> I went to see this equipment yesterday.  The place is a boneyard.  Most of
> the vaxen are from NASA and Texas universities.  The boxes on this
> particular pallet are a bit dirty, but look servicable.  They'd
> shrink-wrapped the pallet, but they let my pull on of the 3100s out.  I
> couldn't tell much, but it did have a disk drive.
> 
> These guys have *lots* more vaxen and when I was there they were preparing
> another pallet for auction, mostly with more 3100s.  This second pallet
> looked cleaner than the first.  There are some bigger cabinets.

Bigger cabinets..... smells good.....(:+}}...

> So, questions:
> 
> Can you run a serial console off a 3100?  

Yup.

> Is it the "printer" port?  

Yup, after you flip up the little switch in the recess beside the
idiot lights.

> Does it take that funky MMU(?) connector?

Yup, MMJ connector.  A DEC VT320 or VT420 terminal is light to lug
around for testing, and only requires a dual flippy mmj cable.  IFF
you use other terminals, it will require a dongle on one end to give
you DB25 or whatever, plus a null plug.

I would be willing to bet, if you snooped around some, you could
scare up a VT terminal and mmj cable, right there at the surplus
diving pit.    If the guys there might be amenable, you could have
them keep it handy somewhere so you could use it for testing at
various times, to do them the ``favor'' of seeing what works.

> The auction for the first pallet was at $305 last I looked.  I could
> probably buy some of the other cleaner 3100s for $10 each and it seems
> like he'd let me test that they work first.  
> 
> So what do we want to do?  I'm inclined not to bid, but pick up systems
> for whoever might be interested.  I'm only afraid that there's so much
> stuff over there that I'll turn into a NetBSD Bob.  :)

Thanks!  I will take that as a compliment....(:+}}...  Doth my
reputation precede me.....(:+}}...

My take on what might be of interest would be something like:

   The 3100/M76's are good relatively fast machines for their line.
   Most list folks should have an interest in those.

   Any 4000 crates (either the desktops e.g. VLC or biggie boxes)
   would be relatively good.  Most list folks should have an interest
   in those.

   Giant Heavyweight IRON in refrigerator sized boxes or larger
   are probably a problem, unless someone local your way can use
   them directly, or has a big truck handy.....(:+}}...  Few of
   the list folks would have a practical interest in those, unless
   they could manage the shipping, except maybe for parts, e.g.,
   boardsets, power supplies, etc.

   Older slower boxes like 3100/20's or may be even 3100/M38's
   would be good to rescue for the list, but not probably much
   use after that niche were filled.  A few folks might have
   interest in these.

   But, sometimes you have to load up some scrap to get the juicy
   tidbits.

I would be interested in a VLC just for its tiny size, and probably
a fast 4000 machine, if one were to surface, and not be too expensive
to buy or ship.  I do have a daughter in Houston that might could be
used as a drop-off point and I could arrange shipping with her to save
you the hassle.

> - Greg

That is my take on the stuff, although if enough hands wanna get into
the thick of it, such could feed a lot of VAXen fits......(:+}}....

Bob