IBM S/390 mainframe on epay

[Patrick Finnegan]

On Monday 07 March 2005 00:17, Wai-Sun Chia wrote:
> Anybody has extra electrical power and nowhere to burn it?
> Or anybody trying to upgrade their central heating system?
>
> Get it now! ;-)
> http://tinyurl.com/6yqbv

Actually, S/390s don't use all *that* much power.  They're rated for 
around 0.6-5.6kW for the CPU, with 5.6kW probably for a completely 
loaded 2-frame system.  That one probably draws less than 1.5kW.  The 
one I've got drew about 1.8kW when it was up and running.  Massively 
less than a furnace does (when running, not necessarily average load).

Also, you'll need (or at least want) more than just a CPU to get a 
usable system.  Think disk drive controller (1 rack) drive array(s) (1 
or more racks), tape drive and controller (2 racks for a 3480/3490 or 
an emulator device plus a peecee or UNIX box), a terminal controller 
(size runs between a 12" tall box and a full rack), and some sort of 
3270-type terminal.

If you want to do S390/Linux on it, you can probably get away with just 
the CPU + a tape emulator to boot from (think NFS-root).  That's not a 
great way to run things though.

That being said, I might actually spring for that guy, as he's not *too* 
far from me, and for a reasonable start bid (less than the $1k other 
ones seem to be starting at).  It's even a newer generation than what 
I've got (it's a G4, I've got a G3).

Unfortunately, not old enough to be "classic" as per the 10-year rule, 
but still fun in my book. :)

Pat
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