Major System Upgrade/Information needed
Stephen M. Youndt
steve at hacker.UUCP
Thu Mar 1 02:35:14 AEST 1990
I appologize for the length of this posting, but I've been saving this up
for weeks. In addition, I apollogize if this was already posted, but it's
been more than a week and I just recently discovered a bug in my mailer
program, so my confidence is not high that any responses could have gotten
through. Please read all the way through before responding, as I'm trying
to acomplish some very specific things. In addition, I'd appreciate at least
one person acknowledging my presence, so that I can have more faith in my
software.
Hardware:
AMAX 386/20 w/ 4Mb (1M 80ns DRAMs)
- expandable to 8Mb on MB
- 16 total with 32 bit expansion card
- 2 8 bit slots & 5 16 bit slots
Everex(?) MFM controller (EV-346 PWA-00538-00 is the only id on
the board) can control 2 HD and 2 FD
Seagate ST4096 80Mb drive
Toshiba 5 1/4 1.2M floppy
DTK PII-108 RS-232 card (REV-4)
Everex Evercom 24E (2400/1200/300 bps) external modem (on COM1/tty00)
Hercules Monographics Card (Everex) w/ Parallel printer interface
Star Micronics Gemini10x 9 pin parallel dot matrix printer
Software:
Bell Tech Unix System V/386 Release 3.2u w/ everything except NSU and
RFS installed
Bell Tech Software Development System Version 4.1.5 (for 3.2u)
Lots of other stuff that I built from source code.
Wish List:
More disk space and better disk performance.
- The controller/drive combination are slooooww, but I can't
afford to get rid of the drive right now, so I need
to be able to keep my MFM drive (unless it's impossible).
- 80 Mb would do for now, with the possibility of a bigger
drive (300 Mb+ in the future).
- Would a SCSI controller and drive work?
Tape Backup Unit
- 60 Mb per tape would be sufficient, but I wouldn't scoff at
more.
VGA Graphics & X/Windows
- I'd like to run 1024 x 768 non-interlaced if possible as well
as be compatible with other modes of VGA (colors/densities).
So far the Orchid Prodesigner + with a Sony 1304 (I think
that's the model) monitor.
- If I can do better than 1024 x 768 I'd like to know about
it if it's affordable.
- Is there any way to keep the monochrome card and monitor?
I don't need to run X on it, but I'm sure I could find a use.
- Does SCO's Open Look work under Bell Tech Unix?
Parallel Printer card
- I need this if I've got to trash the Monographics card.
More Intelligent I/O
- The two port card works fine, but I could use 2 more ports,
4 more at most. Especially if I'm going to use a serial
mouse.
Mouse
- Should I go with a bus or serial model?
IEEE-488 card and driver
- I'll need this for later device control.
DOS under UNIX program.
- Does VP/ix work under X/under Bell Tech UNIX?
- Is there something better than VP/ix?
Notes:
Price is an object. This is a home system, so don't suggest a $2000
piece of hardware.
I'm willing to write anything in C if I can get hints.
The idea behind this system is for device control experimentation and
some image processing.
I know that I'll need a co-processor and more memory. How much memory,
and which co-processor? I can install either the 387 or Weitek 1167.
Any other suggestions for this type of system (replacing certain parts,
making software changes, changing the system parameters) are welcome and
appreciated.
Please send e-mail to me and I'll post a summary if there's enough interest.
Thanks in advance.
Stephen M. Youndt
VAX System Manager
"Hacker at Large"
...!uunet!hacker!steve
"By the time we realize that ignorance truly is bliss, it's already too late."
-- Stephen Youndt
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