HP2000 Access status update

From: Jay West <west_at_tseinc.com>
Date: Sat Jul 7 20:18:25 2001

After a week of vacation dedicated almost entirely to getting an HP2000
Access machine operational, it's actually starting to get very close to
coming together!

Both 2100 processors pass diags, all the associated cards pass diags, the
7900A is humming along perfectly, and at long last the 7970E tape drive is
working fine. I even got the 2000 Access IOP firmware installed into the IOP
cpu. After years I'm now so close I can taste it! Here's whats still on the
to-do/missing/dead list...

I need four of the 12566 GRD TRU +/- boards for the processor interconnect
kit. I had all four tested & running a few months ago, but at least one of
the 12566 boards died - so, anyone have some 12566 boards they'll part with?
I should need only 1, but 2 would make it easier to retest the remaining
boards.

Next, the main cpu needs 32Kw and the IOP needs 16kw, 24kw, or 32kw
depending on the I/O configuration - I suspect I can get by with the 16kw
setup because I'm not going to load the comms (RJE) software modules and
will only have a 16 user system. I only have 32kw total because 4 of the 8kw
core boards are dead, and one of the 16K ID boards is toast. I've done the
testing with 16kw in each machine, but this won't let me load the O/S. I
need two 8K core boards at a minimum, preferrably four plus a 16K ID board.

The only board in the entire setup that hasn't been tested and proven to be
working is the 12920/12921 asynchronous multiplexor (3 board set). I have
two sets of these boards, but one I suspect from the outset isn't alive (the
burned resistor on the card was a giveaway). With any luck, the other set
will test ok, otherwise I need to locate another or repair them.

It's not a requirement, but one thing that would be nice to have is the "HP
13206A 2000/Access communications processor firmware diagnostic". Once the
OS is loaded, it would be pretty obvious if the firmware isn't working, but
this is the one diagnostic I'm missing. The paper tape is 13206-16001, or if
it's on different media the DSN is 101016.

So there's the state of the 2000/Access project, I'll keep folks posted when
it actually boots up the O/S (although you'll probably be able to hear the
shouts of "woohoo!" from out of state).

Regards,

Jay West
Received on Sat Jul 07 2001 - 20:18:25 BST