garvey@netcom.UUCP (Joseph Garvey) (08/30/90)
I'm configuring a high end 486 PC for use as a UNIX engineering workstation. This is the first time I've tried doing this for a PC. (I've done unix mini-computers.) The process is quite different, and I'm soliciting comments on it. I'm hoping that some of the 386/486 Unix sys admins will take some time to reply. Once you get me jump started, I should be able to go on my own. I should also end up as a regular contributor to this group(s). If you've read comp.sys.hp, you probably know me. What I want: o 486-25, 8-ISA slots minimum, EISA is better (I think). No MCA. I've got a chassis, and power supply selected. Number of drive slots is a big issue. This has 5 full height slots. Where can I get a good motherboard, or do I have to buy a minimum system and strip the motherboard out? o SCO Unix 2.3.2 o 4167 FPU (will SCO Unix 2.3.2 work with this???, gcc???, g++???) o Exabyte tape backup (SCSI), do I need a special driver??? o Adaptec SCSI controller (which one?), EDN ran an article on the IN-2000 which didn't use 1st party DMA, but the author used an Adaptec board to format the drives. Can you use the IN-2000 from the beginning??? o 2 HP 660 MB scsi drives o 16 MB RAM, I've heard cache (esp large cache) has a significant improvement on unix performance. There may be a day I need more than 16 MB. I would prefer not to use a slot for memory (or more memory), so a higher onboard RAM capability for the motherboard would be nice. o LAN capability, NFS (client/server), TCP/IP, ARPA tools o X11 o 1280x1024 color (at least under X11). I'm really stumped here. NEC 5D monitor looks good... but what video board. HP sells a nice TIGA/DGIS board, but does SCO work with it??? o Serial port board, 8-ports (or more). Hardware/Software handshaking required. Totally lost here. o UPS. Open to suggestions. I don't need anything more than the ability to shut the system down from full load. Though remote start might be nice. Depending on the electric bill, I may leave it on all the time. o Printing will be a LJIII, 4 MB ram, HP postscript cartridge. I have decided some things. :-) I've done a few rough calculations of the cost. I know what I'm letting myself in for. Some people buy sports cars with their $$$, I buy fast computers. :-) One of the ways I can save a few bucks (sales tax is 7.5% so few is probably the wrong adjective) is to buy from out of state. Can you help me out with out of state mail-order houses? Dealers welcome. -- Joe Garvey Usenet: netcom!garvey 408-241-6674 (California) Internet: garvey%netcom@apple.com