Our hopes to acquire a unique and interesting dual-Pentium server from IBM doesn’t turn out how we envisioned…
#retro #pc #90s
Want more content like this? Support our mission! Send us a Super Thanks and check out our Patreon + Discord community: https://www.patreon.com/serialport
Got some retro gear you want to donate? Get in touch with us at serialport.org.
Our main channel: @theserialport
source
Chuck windows 2000 on it; that supported dual cpus in the day. I used to rock a Athlon MP setup.
Chuck windows 2000 on it; that supported dual cpus in the day. I used to rock a Athlon MP setup.
So the obvious thing to do is compile Gentoo for the machine. Extra points if you compile Gentoo on it.
But a more serious answer would be NetBSD.
One more vote for NT Server 3.51. I just installed NT Workstation 3.51 on a 486SX 25@33MHz with 16 MB of RAM 🙂
Damn, it sucks that it was improperly packaged
Yes, it's loading without a configuration… because the SYS volume isn't mounting.
SCO, NT 3.5[1], BeOS… Can't think of anything really iconic. SCO… looks just like any other UNIX. NT… that's yet more windows. BeOS is a bit different, but looks and functions a lot like classic macOS. Maybe OS-9000, if you can find a version of it from that far back. (that, too, will look a lot like UNIX)
+1 vote for NT 3.5x or OS/2. (Or for something more exotic, did Solaris for x86 support SMP at that time?)
Fingers crossed you manage to find a DEC Alpha based machine (or PowerPC, Mips) someday. Would be nice to have an example of Windows NT running on non-x86 hardware.
I myself would put Slackware from the era on it supported SMP sense '96 but it doesn't really fit your channel. Surprised it survived with that hit though scsi was in consumer gear sometimes it was really made for business honestly would run a surface scan on the hhd's to see just incase.
Wow, sorry for you loss. At least is posted. When I moved back to the town I got my first computer job in . They were closing up shop. I was able to get one of the dual PIII intel servers I built back in the day. Nice intel case, mb, ecc memory, and tape drive. Plus, a 7 bay scsi cd-tower. I added 6 more scsi drives to it. Upgraded the ram. Removed the failed (due to age) tape drive, and added a 2nd PIII 500 processor. Finally got round the other day to installing period correct slckware linux on it. Then setting up Apple share on it.
Restoring the case would certainly be a puzzle, but it might be a fun challenge. For restoring most broken plastic I use Loctite purple label plastic epoxy or JB Weld tan label plastic epoxy. Good luck!
Predates the pentium pro. Too bad amd disabled smp on the k6-2/3 @ s7
Almost cried as I saw the broken plastic 😢
Would be interested to see what it looks like superglued back together
If it’s ABS you can weld it v back together with acetone
I hope you got your money refunded… I've had this happen all too often, and usually Ebay is good about refunding you if it got damaged in shipping.
2 years ago i aquired some tokenring pieces. Several cards and a hub. Tested it under linux and windows, works as expected. Unfortunately you can't simply use a linux bridge device to connect ethernet to tokenring. But i know there are dedicated devices outthere, just to expensive for a little bit tinkering.
Ohh a novell server! Nice! 😀 The best network OS ever. Sad that no such OS:es exists today.
Netware Menu?! wtf… Try
load install
load monitor
load inetcfg
SMP? Well run the SMP function of netware… get an identical server, identical hardware, and the supported NIC that support netware SFP3 and connect with fiber between them. Then you will se a replicated server, identical to the bit… even the screen saver looks exactly the same. Would love to get that going again.
Poor packaging for stuff like this is excruciatingly common. with the way shipping companies treat packages as footballs. Makes for the real gamble part in buying online now
In the early 2000s I owned a HP Vectra 5/90 dual pentium 133 MHz which curiously had a desktop form factor. The 133mhz cpus were not original to the system (90mhz), which itself seem to originate from ~1995. As we were in the 600mhz+ era at this time, the box was obsolete despite the dual cpu-setup and I eventually sold it off.
Sometimes I don't understand how somebody can be dumb enough to put something like a BIG @$$ COMPUTER in a shabby cardboard box with a layer plastic bag for good measure, thinking it will protect it from anything more severe than a little airborne dust.
I mean seriously. That is either a level of stupidity that makes it truly notable that they've managed to navigate traffic and not eat urinal cakes; or a lack of concern so severe they should not be licensed to have children.
Plastics from the 90s are becoming incredibly fragile. Interestingly, the plastic used in some late 80s computers seems more robust, or at least not as prone to turning brittle. In the Vintage Mac community, it's basically impossible to ship any Macs made after 1993 or so, no matter how well packed they are. The plastics all crumble to dust.
Shouldn't let the ebay seller get away with pics poor packing. A claim and return should have happened. Learning and content aside. If sellers are not held accountable, then your experience will become the norm.
NT4
really love how you guys act like it's a nuclear reactor your taking apart and activating. really makes it seem like a lot of drama but it's not.
You could keep the Novell and make it work. Or, NT 3.51 server or NT 4 server
good ol' Novell Netware.
Experiment with Unix or BSD? Maybe for kicks and giggles Windows NT 3.51?
I had a few IBM 325's (dual Pentium Pro 200s) back in the day, still miss those machines, they were absolutely bulletproof. I ran Windows NT on them and used them as a domain controller and file servers.
At least the hard drive works!
But learn NetWare!