At 05:36 PM 7/22/01 -0400, RD Davis wrote:
>Wow, even the nearly empty and baseless BA400 (BA440?) chasis is
>somewhat heavy!
True, true. But lighter than an 11/780 :-)
>Anyway, it's now counting down to 3, so, something's working! :-)
>...will know more when I can get a terminal attached.
It's waiting for you to tell it what to boot.
>Do all
>VAX-4000/200 machines make a loud fan noise when first powered on, and
>then get much quieter? Are variable-speed fans being used, and is
>that noise a test of high-speed operation?
Yes, its temperature controlled. It starts high, realizes the CPU isn't hot
and then lowers the speed.
> > That would be the DSSI connector, looks like SCSI but it isn't. Hopefully
>
>At least DSSI drives still appear to still obtainable. SCSI would be
>more useful so that I could read a the hobbyist CD-ROM now that DECUS
>has finally sent me a membership number. Did DEC made any DSSI CD-ROM
>drives?
They didn't make DSSI CD-roms that I know of. I had a 3400 once that had a
KRQ50 with the bracket that allowed and RRD40 to be connected.
>It appears as though I'll be removing these three DECVoice and M3136
>boards as well, if I can't use them with a regular home telephone
>line.
Don't do that! A couple of things are certainly possible. Find a cheap used
PBX that has a T1 card in it and run it that way. Lots of telecom goodies
can convert a T-1 into 24 voice lines. Some are simple enough that you just
pick the voice channel you want to use on the box.
>...in the end, all selections would eventually lead to a message
>asking them to please learn to dial the right number, which they can
>find in the telephone directory.
{remind me never to call you on the phone :-)
> > Did they actually remove the tape drive? Or is the panel missing? Also
>
>There's just an empty bay, and a smoked plastic cover over where I'm
>guessing the tape drive should go (upper right corner). There's a
>tape drive cable that doesn't connect to any boards. I'd have to break
>something to remove the smoked plastic cover, however.
On the BA400 there is a door on top that when you open it, it exposes the
peripherals in the top of the case. The right most 'hole' is where the tape
would go. And yes you need a set of rails to put a TK70 there.
> > which type of box is it in, BA400 or BA213? You didn't mention a tape
>
>My guess is that it's a BA400 or BA440. There are two doors in the
>front that swing open, and no clear sliding door like I remember
>seeing on a VAX 3400.
Definitely BA400 series see
<
http://www.mcmanis.com/chuck/computers/vaxen/ba440.htm> for a similar
picture. (this one is also a 4000/200)
>Once I assemble a cord that will fit the odd telephone-like
>RJ-something sockets for a terminal, I'll check the CPU out further.
>What do you mean by having the real -TM for that one?
-TM is the Technical Manual for the KA660 CPU. Once you get a terminal
attached you'll see the testing prompt and that its waiting at the chevron
prompt (>>>)
--Chuck
Received on Fri Jul 27 2001 - 00:32:12 BST