Getting into VAXing

From: Ryan K. Brooks <ryan_at_inc.net>
Date: Wed Jun 28 19:43:38 2000

I realize that VMS is the one true OS for VAXen... But let's say I was in a mood to
run a *BSD... what's a good, neat looking, older, classic VAX that at least has
ethernet and scsi easily available and supported?

R


Jim Strickland wrote:

> > >
> > > But I noticed someone auctioning a VAX 8350 for about $50 over on Ebay,
> > > and I wondered, would it be relatively straightforward for a VAX newbie
> > > like me to:
> > > a. ship
> >
> > Probably have to be crated.
> >
> > > b. get it running
> >
> > Nightmarish I suspect
> >
> > > c. find software (Unix, Vms, etc) and hardware (disk drives, tape drives,
> > > etc.)
> >
> > VMS is the *ONE* True OS!!! Info on the truely great Hobbyist licenses can
> > be found at the following page.
> > http://www.montagar.com/hobbyist/
> >
> > Probably pretty easy. While I've not messed with this particular model I've
> > found the VAXen I've got to be very reliable. Except the ones using old MFM
> > Hard drives (and that's a hard drive issue). I do suspect this model
> > probably requires a climet controlled computer room, but really don't know.
>
> The 8350 isn't all that bad. I ran one when I worked for the university lo
> these many years ago. Reasonably quick, as I recall it used 110 instead of 220
> power, and so on. Some caviets: 1. Unless this machine comes with a SCSI
> card or you can get one for it inexpensively, I wouldn't bother. The drives
> that it was designed for are huge, slow, not very big datawise, and noisy.
> 2. It can NOT netboot, at least not as a VMScluster leaf node. I tend to
> agree with Zane's recommendation for starting with a vaxstation or microvax
> 3100. The 8350 wouldn't be my first choice for a beginner's machine.
>
> --
> Jim Strickland
> jim_at_DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
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Received on Wed Jun 28 2000 - 19:43:38 BST

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