Re: [Sheflug] Compaq kit giweaway

[Matthew Collins <nospam [at] janes.demon.co.uk>]

In article <y24qMHAIOx85Ewob [at] janes.demon.co.uk>, Matthew Collins
<matthew [at] janes.demon.co.uk> writes

>I've got some Compaq kit from work, that is no longer used. A couple of
>bits of it is a prosignia server with external raid array box +
>controller.
>The prosignia server has got a 486 in it, I'm not sure of the amount of

<snip>

OK. I've had some enquiries, so here is some more information.

The box itself has got about 8Mb of onboard memory. This is a high end
machine, and it comes without an IDE interface. I repeat. It has no IDE
interface. EISA slots only, no PCI or VLB. I've got some extra memory,
but I've not managed to sort that out yet. The machine has got an
internal 504MB SCSI hard disk (used for booting) and an internal SCSI
controller. The CAFE has removed when the machine was trashed (reason in
a moment) but all the configuration tools, including the raid
configuration software is available for download from Compaq's web site.
The machine comes with an external RAID box. This external box has got 4
1GIG SCSI hard disks in it.

Now for some disclaimers. I've had the hard disks out of their hot swap
cartridges with the intention of putting them in my own machine. That
means that they need setting up again. If you've configured a hardware
raid like this before, you know what I'm talking about.
The machine SHOULD run for some time, but I wouldn't trust it for any
critical data, for the following reasons.

1. There are 4 1 gig SCSI disks in the raid. That means you've got 4
times as many chances for something to go wrong.
2. The machine hasn't been used for at least a year.
3. Before that, it was never switched off.

If you  understand the risks involved with that, then you are welcome to
it. When you switch everything on, it is very noisy.
Now I've had Paul who wants to put it in a school. I don't know if its a
good idea, it might go wrong 2 days after you put it in. If you are
willing to try, it's up to you.
It should end up with 128MB to put in it, depends. I've got 5 64mb simms
to spread between 2 machines, and the bloody things are finiky about
memory setups. 

Ahm. Good job I re-read this before posting. The reason why the existing
setup was trashed was that it used to be the server for the Financial
company I work for. How did they trash it? Installed windows 95 on it :)
Bow before the power of SCSI. Windows 95 is usable on this machine
(remember, its a 486 with only 8MB of memory at the moment). Linux or
BSD will fly like the wind.
Matthew Collins
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