IBM 5120 (was Re: My First S-100 System)

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Mon Oct 14 12:27:00 2002

It all seems rather elaborate for a dumb terminal!

Y'all seem to be moving from building a terminal, into building a network
server!

Why not XTs with serial ports?

If you are THAT hung up on avoiding MS-DOS (I don't think that MICROS~1
really got truly evil until about 3.00), why not just write a trivial
terminal emulation program and put it in the bootstrap?


On Sun, 13 Oct 2002, Scarletdown wrote:

> On 13 Oct 2002 at 10:14, vassilip_at_dsl.cis.upenn.edu wrote:
>
>
> > "Scarletdown" <SecretaryBird_at_SoftHome.net> wrote:
> > > I might just build a very minimalist 386 or 486 system from spare
> > > parts I have lying about here, set it up with FreeDOS or MINIX, and
> > > make that the console. [...]
> >
> > Actually the easiest way to build a 386-based terminal is with MSDOS
> > (or DRDOS) and kermit. Kermit supports most serial cards and even some
> > ethernet cards (so you can telnet over TCP/IP). There is even
> > DOS-based software for mouse support (so you can cut & paste text).
> >
>
> I've got most of the components gathered and ready for assembly. My
> first choice for this is still MINIX. I need to check the FAQ to
> determine whether or not this 3COM EtherLink II TP (8 Bit ISA
> Ethernet adapter) is one of the few NICs supported by MINIX. Then I
> have to check and see if Token Ring and 3270 are supported. If just
> one of those is a no go, then I will be using FreeDOS; an open source
> MS-DOS compatible OS (think of it as to MS-DOS as Linux is to Unix).
>
> The system thus far will consist of a 486/DX-33 in a MB with 8 16-BIT
> ISA slots and 8 MB of RAM, VGA adapter, 16 bit IO card with one
> floppy controller, one IDE controller, 2 serial ports, and 1 parallel
> port, a 2nd IO card with 2 serial and 1 parallel port, then an
> Ethernet adapter and a 3270 adapter (don't have an ISA Token Ring
> card yet), 3.5" and 5.25" floppies, and dual IDE hard drives (43MB
> and 84MB respectively). If I end up going with FreeDOS instead of
> MINIX, the EtherLink II will be replaced with either an EtherLink III
> or EtherExpress and the II will be used in the PS/2 Model 30, since
> its slots are all 8 bit ISA.
>
> The reason this system will have four COM ports is because in
> addition to serving as the console for the Cromemco System Two, she
> will also be the bridge between our various other classics (TI-99/4a,
> Apple II systems of various models, TRS-80s, KayPros, etc) and the
> LAN, as those old beasts don't have Ethernet capability and will
> connect via serial connection.
>
> I'm really looking forward to getting this little project started
> soon. It should make for a few experience points, much like building
> a FreeSCO router did. :)
>
> -- Scarletdown
Received on Mon Oct 14 2002 - 12:27:00 BST