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  • IN the market...

    From Ryan Alswede@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jan 28 19:04:38 2023
    Looking for a PS/2 workstation that has a 486 so it can run NT for kernel driver debug.

    What models should I be looking for? If anybody has one in their basement I don't mind paying shipping.

    Thanks.

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  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Sun Jan 29 05:37:16 2023
    Size-wise, a 9576 Bermuda fills the bill, unfortunate that the SCSI code
    for the 8032 is loaded during POST. Pure IBM systems, though.

    Next up, a 9576 Lacuna. A bit fiddly due to the S3 video and IDE. But,
    most of them can be PODified.

    A 9577 is the next size up for Workstation. To be sehr klar,
    "Workstation" is a frame of mind. I used a 8580-111 with an 8512 and an
    Epson dot-matrix as a portable computer in my younger, more energetic, daze.

    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    Looking for a PS/2 workstation that has a 486 so it can run NT for kernel driver debug.

    What models should I be looking for? If anybody has one in their basement I don't mind paying shipping.

    Thanks.


    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Ryan Alswede@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jan 29 06:44:20 2023
    Size isn't the issue, just can't use my 9595 as a debug machine, the cold boots after page faults are killer on it.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/394224522013

    Louis, what's your opinion on these? Looks like he has a sh*t load of them.

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  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Sun Jan 29 09:05:26 2023
    Hmm, get a picture of the ports. Also, get one with the back fascia...
    The top system is lacking the back facia, it looks like the card in Slot
    1 [nearest the systemboard] is an XGA-2. The tape makes it impossumble
    to determine if there is a SCSI or HDD-15 on the left.

    I'm leaning towards it being a Bermuda. Pure IBM, IBM SCSI, XGA-2, FPM...

    A Lacuna would do as well, but S3 926 video and IDE. Both of which are
    rare on IBM MCA systems [leaving out third party, 9556 for instance].

    Definitely a MAO.



    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    Size isn't the issue, just can't use my 9595 as a debug machine, the cold boots after page faults are killer on it.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/394224522013

    Louis, what's your opinion on these? Looks like he has a sh*t load of them.


    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Mon Jan 30 18:50:12 2023
    Ryan, that is a 5 slot, 32-bit, 32MB FPM, Spock w/cache equivalent
    system, the stock HD was a 540MB, you can run a DX4 / AMD 133 5v CPU.
    XGA-2 video. About as IBM standard as you will get. If this isn't hot
    enough for your work, then a Bermuda isn't for you.

    The following systems support drives over 1GB 'as is' without requiring
    a rework:
    IBM PS/2 9576 and 9577 with "Bermuda" planar and onboard-SCSI (1)
    Note 1: IML machine, limited to 3.94GB for the primary drive due to IML partition.


    My Brittany pup wants to go to bed. He's tugging on my sleeves...


    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    Says they are 9577-DNG with no onboard video so they come with an XGA-2.

    Is that the better model or should I ask him to look for another 9577 model in the stack?


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  • From Ryan Alswede@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jan 30 16:28:27 2023
    Says they are 9577-DNG with no onboard video so they come with an XGA-2.

    Is that the better model or should I ask him to look for another 9577 model in the stack?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Tue Jan 31 05:47:27 2023
    Shows what happens with cutting back on coffee. What follows is my Non-Programmer's view of what would be good for development and testing.
    YMWD [Your Mileage WILL differ]

    Let's go back to the initial question: a 486 for NT kernel driver debug.

    Add in a desire for a desktop.

    I must admit having my consciousness warped by your struggles with the
    7-6 and conflated that with needing to be able to bring up an RS/6000
    adapter in this desktop.

    Is the "NT kernel driver" for the NT system, or is it for an adapter?

    My desire from the start has been to identify a system that is "stock
    IBM", by that, we know where the ROMs will be loaded and what I/O
    addresses will be used.

    To make that unholy desire understandable, MAJ Tom has painfully probed
    some systems, and noticed that the POST code does a "rough POST" that
    goes right for the sweet spot - it looks at memory locations and I/O
    that are used by IBM manufactured adapters and devices. This even edges
    out POSID, a fact that was utterly alien to me.

    So, if starting out with a bunch of unknowns, I would shy away from
    non-IBM kit for developing the early versions. Bermuda, stock IBM.
    Lacuna, S3 928 video [ever set up video under 9x and noticed the extra
    I/O addresses? ] and IDE [what O/S expect to find IDE on MCA ?].

    Further, later adapters and system devices use an 8K NVRAM. Think of
    systems that can use a Corvette. Those systems have 8K. So no 70s or 80s.

    9577 is relatively spacious. A 90, not so at all.

    9577 Bermuda, max 32MB FPM, 90 can do 64MB [8x8MB] or up to 256MB if you
    can findt the uncommon 32MB ECC SIMMs.

    9577 Bermuda can swap out video, XGA, XGA-2, Short 1MB... 90, on-board
    XGA, not the cleanest co-existence with other video. IMHO, much better co-existence than with the S3 928, but... If you can fix the issue NT
    has with vga256.dll and enable 800x600x64k on NT, then you have done well.

