[SunRescue] OT: HP 9000

Thu Apr 12 13:22:27 CDT 2001

Robert you Aussie devil! What a sweet machine!

SO how does a D with a 132 MHz PA 7300 stack up? Got one of these from an
associate for free. They said it was dead. Wasn't some dope pulled all but
two of the SIMMs. Of course they were in the wrong slots for the machine to
wake up :)

Anyway box came configed as follows:

132 MHz CPU
128 MB memory
1 GB HD
FWD SCSI controller
HSC ATM board

Just connect a standard serial with a null modem to the box and you are in.

As for the mention of graphics console, can I install an HCRX board and get
it to run with a head?

Mike N
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Petersen" <havoc at apk.net>
To: <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: [SunRescue] OT: HP 9000

> On Thu, Apr 12, 2001 at 07:00:40AM -0700, James Lockwood wrote:
> > On Thu, 12 Apr 2001, Robert Rose wrote:
> >
> > > I've managed to get an HP 9000 D-class server (D280, 1 CPU) from the
local
> > > auctions for approx. $US250.  It looks like it's got 128Mb RAM,
CD-Rom,
> > > DDS3 but no disks :(
> >
> > D280...  is that a 180MHz PA8000?  If so it's a pretty nice box,
> > comparable in speed to a midrange Ultra.
> >
>
> Okay, time for the guy who works on HP gear all the time to sound in :)
>
> (and no grousing - I started on SunOS, did the first migrations to Solaris
> 2.4 at our university, and have an Ultra 1/200E at home right beside my
> HP B180L...)
>
> Specs:
> ------
> HP 9000 D280: up to 2x 180MHz PA8000
>   up to 3gb ECC RAM
> EISA & HSC busses (HSC was HP's standard server bus)
> room for 2 disks in HP canisters
> Can go FWD/hotpluggable, typically found this way but it was
> optional
>
> $250 USD is a killer deal for one of these.  I'm seriously jealous :)
>
> > > Some questions for the non-sun purists out there:
> > > 1. Am I insane?  Did I get ripped off?
> >
> > Don't think so, 128MB of HP RAM is worth a chunk of change by itself if
it
> > takes the nonstandard stuff.
>
> Yep, FYI - while HP didn't admit as much sometimes, this RAM is used in:
>
> B,C,J class workstations (prior to the new 4-digit models like the
>   B1000/C3x00/J5x00)
>
> D,K,R class servers (R is basically a rackmount variant of the D)
>
> This means that RAM is pretty versatile even if you would decide that an
HP
> workstation would suit you better.
>
> >
> > > 2. Will I need any special cables to attach a wyse term as a console?
> >
> > If you have a grab bag of serial cables around you should be able to get
> > it to work.  What's the connector?
> >
>
> Should be a standard DB25 connector, at least it was on the last D330 I
had
> at work.  Forgive me if my memory slips, I retired the last of our
D-classes
> a year ago in favor of L & A-class boxes (1 L1000, 1 L2000, 2 A400s).
>
> I can double check, we've got some D330s still in our DP center
downstairs.
>
> Or, better yet, check your D280 - a *lot* of D-class servers were sold
with
> a kit that basically made them a workstation, complete with graphics head
> and PS/2 inputs.  This is kind of a nice option, IMHO.  HP's strategy
these
> days is even kinkier - they'll sell you a 2-port USB card for Keyboard &
> Mouse, and a PCI framebuffer.
>
> > > 3. Is it going to be expensive to get HP-sUX for it?  Is it worthwhile
> > > attempting to purchase a license from HP, or am I best off reselling
the
> > > box (provided it works) since there seems to be a distinct lack of
NetBSD
> > > or (ugh!) Linux support.
> >
> > A long time ago, in a galaxy far away (last year) you could get HP-UX
> > 10.20 for free from HP by ordering their "Y2K transition kit".  Now it's
a
> > bit tougher but should still be much easier than, say, scaring up a copy
> > of IRIX.  Finding HP-UX 11 will be harder but may run better on that
> > system.
> >
>
> Well, here's a problem.  The HP-UX 10.20 Transition Kit was *only* for
> Series 700 boxes.  Prior to HP-UX 11, there was a distinction between
> servers and workstations.  Workstations were "Series 700" (based on the
fact
> that all the workstations used to be designated 7xx/xx) and servers were
> "Series 800" (for the same reason).  They both used different OS releases!
> To get the Y2k kit for a Series 800 box you had to cough up license
> paperwork and serial numbers, and there may have even been a slight fee.
>
> However, I've got plenty of HP 10.20, 11.00, and now 11.11 (11i) media
> hoarded for anybody that needs it, for series 700 or 800.  Mail me off
list
> if you're interested.
>
> > > 4. If I do get this thing going, any ideas on how fast / useful / fun
it's
> > > going to be?  As a comparison, I consider my Sparc 10/512 both fast
and
> > > useful and my Indy fun.
> >
> > It should be righteously snappy, if it's the box I'm thinking of.
> >
>
> Yep, it's a nice quick little box, probably comparable to an Ultra 2
> or an early E250.
>
> Needless to say, I've been looking for one of these for a while :)
>
> Hope this helps, if you need more info or parts, just drop me a line off
> list and I'll help you with any questions you've got.
>
> Chris  (the token HP guy)
>
> --
> Chris Petersen
> Systems Engineer, Industry Services, Unigraphics Solutions Inc.
> Co-founder, auctions.workstations.org
> Email: havoc at apk.net
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