Tek XD88

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
Date: Tue Feb 13 08:20:23 2001

At 11:50 AM 2/13/01 -0000, you wrote:
>Well, it seems like I have posting access to the list again, so I'll dig out
>this little question that I keep on asking occasionally...
>
>I've got the remains of a Tektronix XD88/10 Unix workstation from the late
>80's. I've only got the system unit and the keyboard - no mouse or monitor.
>I do have a 16" sony monitor that I know works fine with it though, so that
>leaves a mouse to find from somewhere, or to make one from something else
>(no idea what protocol or type of mouse the system needs though)


   What kind of connector does your mouse use? I have some Tektronix mice.
These have a DB-9M plug. I THINK I have some that use another connector
also but I'd have to dig around to be sure.


>
>The hard disk is almost dead though, starting to give read errors all over
>the place - from memory the system won't boot any more. I expect I can get a
>replacement disk easily enough - probably even a modern 3.5" SCSI drive
>would work I expect to replace the 5.25" full-height drive. The machine's
>got a SCSI-1 drive, around 400MB, but I think SCSI-2 drives will work in
>the old SCSI modes won't they? (I have a 400MB 3.5" drive which could
>replace it if so)
>
>What I don't have though is the OS tapes (a common problem for 80's hardware
>I expect!). I'm waiting to hear back from Tek but they couldn't provide any
>help last time I tried a couple of years ago. Does anyone on the list have
>such a machine or know someone who has?

     I don't know where they went to but there were several machines like
that at an auction at Patrick AFB a couple of years ago. I'd suggest that
you check with Dean Kidd or some of the other guys that supply parts and
manuals for Tektronix test equipment. Also check with Rick Bensene (sp?).
He used to work for Tek and may be able to tell you more about the machine.


>
>Is it worth me trying to do a raw backup of the disk before it fails
>completely?

    Absolutely!



I can put it in my main PC at home which has SCSI and read raw
>data from it under linux (not sure what filesystem Tek used, proprietary I
>expect) but don't know if I'm wasting my time there - I don't know if
>that'll give me anything useful at the end of the day anyway. Even assuming
>I could find an identical working drive and do a raw copy of the failing
>disk onto it (at the block level), would that work - or is there always
>going to be some sector translation at a lower level which meant that the
>contents of the "new" disk wouldn't make any sense when put into the system?
>
>Thanks for any help,
>
>Jules
>
>ps. I don't know how many of these machines Tek sold, but it feels like
>about 5 given the amount of information there is around about them! :-)

     If so then thats about 3 more than 8170s! I've looked high and low
and found almost nothing on them. I did find one guy in Australia that used
to have one. The hard drive in my 8170 seems to be completely dead. I can't
get any response from it. Luckily I did get one floppy disk that has most
of the OS.

    Joe
>--
>
Received on Tue Feb 13 2001 - 08:20:23 GMT