Subject: Re: Free Integrated Solutions VME 68020 systems
To: Jason R Thorpe <thorpej@wasabisystems.com>
From: Ken Seefried <ken@seefried.com>
List: port-m68k
Date: 10/06/2002 21:50:48
The 68010 version of these boxes was the first Unix box I personally owned 
(along with a Valid Scald 68010 box).  Shame I'm across the country.  
Someone pick them up... 

Jason R Thorpe writes: 

> I have 3, possibly 4 (I think there's another one buried behind a stack
> of boxes :-) Integrated Solutions, Inc. VME 68020 systems, free for the
> taking, in San Francisco. 
> 
> The stuff includes: 
> 
> 	* 1 V16 model -- 16 6U VME slots.  Currently has Ethernet,
> 	  disk controller, and tape controller boards.  2 MFM disks
> 	  on Adaptec MFM->SCSI adapter, plugged into disk controller.
> 	  This one actually has ISI's 4.2BSD port installed on it,
> 	  and it did in fact run the last time I powered it up (which
> 	  was like 5 years ago). 
> 
> 	* 2 (or 3 :-) V8 models -- 8 6U VME slots.  They are sort of
> 	  like thinner/deeper tower PCs in size/shape.  These are
> 	  probably good only for parts.  They have memory, controllers,
> 	  and MFM disks that are likely usable. 
> 
> 	* Set of ISI 4.2BSD manuals.  Not sure how complete they are,
> 	  but it's the familar stuff in glossy ISI 3-ring binders. 
> 
> 	* Partial set of hardware manuals, the sort of thing one might
> 	  need to do a port. 
> 
> 	* Box of VME boards for these things.  Ethernet controllers, disk
> 	  controllers, etc. 
> 
> I *think* I also have the 4.2BSD kernel source code for these things (with
> the VAX VM code hacked to work with the ISI MMU, which is not the standard
> Motorola MMU).  That could probably be a decent reference for how e.g. the
> Ethernet and disk controllers work (they're all the "intelligent" type,
> with a 68000 + firmware).  Note that the disk controllers are really SCSI
> controllers, but the firmware that runs on them only talks to direct-access
> type devices.  There are separate tape controller cards :-) 
> 
> Anyway, these things are going to leave my garage one way or the other,
> and I'd prefer if they went to someone who appreciates them as much as I
> did (do).  They're quite heavy, so you probably don't want to consider
> shipping them. 
> 
> In any case, if no one speaks up for them, I'll be calling a junk hauling
> service on Oct 18, so there is your deadline :-) 
> 
> -- 
>         -- Jason R. Thorpe <thorpej@wasabisystems.com>