[rescue] Rescued: Vaxstation 3100

[Eric Dittman]

> > I just rescued a VAXStation 3100, (model: VS42A-BW). Some one in NZ
> > posted on nz.comp that they had a Vax in my area free for removal, I was
> > fortunate enough to have checked the newsgroup just a few minutes after
> > the messages posting. 
> > 
> > It has 16MB RAM, SCSI and floppy interfaces, but missing brackets
> > to mount harddrives. I'm going to put a bubble bag in the case and
> > rest the hard drive on that and tape the hell out of everything (must
> > be my Maori side showing). Any better ideas for a quick fix ? The 
> > floppy drive looks poked.
> 
> Could this create a cooling problem or be a possible
> fire hazard? When things get hot inside I would worry
> about those issues.

This may indeed cause cooling problems.  It would be better to
find a different way to mount the drives.

> > Found out that there is a serial console/monitor-VT keyboard 
> > console selector when reading up on it at Vaxarchives, but I
> > had to drill a hole to get access to the dip switch from outside
> > the case.
> 
> I don't understand why you would drill a hole in the case.
> Why not open the case and set the switches the way you want
> to and then close it. How often would you need to have access
> to that feature? I try to avoid altering the appearance as much
> as possible of any device I have.

Most of the VS3100 had the hole there.  Only the very early
cases didn't have the hole, so drilling a hole makes sense,
as the hole should have been there.
-- 
Eric Dittman
dittman at dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/