Networking a very old workstation

I've pulled a DECStation 3100 out of mothballs, and I need to retrieve
some files off of it. It was last booted in about 1992. Amazingly, I
can still get it to boot if I try a few times, wiggle the wires, and
whack it just right.

The workstation used to be networked, but I can't get it to talk now.
Can any of you old-timers give me any advice?

Here's what I've done. I found an old Genius LAN 10mbs hub with a BNC
connector. I found a 6 foot thinnet cable, two Ts and two terminators.
I tested this setup on a BNC JetDirect device and was able to ping it
and print through it so I know that hardware works.

When I hook up the hub to my network 192.168.1.x network and cold boot
the workstation, it can't ping anything. Here's what it tells me:

# ifconfig ln0
ln0: 192.168.1.80 netmask ffffff00
flags=0x443(DYNPROTO,RUNNING,BROADCAST,UP) broadcast: 192.168.1.255

# cat /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 localhost echodata
192.168.1.80 fluke # This is the workstation.
192.168.1.3 obiwan # This is the windows computer I want to FTP to.

# cat /etc/networks
loop 127 loopback
mynet 192.168.1.0 # Is this right?

# ping fluke
fluke is alive

# ping obiwan
no answer from obiwan

# ping 192.168.1.3
no answer from 192.168.1.3

When I ping any external IP address, the BNC light on the hub doesn't
flash, so I think no traffic is making it to the hub. I've tried adding
a route, but I'm not sure what is needed:
# route add mynet obiwan 0

I've also tinkered with arp, but it makes no difference:
# arp -s obiwan 00:0E:35:e2:8D:01 temp

The workstation is running Ultrix V4.0 (Rev. 163). At boot it tells me:

ln0 at ibus0
ln0: DEC LANCE Ethernet Interface

Can anyone tell me what I've missed? It's been too long since I've
configured an old Unix system. Why can't I ping? Is the ethernet card
busted? I also can't ping it from other computers on the network. The
inetd is running. If I disconnect the BNC T from the hub while the hub
is powered on, the BNC light turns red. When I reconnect, the light
goes out. It never flashes green like it should.

Thanks for your help.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Lost netconfig, how to get it back
    ... >use to plug my server was blinking fast and often, the HUB,s red ... The collision lights are normal in a hub environment. ... - ping the IP of anyother locally connected machine or router. ... Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv. ...
    (comp.unix.sco.misc)
  • Re: Need help setting IP address on DS20 (VMS 7.3)
    ... I can ping the other systems in the hub from the PC. ... INET driver before I could even see the interfaces with TCPIP SHOW INT. ... But that's not the case on this DS20. ...
    (comp.os.vms)
  • Re: Real-Time Network monitoring
    ... a hub is the cheapest/no feature pice of hardware. ... When you ping one of your systems, the hub brodcasts the ... Now your router, has the most brains. ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: Problem pinging other computers
    ... >I have swapped around all cables and switched hubs to no avail. ... > all computers are connected to the same switch. ... > computers can ping and others can't regardless of hardware. ... >> Cable from Hub to Hub faulty ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.networking)
Loading