Alphastation 255 question..

From: healyzh_at_aracnet.com <(healyzh_at_aracnet.com)>
Date: Thu Oct 12 15:33:30 2000

> This machine has "What looks like" a normal floppy cable. It is not SCSI. I
> don't really _need_ a floppy but the machine has a big hole in the front where
> a floppy went and someone removed it. They left the cable though. I would like
> to mount a floppy here just in case it's needed and to close the hole. :^)

OK, that's a good reason :^)

> I tried the only old floppy I had laying around. The light stayed on on the
> front. I don't know if that means it worked or it didn't. I didn't have time to
> do much else with it and I didn't have any OS media to try out. I only have VMS
> for my VAXen and I don't have True64Unix. Don't mention WinNT for Alpha.

I've *NEVER* used the floppy on any of my Alpha's running VMS, only on the
two running OpenBSD, and I've since learned the trick of having a external
SCSI Hard Drive that I just use in place of the floppy. I've got one system
that has run Tru64 and NT also, but I've never had a need for the floppy
(the only reason it's run NT is NT actually handles a GUI on a 96MB system
(always check what memory costs before buying a Alpha) better than OpenVMS,
and way better than Tru64, that system is now running VMS without DECwindows
installed and is my server).

> I guess I'll experiment some more...

Since it sounds like you're most concerned about cosmetics I'd just leave
the floppy disconnected and keep your eye out for a cheap RX23L.

                        Zane
Received on Thu Oct 12 2000 - 15:33:30 BST