[rescue] Sun 3/80 resources

[Dan Moisa]

Thanks Kurt - re: SunOS 4.1.1, if you can spare the bytes I can give
you some online location you can drop the image itself, I managed to
keep an old burner around. I never had original tapes, I just got some
new old stock and wrote/read them right away. Somehow the band inside
was still mostly OK.

BTW - does anyone know who runs sun3arc? I'd really like to do
something to help/contribute - even if it's to donate towards
hosting/bandwidth/domain costs. I spent more time on that site than I
can count.

Dan.

On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 9:59 PM Kurt Nowak <knowak at alumni.calpoly.edu> wrote:
>
> Dan,
>
> That sounds a bit like my experience. USPS can be pretty brutal on package handling. Mine was clearly smashed so hard that the frame buffer came loose and was rattling around in the box and the main header on it ended up with a broken pin. Part of my plastic back bezel shattered into tiny pieces which I saved but not feeling like fixing it is high on my priority list. Looks good enough on my stack of other old Sun pizza boxes.
>
> I have firmware version 3.0.2 and the Sun3arc says it should boot with that one too. I realized that my CD rom drive died so that explains my problems. I just ordered another one on ebay, so we'll give it another shot when that arrives.
>
> Regarding QIC drives, I have always gone to http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com and had new ones made. Although they used to be cheaper and it seems like he is only doing it part time now due to Covid related health issues.  The cartridges are always the tricky part. I've had some success with the pastibands method per Curious Marcs videos but they feel a bit too snug. Its too bad someone cant make aftermarket bands to the same specs as the originals. All the Sun Tapes I have have sadly disintegrated with the oxide layer damaged. Fortunately the images are all available on the Sun3Arc.
>
> The copy I have is SunOS 4.1.1 for Sun3/x along with 4.1.1 Rev B for Sparc on the same disc. I'd be happy to burn you an image if you need one.
>
> -Kurt
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 8:31 PM Dan Moisa <dmoisa at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for the various responses.
>>
>> @Kurt the plastic is in "gone" shape. I got it off eBay and the seller
>> literally put it in a box with no padding, it came shattered - even
>> the metal frame was bent inside, the four legs don't all touch the
>> ground. Fortunately it's the same metal/plastic/standoffs/etc as a
>> SparcStation 1, so I did some swapping around, including managed to
>> swap the logs between the two tops. For the back bezel, the trick was
>> to put tons of superglue and then tape over - that left a smooth
>> surface where the crack isn't as visible.
>>
>> Some internet page said it's down to the firmware, and apparently
>> 3.0.3 should do it. Now that it boots (power supply was gone, patched
>> in an ATX one until I feel like recapping) I'm starting to collect
>> some software for it, I'll let you know how it goes/what runs. The
>> 3/60 I ended up installing from tape - wrote a tape from the SS10 and
>> was able to boot and install - ONCE. I literally tried again and the
>> tape was destroyed, so I learned to snapshot the blank install
>> immediately after I'm done with the tape in case I need to restore.
>> Repairing the tape drive was also fun, turns out the best replacement
>> material for the rubber wheels was silicon tubing. Magically the same
>> OD and ID but stiffer, which is probably why the tapes don't last.
>> That was somehow easier than net booting.
>>
>> Also, you probably meant "Copy of SunOS 4.1.4 for Sun3_x_". Could I
>> maybe have a crack at it? I can only find 4.1.4 for Sparc, I thought
>> sun3 stopped at 4.1.1U1
>>
>> @Doug the hardware seems to be pretty malleable. The 3/60 runs at
>> 30mhz with some PALs and memory replaced with faster ones, but not
>> rock solid. Ultra 10 can take an XVR-1000 with a custom case, nothing
>> complains even a little. Let's see how far this 3/80 can go :)
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Dan.
>>
>> On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 3:19 PM Doug McIntyre <merlyn at geeks.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 12:09:34PM -0700, Dan Moisa wrote:
>> > > Meaning put in a faster oscillator. This worked in the 3/60 since
>> > > every subsystem (serial, etc) is on it's own clock - works well at
>> > > 25mhz with a 50mhz main oscillator for example.
>> > ...
>> >
>> > I was amazed things worked when I tried putting different speed CPU modules into my SS10.
>> > The MBUS is async clocked as well. It was totally unsupportable of course.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org
>>
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>
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