Re: Sorta OT: PC-Server 704

Hi Helmut !

I'd tried to call you various time with no result.
Ooof. Wonder if I have written down the right number.

S-704 is a quite nice machine.
*If* it comes with 2 CPU boards and all 12 drivetrays installed. Machine
takes SIMMs (other than the largely identical Netfinity 7000 which takes
DIMMs). It takes 16 / 32 / 64 128MB / 60ns 72-pin tin lead SIMMs *in
matching quads* ! 1GB max. RAM.

You might come away with NT4. Linux as option if it has the DAC-960 Raid controller *and* 2 Flash-RAM chips (512K I suppose) for the updated firmware required for the DAC driver.

It has "generic" Intel drivetrays that accept standard SCA-80 drives.
No extra trays and adapters required. It is basically an Intel 450GX
reference design unit - with IBM badges and IBM color and comes with IBM
manuals. There was a machine from SNI and one from HP IIRC (and some
"minor companies" as well) which used exactly the same design but
different frontpanels.

It might not like the 200MHZ / 1MB L2 cache PPro's, since the last
revision Server 704 BIOS is *not* identical with the last for NF-7000.
I think S-704 ends at 1.00.12, while NF-7000 steps up to 1.00.16.
Phoenix Bios IIRC.
It will most likely work with it, but you might experience some
interesting ... err ... "individualistic misbehaviours" (like unexpected
memory errors or suchlike).

You cannot use the newer 3.3V-only PCI adapters. Must be 5V-only or 3.3V
/ 5V tolerant types. But they won't fit in the slot anyway.

If yours comes without the second (redundancy) power supply ... well ...
I would not use more than 6 10K / 36GB drives ... ;-)

The Raid adapters used with them are either the Mylex DAC960-based
ServeRaid 1 or the ServeRaid II - if any.
2 x F/W SCSI onboard. Based on AIC-7870.


--
Very friendly greetings from Peter in Germany
http://www.mcamafia.de/mcapage0/mcaindex.htm

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