>From: NetBSD Bob <nbsdbob@weedcon1.cropsci.ncsu.edu>

>I could not resist..... a 5 buckeroo  VAXstation II/RC tower, and a 2 buck
>Masscomp 5400 (54S-01).  Anyone have any pointers to info on those?
>I suspect the Masscomp thing may be some sort of custom PDP-11, but am
>not sure.  The VAXstation ought to be compatible with the VAX NetBSD
>port, I would expect.  It has a TK tape, and an Imprimis 54196-766 drive.
>Alas, the back access door was removed and all the internal cabling
>disconnected, so I need to find out how to replace the cabling
>correctly and not nuke the hardware.  Any insights are appreciated.

Don't know about the Masscomp, but the VAXstation is just the result of
DEC's nicely botched attempt to segment the market.  It's a VAXstation
II with epoxy squirted into most of the backplane slots to stop you from
using them all.  RC stands for "restricted configuration", but it's better
known as "resin coated".  Anyway they were trying to go after customers
(specifically educational ones I think?) who were too cheap to buy the full
VS II, so they artificially crippled the thing and sold it as a low-end box.
But the beauty part was, it was so much cheaper than a regular VS II that it
was actually a better deal for customers to buy a VS II/RC and they pay DEC's
very own Field Circus to come swap in a regular backplane (which they would
happily do, it was an orderable part #), instead of buying a VS II outright.
I think DEC put a stop to that pretty quickly though...

The story goes that you can get the epoxy out yourself by baking the backplane
in an oven upside down (so the epoxy will drool out), but I don't know anyone
who's actually risked it.

John Wilson
D Bit