'3b2.sdf.org' requested an end of an era.
Stephen Jones
tmp at Lucent and then for SDF from 1994-1997 gave up in a way only a full
height 5.25" at 3600 RPM can .. like a skill saw. It had been making
occassional noise for the past couple of years, but usually worked itself
into a quiet spot. Without much warning on Jan 11th, it began making the
most incredible sawing sound I've ever heard .. and I've heard a few
drives go south. I made a successful dump and powered it down for the
last time.
While this wasn't the only 3B2 that made up SDF during the years it ran
SVR3, its the one that has gotten the most use in 'After Service'. It was
on loan to an individual and then apparently lost from 1999-2003 though
thankfully got put into storage. When recovered it then went on display
at several Vintage Computer Festivals at the Computer History Museum in
Mountain View. As of 2008 has come to rest at the Museum of Communication
here in Seattle where it has several subscriber lines into a #5 Cross-Bar
office and a few hardwire Teletype video and printing terminals. It also
talks via UUCP to 3b2/310 'demo' machine that Pat Taylor used as part of
his travel kit. It also talks to the current SDF via UUCP over TCP.
But since its service at Lucent, SDF, the occassional VCF and now
full-time plush retirement at the Museum it has not needed a single piece
of hardware replaced. Until now.
In 1996 I had planned to replace the ESDI drives and in fact had purchased
some Old New Stock KS part numbered SCSI drives to do that. But I never
installed them, because there was no pressing need. For the VCFs I did
limit the XM to having one ESDI drive, but that was really only to reduce
weight.
When I set it up at the Museum I replaced the XM internals with a single
SCSI drive, so that retired one blinky Emulex board. But I was really
upset to now be forced to get rid of the other Emulex board that sat on
top of the internal drive. What a privilege! One Emulex board that would
normally serve 3 or 4 drives just dedicated to one.
Charlie Boykin had told me that in Killer's setup he preferred building
out the '5GBs of storage' that it had in the late 80s by using ESDI drives
via the Emulex boards to the SCSI BUSS (4 to 1 SCSI ID).
So it is with great sadness that I announce that '3b2.sdf.org' is forced
to upgrade will no longer be spinning an ESDI drive and that the once
happily blinking status light on the Emulex board is now dim.
;-) Enjoy
--
..!sdf.org!martians / SDF Public Access UNIX System / http://sdf.org
supervinx
> So it is with great sadness that I announce that '3b2.sdf.org' is forced
> to upgrade will no longer be spinning an ESDI drive and that the once
> happily blinking status light on the Emulex board is now dim.
>
> ;-) Enjoy
:'(
rob kas
Steve
My 3b2 currently uses a couple old Apple SCSI disks , much smaller ,
a little bit faster and almost
silent compared to the KS series disks.
If you have a working 3b2 you can set them up using most of what was
in the old FAQ.
Bob
tlvp
> The 155mb ESDI drive which served as the 3b2/500's primary root, swap and
> tmp at Lucent and then for SDF from 1994-1997 gave up in a way only a full
> height 5.25" at 3600 RPM can .. like a skill saw.
You mean that a disc started buzz-sawing its way through the drive housing
and literally cut the housing in two? If so, what else did it take with it?
Nobody's hand or fingers, I hope :-) .
My condolences, though: it's always sad to see a faithful bit of kit
bite the dust :-{ .
-- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP
_____
> ... It had been making
Stephen Jones
> My 3b2 currently uses a couple old Apple SCSI disks , much smaller ,
> a little bit faster and almost silent compared to the KS series disks.
I agree completely. In fact, I had a drive with that in mine prior to
retiring the 3B2 and moving on. I was just trying to be sentimental. &8^)
I'd like to keep this particular machine running for a while and since I
never really used the spare it seems best to go ahead and use it.