----- Original Message -----
From: "Geoff Roberts" <geoffrob@stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au>
To: "port-vax" <port-vax@netbsd.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: VAX 4000/100 + cd + syquest ...etc


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "BrownM03" <BrownM03@bigpond.com>
> To: "port-vax" <port-vax@netbsd.org>
> Cc: "Geoff Roberts" <geoffrob@stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au>; "Erno
> Palonheimo" <esp@cc.hut.fi>; "Michael Kukat" <michael@unixiron.org>; "P.
> G." <pgaray@bigfoot.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 11:23 PM
> Subject: Re: VAX 4000/100 + cd + syquest ...etc

> > > > [[ ps. also an HP9000 for $2 ... 3xBNC + 1xSCSI ports ...
> > > Hmm, hoo yeah.  Nice.  HPUX hear you come.  (I think they run BSD
> too)
> > So what can I do with this? It has nothing in it apart from a RAM
> module & a
> > 68030!
>
> How much ram?

I think it's an 8MB module, but I haven't been able to verify that yet.
(I've just guessed from the chip ID's)

> The Classic Computers list would be the best bet for that one, they have
> numerous HP Unix types there.

Who, where?
As far as I can tell, this HP looks much like an "external display adapter"
!!!
(with a SCSI interface)
Does that sound about right?
(seems like overkill .... I'm happy with VT's at the moment :))

>
> > ps. I do have a Philips 20C monitor that I MIGHT be able to hook up to
> it...
> > but it's 5BNC not 3... and although it may sync on green I've never
> tried.
>
> Probably RGB Vsync Hsync. Sync on green as well is possible.  HP's are
> sync on green IIRC,
> same as Vaxstations.  Probably won't hurt to try.
>
> > Worth selling for $30 you think? Or is it really that good? (ie.
> useable?:))]
>
> If it works on the HP, keep it.

hmmm.... time to think/play

> > > > ps. an hour ago one of my (local) mates said he'd come across a
> drive
> > array
> > > > (rack mount) with bucket loads of drives in it (all 5pin:)))))
> hehe
> > > Sounds like a good idea.  Grab it if you can.
> > He (and his mate) are stalling a bit. I've offered $20/drive or $100
> for the
> > whole thing.
>
> Sounds like a reasonable offer, some may be dead, you don't know.
>
> > He (his mate has the rack) only has one of the drives at present... so
> I've
> > (almost) got
> > at least one drive (he said a RF35...which is 825MB i think). I'll
> find out
> > tomorrow.
>
> That would be a start.  Hmmm. RF??  See my comments below.
>
> > I'm told he has an offer of $500 for the whole thing...
>
> Hmm, the right people would pay that for it, but it depends if he
> actually knows them or is just
> trying to beat the price up.  On top of which an RF prefix indicates a
> DSSI drive, so they ARE NOT SCSI.
> Digital SCSI drives have an RZ prefix. SID drives have an RA prefix.
> He is almost certainly assuming they are SCSI, (hard to tell by looking)
> which would explain the $500 offer.
> Better enlighten him, ASAP, as DSSI was found only on Digital Vaxen and
> such like, so if they don't have a Vax,
> they won't be an use to them. (And may blow something up finding this
> out).  And they are useful to you, or someone with
> a Vax and a DSSI controller.  (Plenty will want them if you ask in the
> right places.) Classic Computers for instance.
> Probably here, as I suspect a few BSD'ers have DSSI based Vaxen about
> the place.  You need to find out if you have a
> DSSI controller in your VAX 4000.
>
> > I'll just hope & pray that it falls through :))
>
> I'm betting it will the moment they find out they aren't SCSI drives!
>

The unit is not "rack mount", it's a WHOLE CASE (R400X I think)
And I've got the price down to $100, HOWEVER, there is a total of
6 drives in the case:
2 x RF/RZ35 (dual mode?) 825MB
4 x RZ73 (2G)
I re-assembled the whole box (had to take it apart just to carry it:) and
then
plugged a 50-pin Cent to 50-pin cent cable from the 4000 to the R400X.
Nothing (new) appears on SHOW SCSI or SHOW DEVICE :((
(However the RF/RZ35's appear on the DSSI list when indiviually plugged into
one of the 3 internal DSSI ports) (it has 2 SCSI & 3 DSSI ports)
ps. Is there any difference between internal & external scsi busses?
ie. is controller A internal ... etc? Or is there only one controller?
The reason I ask is the there is an internal CD-ROM, and the R400X has
6 drives. If there is only one SCSI bus then I would have to remove AT LEAST
one of the DSSI drives and put it on the internal DSSI port. (Is that
right?)
(pps. the RF/RZ35's are half-height (??) and the others a full (ie. wont fit
in the case)
Where do I go from here?

