morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan) (11/19/90)
In article <wwgss3w163w@ehpcb.WLK.COM> ehopper@ehpcb.WLK.COM (Ed Hopper) writes: > >3B2/300/310/400 - WE 32x00. Introductory small AT&T Mini. Rarely sold anymore > but still orderable (I think). > As far as I know, one cannot order these *systems* from AT&T. Parts, however, are available via AT&T's Parts Center, 1-800-222-PART. This number will also get you a copy of their parts catalog <for the entire AT&T line> and addition to the mailing list for updates. We run several 3b2/310s as 'niche' machines. One is our electronic mail hub, another is my desktop "development machine", and we're currently attempting to hook several of them into our STARLAN as remote printer servers. Since they run stock SVR3, they're compatible with almost any System V box. >3B2/600 - Discontinued. 18Mhz Again, a great niche machine. Makes a fine DOS server for STARLAN. >3B20 - Few commercial sites. Primarily AT&T and RBOC internal use. Older > technology. Was being built and used by AT&T prior to divstiture. Ah, yes, the 3B20! This machine was available in two configurations: Simplex and Duplex <hence the acronyms 3B20S and 3B20D>. It started its life as the core of the AT&T ESS switch family, usually as a 3B20D. Some bright soul realized the potential, threw tty support and the full UNIX (it was already running a subset, I think) on board, and presto! A multi-user UNIX system. We've been running a 3B20S for about 8 years now, and the monster, while slow (.95 mips), is remarkably bulletproof. Its UPS consists of 4 large AC Delco vehicle batteries. We recently had a major power problem when the main campus step-down transformer blew. Almost every computer system on campus was unavail- able for about a day and a half. All, that is, except for the "ancient", "archaic", and "obsolete" 3B20S; it barely blinked as it switched to batteries. I like a hardy machine! -- | Wes Morgan, not speaking for | {any major site}!ukma!ukecc!morgan | | the University of Kentucky's | morgan@engr.uky.edu | | Engineering Computing Center | morgan%engr.uky.edu@UKCC.BITNET | Lint is the compiler's only means of dampening the programmer's ego.
ehopper@ehpcb.WLK.COM (Ed Hopper) (11/20/90)
morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan) writes: > In article <wwgss3w163w@ehpcb.WLK.COM> ehopper@ehpcb.WLK.COM (Ed Hopper) writ > > > >3B2/300/310/400 - WE 32x00. Introductory small AT&T Mini. Rarely sold anymor > > but still orderable (I think). > > > > As far as I know, one cannot order these *systems* from AT&T. Parts, however > are available via AT&T's Parts Center, 1-800-222-PART. This number will also > get you a copy of their parts catalog <for the entire AT&T line> and addition > to the mailing list for updates. > Certainly all of the peripherals are still orderable via normal channels (i.e., your AT&T rep or dealer, without having to call PART). If anyone really cares about the status of the boxes I will try and find out (email me please). I do recall a memo coming out a few weeks ago moving the status of some 3B2 3xx/400 models to "LA" (Limited Availabilty) which is the last step before "MD" (Manufacture Discontinued). Ed Hopper ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Ed Hopper's BBS 713-997-7575 - Houston - Free Access to AT&T Employees | | USENET - ILink - Smartnet PC Board - Markmail Offline Reader System | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
prg@mgweed.UUCP (Gunsul) (11/21/90)
> > Ah, yes, the 3B20! This machine was available in two configurations: > Simplex and Duplex <hence the acronyms 3B20S and 3B20D>. It started > its life as the core of the AT&T ESS switch family, usually as a 3B20D. > Some bright soul realized the potential, threw tty support and the > full UNIX (it was already running a subset, I think) on board, and > presto! A multi-user UNIX system. We've been running a 3B20S for > about 8 years now, and the monster, while slow (.95 mips), is remarkably > bulletproof. Its UPS consists of 4 large AC Delco vehicle batteries. > We recently had a major power problem when the main campus step-down > transformer blew. Almost every computer system on campus was unavail- > able for about a day and a half. All, that is, except for the "ancient", > "archaic", and "obsolete" 3B20S; it barely blinked as it switched to > batteries. I like a hardy machine! > > -- > | Wes Morgan, not speaking for | {any major site}!ukma!ukecc!morgan | > | the University of Kentucky's | morgan@engr.uky.edu | > | Engineering Computing Center | morgan%engr.uky.edu@UKCC.BITNET | > Lint is the compiler's only means of dampening the programmer's ego. . . . and the 3B20S also had a Model 1 and 2! Two months ago, failing to find ANYONE that wanted ol' mgweed and mgwess, two 3B20S Model 1's (Serial numbers 0048 and 0089, respectively), rolled into the trailer of a trash truck and were hauled off to AT&T Central Region Junking... Following close behind were the 14, 300Mb CDC 'washing-machines'. No AT&T location and no local schools would even touch the ol' machines. They were even offered as circuit packs only and still nobody wanted them. Kind of a sad day... We still have 3, 3B20S's (Model 2) with external drives on them and two 3B20S's with the built-in Winchester drives (Model 2?). Weed and wess were replaced with a nice 3B2/1000 Model 80, a much more efficient machine, but not nearly as impressive when you walk into the computer room! Phil Gunsul - AT&T IS Montgomery IL.