other standard video connector.
The three pins are R,G,B with I believe sync on G. You should be
able to connect these to a VGA monitor.
You can also interface the SCSI version of the TK50 and the RRD40
CDROM to these boxes. You can occassionally find parts for these
workstations on eBay, and there's a surplus place near Montreal
that sometimes has parts as well.
They make a decent Unix workstation. I used a 5000/20 at work
for many years, and I have two 5000/20 and a 5000/200 at home.
--
Dr. Mark Green mark(a)cs.ualberta.ca
McCalla Professor (780) 492-4584
Department of Computing Science (780) 492-1071 (FAX)
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada
24 Mar
24 Mar
11:35 a.m.
Mark Green skrev:
> ?IO 5/rzl/vmunix (bb rd)
Your system is trying to boot Ultrix (the dec version
of Unix) and
it can't find the kernel. There are two common reasons for this.
First, there isn't a disk on your system, or the disk with Ultrix
is missing. It wasn't uncommon for the 5000/200 workstations to
not have an internal disk, they quite often had a second chassis
with disk and/or TK50 tape. The other possibility is the version
of Ultrix on your disk is corrupt.
Were there any 5000/200s with internal disks? Mine hasn't got any internal
SCSI connector, nor any mounting point. It's quite bizarre, though, since it's
the biggest case in my entire collection.
First check to see if there is a disk (open up the box,
take
a look). Also check what your system thinks is attached to it.
There is a command for this that you can enter at the >> prompt.
I don't remember the name now, but type help at the >> prompt
at it should tell you. This will tell you the devices attached
to the SCSI interface so you can determine whether it is looking
at the right drive.
You could always netboot it. Try "boot 6/tftp", assuming you've got some
kind
of server on the network with a bootpd or dhcpd as well as a tftpd.
It will have a keyboard connector, it will probably
look like a RJ11
phone jack if I remember correctly. There should also be a video
connector on the back. The video connector has 3 pins, its doesn't
look like a VGA connector, or any other standard video connector.
Define "standard"? To the best of my knowledge, there has never been any
standard video connector, save perhaps for SCART.
The three pins are R,G,B with I believe sync on G. You
should be
able to connect these to a VGA monitor.
Assuming it supports sync on green and the correct frequencies.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
Also,what would a game about pimps be without Pimp Gear(tm)? As you move up in
the world,you'll be able to buy new clothes,upgrade your car,and upgrade your
appearance. Girls that wouldn't give you the time of day before might be
swayed more easily when you've got some cash to throw around.
Pimpin' ain't easy, upcoming game from Delsyd Software
8:31 p.m.
Were there any 5000/200s with internal disks? Mine hasn't got any internal
SCSI connector, nor any mounting point. It's quite bizarre, though, since it's
the biggest case in my entire collection.
I seem to recall that one of my 5000/200s at one point had an
internal SCSI device. I suspect it was a TK50, but I'm not
sure. We reconfigured the workstations soon after receiving
them, and I think all the SCSI devices were placed in external
boxes at that point. This made it easier to share devices, and
have most of the file systems up when a workstation crashed.
First check to
see if there is a disk (open up the box, take
a look). Also check what your system thinks is attached to it.
There is a command for this that you can enter at the >> prompt.
I don't remember the name now, but type help at the >> prompt
at it should tell you. This will tell you the devices attached
to the SCSI interface so you can determine whether it is looking
at the right drive.
You could always netboot it. Try "boot 6/tftp", assuming you've got some
kind
of server on the network with a bootpd or dhcpd as well as a tftpd.
It will have a keyboard connector, it will
probably look like a RJ11
phone jack if I remember correctly. There should also be a video
connector on the back. The video connector has 3 pins, its doesn't
look like a VGA connector, or any other standard video connector.
Define "standard"? To the best of my knowledge, there has never been any
standard video connector, save perhaps for SCART. The three pins are R,G,B with I believe sync on G.
You should be
able to connect these to a VGA monitor.
Assuming it supports sync on green and the correct frequencies.
--
26 Mar
26 Mar
12:39 a.m.
Mark Green skrev:
> >It will have a keyboard connector, it will
probably look like a RJ11
> >phone jack if I remember correctly. There should also be a video
> >connector on the back. The video connector has 3 pins, its doesn't
> >look like a VGA connector, or any other standard video connector.
>
> Define "standard"? To the best of my knowledge, there has never been any
> standard video connector, save perhaps for SCART.
By standard I meant something that had been used
elsewhere. If
you have never seen this connector before, there is a good chance
that you wouldn't guess its a video connector. Standard connectors
I associate with video are VGA, 13W3 and BNC, this looks like none
of them.
Would that be 9-pin or 15-pin VGA?
Besides, the 3W3 looks rather similar to the 13W3. And what about D23, D15,
DIN-13, DIN-5, D9, in a lot of odd configurations.
