More stuff acquired

From: Frank McConnell <fmc_at_reanimators.org>
Date: Fri Jun 19 20:52:49 1998

jon_at_techniche.com (Jon Healey) wrote:
> I went back to the surplus store today and picked up
> the old HP system that was there. This was not as simple
> as it sounds. The system was wired into a 5 bay 19" rack
> assemblage.

It reads to me like what you got was the *processor*. And I have to
wonder, why did you take it out? OK, I understand for transport but
you also wrote that there was an expansion card frame (which might
have more I/O cards) and other units in the rack. They may not be
essential to operation of the processor but they probably do go
together. Processors ain't everything ya know.

> The item obtained is an "HP 2100S Microprogrammable Systems Computer".
> It looks just like the 2100A shown at: www.trailingedge.com
>
> The card cage is fully populated but I haven't a clue at this
> point with what, with the exception that I already know it does
> have an async card (with associated moniter) and a GPIB
> card (and cable).

OK. If you take the top off, the cards in in the wider cage right
behind the front panel are the CPU proper (in slots 1-7 I think, with
options in 8 and 9 and maybe 10, though I may be off by one or two
here -- it's been a while since I looked) and the I/O interfaces. The
cards in the narrower cage about halfway back are memory (core) and
drivers for same. The not-card-cage areas contain power supply and
fans.

There should be part numbers and legends on at least some of the card
ears that give some clues what the cards are/do. Also the cards
themselves will often have part numbers etched. Of course I don't
have my books handy so can't post a handy decoder chart just now (and
doubt it would be complete even if I did). Feel free to post a list,
then sit back and watch us guess what you've got.

Given that this one says "Microprogrammable" on the front panel I
wonder if it has the WCS (Writable Control Store) option.

All that said...the 2100 is a second-generation HP mini from 1972, the
follow-on to the 2116/2115/2114 and predecessor to the 21MX that came
later in the 1970s. These processors formed the basis of the HP2000
time-shared BASIC and HP1000 real-time computer lines, as well as many
other special-purpose computer systems that HP developed and sold.
Overall they are a 16-bit two-accumulator architecture; the 2100 is
part hard-wired part microcoded with room for growth in the microcode,
while the earlier 2116/2115/2114 were purely hard-wired processors.

> Anyone interested in trading something for this beast?
>
> The biggest problem I see is that this thing weights
> about 100 lbs. It would be expensive to ship.

I'm interested but am thinking that you're in New Hampshire and I'm in
California. Shipping is possible but you're right, you can't just
toss this in a cardboard box with some peanuts or bubblewrap, so if
someone closer by says the magic words ("I'll come pick it up") or you
decide you want to keep it I'd say go for it. Besides, I'd want you
to go back for the rest of it. Foo, I want you to go back for the
rest of it *anyway*.

-Frank McConnell
Received on Fri Jun 19 1998 - 20:52:49 BST