Booting an IBM MP 3000 S/390 System

[Guy Sotomayor]

On 8/7/15 11:08 AM, jwsmobile wrote:
>
>
> On 8/6/2015 8:54 PM, Guy Sotomayor wrote:
>> Cool! I've toyed with the idea of getting a larger mainframe 
>> (zSeries) but the aspect of trying
>> to get and configure storage for it is the main stumbling block.
>>
>> I didn't realize how lucky I was with mine until I started hearing 
>> about the horror stories from
>> others.  I think what helped was that mine wasn't "molested" before I 
>> received it.  In addition
>> to arriving in the original IBM shipping crate (really?  who keeps 
>> that?) it also had all of the
>> "extras" in terms of cables, terminators, etc still unopened. The 
>> only thing that I'm missing
>> is some of the software and diagnostics that were supplied on either 
>> tape or CD.
>>
> It may have been packed by IBM for the customer.  This is standard 
> service available to mainframe shops.  Most of them who have assets 
> which have value get them packaged by IBM either under their current 
> maintenance contract, or at extra cost if they are not on their plan.  
> The service used to be called MSL, I think, but it has been a long 
> time since I dealt with such.
>
> Even if you bought it from a scrapper, the original shops frequently 
> just have them packed like that and then rolled off the floor for 
> storage, because when IBM packs them they are certified ready to go 
> back into service with a lot less if any re-certification charges for 
> maintenance.  If you disconnect the components yourself (and who do 
> you know in IT does that unless they are getting it for scrap if the 
> hardware guys will do it) that can / does void that they can go back 
> online w/o a big fee.
This was the original shipping crate from when the MP3000 was 
manufactured and delivered to
the original customer as it had all of the original IBM manufacturing 
stickers and original shipping
labels still attached.

There were also contents in the crate that were not originally from 
IBM.  It looks like who ever packed
this, took all of the equipment that was related to the MP3000 (some 1U 
servers and KVM switches
as well as the MP3000 kit) so I don't think IBM did the packaging of this.

TTFN - Guy