VAXstation 3100/30 Questions

From: David C. Jenner <djenner_at_halcyon.com>
Date: Wed Aug 25 19:51:43 1999

I think this qualifies as "Classic", since the VS3100 is based
on the CVAX chip set from 1987. I have a few questions which
maybe someone on the list can answer.

I picked up a VS3100/30, model VS42A-AA, with 24MB RAM. The
material I have found on the Web says this computer should be
expandable to 32MB of RAM, but I don't see how. It now has
4MB on the motherboard and two daughter boards with 12MB and
8MB. The two daughter boards connect together with only one
connecting to the motherboard. Where would you attach another
board with 8MB more memory?

Although the system came with a hard drive and OpenVMS, I got the
hobbyist OpenVMS CD-ROM and want to install it on another hard
drive that I've added. The drive is an IBM Model 0663-H, which
is a 1GB (slightly less, actually, if you count in base 2) drive.
The specs for the drive say it is "compatible" with the VS3100
when a configuration is made using a SCSI command (which I have
no way of doing, of course--it must be done by a driver). I
connect the drive, the VS3100 console sees it fine, and then I
try to do a low-level format using Test 75. At various times
(varies randomly) into the formatting progress I get an error
"PV_SCS_FMT_ERR#2", which I have no idea of its meaning. What
does this mean?

Is there any termination on the internal SCSI A bus on this
machine, or does the last drive on the cable need to do it?
(The IBM Model 0633-H doesn't have any, and it was on the
middle connector.)

Thanks for any help.
Dave
Received on Wed Aug 25 1999 - 19:51:43 BST