> >The three pins are R,G,B with I believe sync
on G. You should be
> >able to connect these to a VGA monitor.
>
> Assuming it supports sync on green and the correct frequencies.
If I remember correctly, the 5000 line had relatively
standard
video frequencies, it was the monitors that were fixed frquency
and couldn't be switched between different models. I suspect
it is either 1024x768 or 1280x1024, it will depend upon the
graphics option that's installed.
Or 1024?864. =)
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
"Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids,
we'd
all be running around in darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to
repetitive music."
David McMinn
3:30 a.m.
Mark Green skrev:
What's the point of your comment? The Decstation 5000/200 doesn't
have these connectors so it doesn't make any difference. The
standard cable provided by DEC for these machines basically took
their 3 pin connector to 3 BNC connectors. This can be connected
to a monitor that has BNC connectors and supports the appropriate
frequencies. Since the video connectors on the 5000 series
workstations were somewhat unusual they can easily be overlooked
by someone who isn't familiar with them.
> >It will have a keyboard connector, it
will probably look like a RJ11
> >phone jack if I remember correctly. There should also be a video
> >connector on the back. The video connector has 3 pins, its doesn't
> >look like a VGA connector, or any other standard video connector.
>
> Define "standard"? To the best of my knowledge, there has never been any
> standard video connector, save perhaps for SCART.
By standard I meant something that had been used
elsewhere. If
you have never seen this connector before, there is a good chance
that you wouldn't guess its a video connector. Standard connectors
I associate with video are VGA, 13W3 and BNC, this looks like none
of them.
Would that be 9-pin or 15-pin VGA?
Besides, the 3W3 looks rather similar to the 13W3. And what about D23, D15,
DIN-13, DIN-5, D9, in a lot of odd configurations. > >The three pins are R,G,B with I believe
sync on G. You should be
> >able to connect these to a VGA monitor.
>
> Assuming it supports sync on green and the correct frequencies.
If I remember correctly, the 5000 line had
relatively standard
video frequencies, it was the monitors that were fixed frquency
and couldn't be switched between different models. I suspect
it is either 1024x768 or 1280x1024, it will depend upon the
graphics option that's installed.
Or 1024_864. =)
--
27 Mar
27 Mar
3:13 a.m.
Mark Green skrev:
> >By standard I meant something that had been
used elsewhere. If
> >you have never seen this connector before, there is a good chance
> >that you wouldn't guess its a video connector. Standard connectors
> >I associate with video are VGA, 13W3 and BNC, this looks like none
> >of them.
>
> Would that be 9-pin or 15-pin VGA?
> Besides, the 3W3 looks rather similar to the 13W3. And what about D23, D15,
> DIN-13, DIN-5, D9, in a lot of odd configurations.
What's the point of your comment? The Decstation
5000/200 doesn't
have these connectors so it doesn't make any difference. The
standard cable provided by DEC for these machines basically took
their 3 pin connector to 3 BNC connectors. This can be connected
to a monitor that has BNC connectors and supports the appropriate
frequencies. Since the video connectors on the 5000 series
workstations were somewhat unusual they can easily be overlooked
by someone who isn't familiar with them.
My point is that it's rather silly to talk about "standard" video
connectors,
especially in a forum like this. The same could be said of a 13W3 or a D15HD.
> >> Assuming it supports sync on green and
the correct frequencies.
>
> >If I remember correctly, the 5000 line had relatively standard
> >video frequencies, it was the monitors that were fixed frquency
> >and couldn't be switched between different models. I suspect
> >it is either 1024x768 or 1280x1024, it will depend upon the
> >graphics option that's installed.
>
> Or 1024_864. =)
I don't recall that particular resolution. Each of
the graphics
adaptors (there was about a dozen of them) had its own resolution
and there was no easy way of changing it. The graphics displays
were not near as flexible as the SGIs of the same time period.
I've got a table of resolutions for the DEC graphics adapters here...
HX graphics options:
OPTIONS RESOLUTION JUMPER CLOCK
PMAGB-BA/BB 1280X1024 72Hz off 130. mhz
1280X1024 66Hz on 119. mhz
PMAGB-BC/BD 1280X1024 72Hz off 130. mhz
1024x864 60Hz on 74. mhz
PMAGB-BE/BF 1280X1024 72Hz off 130. mhz
1024x768 72Hz on 130. mhz
Don't ask me how to tell one from the other... =)
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
But a graphical client/server model that slices the interface down some
arbitrary middle is like Solomon following through with his child-sharing
strategy. The legs, heart, and left eye end up on the server, the arms and
lungs go to the client, the head is left rolling around on the floor, and
blood spurts everywhere.
Don Hopkins - The Unix hater's handbook; The X-Windows disaster
8518
days inactive
8527
days old
8 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
claudew＠videotron.ca -
geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au -
healyzh＠aracnet.com -
mark＠cs.ualberta.ca -
optimus＠canit.se