MACALLSTR@vax1.physics.oxford.ac.UK (03/25/88)
After a recent mail asking for information on how to uniquely identify a VAX system, I had several replies asking why I simply don't use the SID. Well... The short answer is that the SID is not unique. The SID simply reflects the configuration of the processor hardware. If you have systems with the same processor all at the same ECO/FCO/etc levels they will have the same SID. We have four VAXstation 2000's and a microVAXII and all five have the same SID! - confirmation that the VAXstation2000 is a repackaged microVAXII. John P.S. I believe the SID may have been used differently on older systems e.g. two 780's which we bought in 1980 had different ID's although the processor configurations were identical.