Sparc5 bits wanted

James Rice jrice54 at blackcube.org
Fri Apr 1 07:06:25 CST 2005


Andy Holt wrote:

>>(eep, is a Sparc5 on topic?!)
>>    
>>
>Service manual* is dated August 1994. Downloading it from the web would be a
>good start.
>
>* not really what Tony would call a service manual :-)
>
>BTW, there are two types of SS5 - the three slower speeds are one type, the
>S5-170
>has some differences that can cause problems with some versions of BSD or
>Linux
>(not that I've had any such problem)
>

Nextstep 3.3 will run nicely on all SS5's except the 170mhz version  It 
barfs on the Fujitsu chip in the 170.

>>hile clearing out the soon-to-be dining room where all my stuff has been
>>stored for the last couple of years I found a Sparc5 that I'd completely
>>forgotten about. It's been completely robbed of bits that I can see -
>>memory, floppy drive, CD, HDD - so what's the minimum I can get away with
>>before at least powering it up to see if it works? The only spare memory
>>I've got is PC100 (may even be PC66) 168-pin DIMMS.
>>    
>>
The SS5 uses a JDEC 5v SIMM similar to Tsunami based Mac's.  I seem to 
recall that 5v FPM Mac SIMMs will work in a SS5

>
>Minimum is one stick in socket nearest the back of the unit 168 pin 60ns ...
>but I think it needs EDO or even FP RAM rather than SDRAM.
>Doesn't need floppy, CD or HD to get into console monitor.
>
>  
>
>>Can I use a serial console on it or do I need a 13w3 monitor cable?
>>    
>>
>
>"all" SUN sparcs can work either with serial console on port A or kb+screen
>(if you
>have a display board - if all 3 SBUS slots are empty then you cannot use the
>keyboard and screen).
>
>  
>
>>The
>>HDD looks like it's a standard SCA-80 connection
>>    
>>
>
>it is - but if you haven't got one of the right type of mounting brackets
>you won't be able to secure them properly (same type as on a SS20 - and the
>cheapest way to get one is to get a complete SS5 or SS20
>for a fiver - or less - on eBay :-( ).
>
>  
>
I'm in the US but I bought a whole box of 50 brackets for $20.  I could 
send you one.

>>....keyboard and mouse are
>>there but I hope I don't need one of those foil mousemats!
>>    
>>
>
>If the mouse has a ball it don't need no steenkin' mats.
>  
>

True. 

>  
>
>>Assuming it does work does anyone have a floppy and CD spare for
>>this thing?
>>    
>>
>
>I probably have a floppy ex a SS10 spare - but floppies were not commonly
>used on the SS5 anyhow.
>The thin SCSI CD drives are harder to come by - usually easier to use an
>external one - likely to need one that will work with 512 byte sectors ...
>  
>

If it's a 170mhz version it's likely to be in an Aurora2 chassis that 
uses a standard form factor SCSI CD-ROM.  Still with the 512 byte 
requirement

>for some OSes this will be vital.
>If you haven't a copy of Solaris/SUNos (and don't want to use Linux or BSD)
>I can probably find a copy of most versions. It will run Solaris 9 - but if
>you use the default installation procedure that will take all day; the
>alternative one is _much_ quicker.
>
>
>  
>
If you want NS for the SS5, I can probably locate a copy. 

James  (2-SS5 110mhz, 2-SS5 170mhz)

-- 
www.blackcube.org  The Texas State Home for Wayward and Orphaned Computers




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