    What would I think would be a REAL stock IBM system? A Model 95 with the
    single serial / single parallel planar. No surprises there. Mix n match
    video and SCSI, allows you to build the initial version, then swap up to
    test the next version.

    486 complex? Hmm. To test IML capability, a 486DX50 upgrade, with the
    enhanced complex BIOS. Lorenzo might have some left. Keeping within the
    Type 1, a 486DX2-66 upgrade [Flash], followed by a non-SOD K [IML], both complexi with a DX4 / Turbochip.

    In addition, the 95 has the slots cut into the case for RS/6000 sized
    adapters, think of the Passplay. You can easily run 64MB of FPM with
    8x8MB SIMMs.

    I gave my last 8595 to Kevin a few years ago. Can't help you with one.



    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    Looking for a PS/2 workstation that has a 486 so it can run NT for kernel driver debug.

    What models should I be looking for? If anybody has one in their basement I don't mind paying shipping.

    Thanks.


    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Ryan Alswede@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jan 31 08:20:33 2023
    The 9577 is for 9-Q / 9-K network card device driver development. I have AMD PCnet-Fast source code for NT and just need to work out the bridge chip details. IBM has not been helpful in giving details. (imagine that) I see we now have the patent
    document that gives us insight into the XPOS process where they configure the daughter card using the MCA POS registers as address location and register 4 as a transfer register. Will try this process next as a long shot.

    I have the source code working against the IBM 9-P Phoneix card (PCI AMD PCnet-Fast) and have modified the parts of the driver for Microsoft's MCA NDIS libraries to be used against the San Remo MCA 10/100 AIX card.

    ------------------------------------

    I must admit having my consciousness warped by your struggles with the
    7-6 and conflated that with needing to be able to bring up an RS/6000 adapter in this desktop.

    That project is DONE, download and the card works under NT in PS/2, record and play...

    Is the "NT kernel driver" for the NT system, or is it for an adapter?

    The 7-6 driver zip package contains the ADF file and device driver is for Windows NT.

    -----------------------------------

    My flagship 9595 that has all the bells and whistles is to good to abuse for development.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Tue Jan 31 11:07:43 2023
    I've dabbled with XPOS / sub-addressing a little, enough to know some
    terms. But with 128KB of storage in the sub-POS, that's quite a bit to
    place routing tables or whatever.

    What I wish we had was a way to determine the auto-increment bit in the
    POS. Whatever, the single access of basic sub-POS, but using a routine
    to do it, should suffice.

    Bermuda, not the flashiest, but it should be rock stable.

    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    The 9577 is for 9-Q / 9-K network card device driver development. I have AMD PCnet-Fast source code for NT and just need to work out the bridge chip details. IBM has not been helpful in giving details. (imagine that) I see we now have the patent
    document that gives us insight into the XPOS process where they configure the daughter card using the MCA POS registers as address location and register 4 as a transfer register. Will try this process next as a long shot.

    I have the source code working against the IBM 9-P Phoneix card (PCI AMD PCnet-Fast) and have modified the parts of the driver for Microsoft's MCA NDIS libraries to be used against the San Remo MCA 10/100 AIX card.

    ------------------------------------

    I must admit having my consciousness warped by your struggles with the
    7-6 and conflated that with needing to be able to bring up an RS/6000
    adapter in this desktop.

    That project is DONE, download and the card works under NT in PS/2, record and play...

    Is the "NT kernel driver" for the NT system, or is it for an adapter?

    The 7-6 driver zip package contains the ADF file and device driver is for Windows NT.

    -----------------------------------

    My flagship 9595 that has all the bells and whistles is to good to abuse for development.




    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Ryan Alswede@21:1/5 to All on Fri Feb 3 12:41:24 2023
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/165899338520

    Is that the adapter you are talking about?

    or just get something cheaper

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/333646886349

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Fri Feb 3 14:49:23 2023
    Ryan, the bare chip is 3v. The Bermuda socket is 5v. You need the CPU
    -AND- interposer, or the magic smoke will escape.

    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/165899338520

    Is that the adapter you are talking about?

    or just get something cheaper

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/333646886349


    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From IBMMuseum@21:1/5 to All on Fri Feb 3 13:32:20 2023
    A year or two ago, the Trinity PowerStacker 5x86 (using the AMD 5x86 133MHz CPU) were available on eBay: https://www.ardent-tool.com/CPU/PowerStacker/5x86/5x86intro.html - One of my Bermuda 77 systems runs very well with it.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Ryan Alswede@21:1/5 to All on Mon Feb 6 06:29:01 2023
    If you can fix the issue NT
    has with vga256.dll and enable 800x600x64k on NT, then you have done well.

    Is there a fix or? Or do you have source code for it that I can fix it?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Louis Ohland@21:1/5 to Ryan Alswede on Mon Feb 6 08:52:53 2023
    No. I wouldn't dream of disturbing the sanctity of a Microsoft product.

    Ryan Alswede wrote:
    If you can fix the issue NT
    has with vga256.dll and enable 800x600x64k on NT, then you have done well.

    Is there a fix or? Or do you have source code for it that I can fix it?


    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)