***************************************
HOWEVER, looks like I've backed myself into a corner:  I changed the default
boot device from DIA0 (or whatever it was), to EZA0 (the ethernet device) in
an attempt to cut-down boot times by about 3 mins. WHAT A FAILURE!!!
Now it just does the 2... (new line) -EZA0 .... and locks completely.
How do I "break" from the normal boot process, change the default boot
device,
OR stop the ethernet port from locking the system?
(pls. dont tell me that netboot is the only way :))). I REALLY want to try
and get it
to boot from the SyQuest first (if i can) )

******************************
> > Let me know what bits to look for and I'll keep them in mind each time
> I go
> > to an auction.
>
> Most anything with a Digital logo that isn't a pc should go for next to
> nothing,
> drive cabinets are particularly good value, if the drives are there.
> Vaxstations,
> particularly VS 4000-60 or 90's are very nice. Larger Vaxen (6000's or
> 7000's)
> are often very cheap.  If you have the room, and can move them (300Kg
> plus) they
> actually make a very nice system, as they are readily modifiable to
> 240vac single phase and
> draw around 500w. (Plus drives of course).  There are caveats with
> these, so if you see one
> and think about getting it, drop me a line and I will fill you in on
> what to look for.
> Stay away from the larger RA8x series drives, they weigh in at 64kg each
> and
> dim the house lights when you spin them up.  (About 8 amps to spin up,
> 4-5 running)
> If you have or obtain an SDI controller based Vax or microvax, RA7x
> series drives are a
> much better proposition. (House brick sized)  Come 4 to an SA70
> enclosure, which
> takes exactly half the space of a single RA8x, or the same space as a
> single RA9x.
> Ra7x capacities start at 250mb for an 70, up to 1.5Gb (I think) for a
> 73.
> There are also RA9x series drives, which are about halfway between the
> 8x and 7x's
> size/weight wise.  Still 240vac, but not so hungry. Weigh in around
> 25kg, capacities from around 1Gb up.
> They are ok for home systems, though you might not want to run them H24,
> they draw around 200w when spun up.
> (Draw rather more than that for a few seconds as they start up).
>
> > They're held weekly, and often have computers of various types & age.
> > PLUS (for the normal auctions...) there only seem to be about 6-10
> > regulars... so should be easy to find bargains.
>
> Good hunting.  The biggest auction house in Adelaide is Evans & Clarke,
> unfortunately they
> flog most of their computer stuff on a Thursday evening, so you get all
> the Mum/Dad & little Johnnies
> there, who pay way too much for something old and crappy (through
> ignorance of it's real worth) and go
> home thinking they have a bargain.  Sigh.  They occasionally have a
> daytime auction, I usually go to them,
> and they also have daytime Office Equipment auctions which have computer
> stuff in them.  Better value.
> The other big place Mason, Gray & Strange has Friday daytime computer
> auctions once a month on average.
> They are better value, as the great unwashed don't come there that much,
> so mostly dealers and the like.
>
> While I have your attention:
> I have an AS/400 I got from there for $20.  (Lacking an adapter gizmo
> for the Twinax terms (got them too) though
> - if anyone out there has this kind of stuff, I'd be delighted to hear
> from them, IBM Part no supplied on request.)
> You may email me off list if you want to talk about AS/400's....;^)
>
> > Between Government departments being relocated interstate, system
> upgrades &
> > installs,  there's often some weird stuff at these auctions, and I'd
> be happy to keep
> > an eye out for special bits if anyone is looking for something
> special/different.
>
> > 5. Every(any)one :)
> > ANY information about 4000-100 vaxen, DSSI, Q-BUS, etc... would be
> handy.
> > Including info on the external ports; ie. what they are and how I can
> use
> > them.
>
> Likely to be plenty of serial ports, for terms, probably a line printer
> port, some strange parallel thing,
> Data Products?  Network, and external SCSI/DSSI ports too IIRC.
>
> > ps. do you guys prefer short messages? :))
> > (yes I'm new to mailing lists as well:)
>
> Not me!  As long as it's (mostly) relevant.
>
> cheers
>
> Geoff Roberts
> Computer Systems Manager
> Saint Mark's College
> Port Pirie,
> South Australia
> geoffrob@stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
> ICQ: 1970476
>