AS/400?

From: Geoff Roberts <geoffrob_at_stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au>
Date: Tue Aug 8 21:33:08 2000

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Thompson" <thompson_at_mail.athenet.net>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 11:07 PM
Subject: Re: AS/400?


> I am not an especially big expert on AS/400's other than retrieving
two
> old CISC models this year. (Kinda like staying at a holiday inn, I
guess)
>
> It depends on the model, but often one needs a twinax terminal set for
0,0
> to act as a console.

This box seems to have no twinax access. AFAICT, it was actually used
with some
'clone' terminals, the twinax ones that came with it were apparently for
an earlier incarnation
of the system, probably thrown in a store room til the whole thing was
axed..

> documentation indicates that some models of 9402 CISC machine could
> actually take ASCII consoles, so perhaps there were models in the RISC
> variety that were this way too if you're lucky.

Hmm, I did try a VT320 into what I thought might be the console, but
some of
the online docs suggest it needs a magic cable of some description.

> I believe if it is black is a RISC based machine.

It's a Version 3 AS/400 (whatever that means). No other info yet.
Dates on the drives seem to be circa 94.

> > 2612 x 1 (A chance encounter in a newsgroup reveals this is an EIA
> > 232/V.24 One-Line Adapter) I translate that as a serial port.
>
> I think it is intended for a support modem.

Makes sense. I have a cable that suggests it was for a remote control
box of some kind that
would appear to fit that hole.

> It will be ugly since ethernet is a licen$ed feature on AS/400.

yeah, that'd be right.

> Speaking of which, you will probably need the system password, an
enormous
> hex number which allows the software to continue working.

seems to depend on what version/OS it's running. Other information
suggests it's probably
OS/400 V3R2 or thereabouts rather than SSP.

> My documentation which came with my CISC 9402 even indicates that
there
> are movement sensors in some machines which will trigger if large
> movements are detected and prompt for the system password.

I've had a look for anything like that. The size of this suggests it
would not have such a feature,
as it's only the size of a biggish pc based file server

> attempt to thwart people selling the machines without sending proper
dowry
> to IBM. Often times the machine will run for 90 days or so without a
> system password but eventually on IPL one is needed for it to continue
to
> function.

Paranoia, without a doubt.

> This, combined with my lack of twinax infrastructure caused my CISC
> machines to make the ultimate sacrifice. Properly reformatted they
> provide nice IBM scsi drives for my more usable machines.

I have some twinax 3180 terms, and some cables, but this AS/400 seems
not to have the
hardware to speak to them.

If all else fails, I can use 4 x 1Gb SCSI's in my Vaxstation 4000-90.
(With the right adapter anyway, the connectors on the drives are not the
standard internal
bare pin type, but the Honda type normally found on the outside of a
case.)

Cheers

Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie,
South Australia
geoffrob_at_stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
netcafe_at_tell.net.au
ICQ: 1970476
Received on Tue Aug 08 2000 - 21:33:08 BST