[rescue] HAL computer systems SL/100R

[James Lockwood]

On Mon, 27 May 2002, Full_Name wrote:

> I take it they can handle being anet server then.

It all depends on what you want to serve.  These things (the AXi) have
some really nice I/O capabilities and can be stuffed full of SCSI
controllers.  If the SL/100R is wedged into a small chassis you may want
to put it in a larger one unless you need the space.

If you want to use this machine as a workstation then you can drop a
Creator or Elite card into the UPA slot onboard and get a terrific speed
boost over any PCI framebuffer.  For nontextured OpenGL (typically CAD
apps) you can get excellent bang for the buck and the software side is
IMHO more mature than Mesa (it's based on the ARB sources).

> > > 3. Is it possible to run Solaris 8/9 or UltraLinux on them?  The SPARC
> > port
> > > of Debian can allegidly be run on a SPARC64 but is the lack of a
> > bootable
> > > floppy drive a problem?
> > All of the above will work.  I run Solaris 8 on mine.
> Cool.

SPARC64 is the arch used by the older HALstations, also manufactured by
HAL Computer Systems.  It was the first 64-bit SPARC architecture.  I do
not know if Debian is using the term to denote Sun's 64-bit SPARC
implementation, which is technically known as SPARC V9.

The SL/100R is all-Sun except for the chassis and therefore SPARC V9.

> > > 4. Are there any "Linux on a floppy" distro's that will work on them
> > to see
> > > how much of the hardware works, etc.
> > I'd go with Solaris instead of Linux.
> Was probabily going to run one of each, partially because I'm a lot more
> familiar with Linux and want to learn Solaris and partially because I want
> to compare the relative speeds.

Let me second the opinion that you give Solaris a fair shake.  Try not to
be turned off by what's not "in the box", Sun is of the opinion that if
you want to add a freely available extra then you will take the steps to
do it yourself.

> >  I dont think these boards can actually boot off of a floppy drive.
> *checks manual* Yep, I stand corrected.

Can't imagine anyone wanting to boot off of a floppy when the network is
there.

-James