To: 386users@TWG.COM Subject: 80386 mailing list, vol 4 #18 Date: 12 Mar 89 14:17:18 EST (Sun) From: "Wm E. Davidsen" 80386 User's mailing list vol 4 #18 Mar 12, 1989 In this issue: 386 Unix/Xenix via Inboard 386? Everex Step 20 power-on answers [ summary ] real time operating systems for 386 The addresses for the list are now: 386users@TWG.COM - for contributions to the list or ...!uunet!TWG.COM!386users 386users-request@TWG.COM - for administrivia or ...!uunet!TWG.COM!386users-request P L E A S E N O T E If you want to get on or off the list, or change your address, please mail to the 386users-request address, or the message will be delayed by having to hand forward it (for your convenience, not mine). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: rkh@mtune.ATT.COM (Robert Halloran) AT&T ISL Middletown NJ USA Subject: 386 Unix/Xenix via Inboard 386? Date: 7 Mar 89 15:25:21 GMT Is it possible to upgrade a 286-based system using the Intel Inboard/386 to successfully run 386 Unix or Xenix? A friend is looking to possibly upgrade and is wondering if this is a viable alternative to replacing the motherboard. Please reply by e-mail. Thanks. Bob Halloran ========================================================================= UUCP: att!mtune!rkh Internet: rkh@mtune.ATT.COM USPS: 17 Lakeland Dr, Port Monmouth NJ 07758 DDD: 201-495-6621 eve ET Disclaimer: If you think AT&T would have ME as a spokesman, you're crazed. Quote: "Well, if it wasn't Buckaroo Banzai, I'd say 'commit the man.'" - where else? ------------------------------ From: chip@ateng.ateng.com (Chip Salzenberg) A T Engineering, Tampa, FL Subject: Everex Step 20 power-on answers Date: 7 Mar 89 19:17:02 GMT [ I think some of these replies may have been posted, but you can just skip the whole article if you've seen it ] A long time ago in this newsgroup, I posted a query about power-on problems with Everex Step 20 motherboards. In particular, I noted that the Rev E motherboards would sometimes fail to power-on properly when an attached printer or tape drive was turned on first. I received several replies, and I'm thankful for all of them. Here is a summary. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: blew@tc.fluke.COM (Bob Lewandowski) I posted a request for info a while ago on the Step machine and I got several responses, some indicated problems with the bus compatability because of speed, overheating of the Weitek chips, a problem with SCSI host boards from WD and Adaptec, and problems running some versions of Unix. Your problem is news to me, but all the other problems were associated with older versions of the mother-board (prior to Rev G). What you describe sounds like a problem I ran into a while ago with a similar situation where when the printer was on you couldn't turn on a device that the printer was connected to. It was a problem with power coming back into the off device via its printer port driver logic. The printer would feed power back to pull the off device's +5V bus up enough so that it's processor wouldn't reset properly when it's power was turned on, causing it to go into outer space. We ended up putting in some diodes to isolate the supply of the off device from power coming back in it's printer output pins. It was a kind of kludgey solution but it did solve the problem. The diodes went between the +5V supply and the Vcc pins on the packs that were driving the printer port. Resistors could be put between the Vcc pins and ground to keep a minimum current through each of the diodes. You can just pull pin 16 on the driver packs out of the board and insert the diode with the anode in the hole in the board and the cathode to the lead. [A simple solution to a weird problem.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Clarence Dold I have an Everex Step386/20, running SCO Xenix 2.3, with an Epson FX286 parallel, an Archive 150MB SCSI-QIC, a Micropolis 145MB SCSI, a Future Domain SCSI controller, with Xenix kernel mods, and an Arnet smart 4- port board driving Link MC-10 terminals and slave printers. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uunet!ames!mips!sgi.sgi.com!calcite!vjs (Vernon Schryver) I have an Everex 386/20, with an Archive tape (Everex "Excel Stream 60"), as well as two parallel printers. The dealer who sold it to me now says "concerning adding Weitek...you're right to worry about heat...upgrade from Rev E to Rev G for $", so I presume I have a Rev E board. (That is not a complaint--I heard the rumors before I bought the machine). The number on tag on the back of the box has an 'E', as further evidence. (Sorry, but I don't feel like tearing it apart to check the foil in order to say for certain.) [So the Rev E boards have heat problems... interesting!] I have never seen the sympthoms you describe. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uunet!dalsqnt!vector!chip (Chip Rosenthal) [This story is a bit strong for re-publication. Suffice it to say that he had a bad experience with an Everex motherboard that wouldn't work. He's switched to Micronics and he's happy now. This is the only such story I received, compared to several that reported (almost) no problems.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uunet!uunet!aablue!jb You're not the only one with problems on Everex hardware, although mine seem to be more of the ghost variety. All of my machines, so far, have been Rev E mom-boards. We have only been using Tecmar QT series tape drives, including externals, and I have not experienced any problems if they have been on when the rest of the system is powered up. I would lean towards the controller on your tape drive confusing your bus with stray signals or possibly even a shorting condition. ie. what happens if you leave the tape off, boot, turn the tape on, and press the beloved red reset switch behind the door? [It works: Reset brings a hung Rev E motherboard back to life.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dave@micropen (David F. Carlson) We have used Steps here since last spring. We have had *1* customer report of this sort (rev E) and were unable to duplicate the problem here (Everex QIC-02 tape card.) By my experience, not all revs of E boards will fail with certain devices attached, but those that do [have lots of problems]. I'm glad I know what this little deal is now. [So some problems are not common to *all* Rev E motherboards.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: jbayer@ispi.UUCP (Jonathan Bayer) [Jonathan suggests that the "tape reset" command will notify the driver that the tape drive has just been turned on. We tried it, and the tape drive did in fact reset, but then we couldn't do I/O. Sorry, we lose.] We're running a Step 25 here, with no problems such as you described. ======================================================================== So, folks, that's the story. It looks like: 1. Rev E motherboards sometimes fail. Some failures are heat-related. Some failures just disappear. 2. Rev G motherboard seem to work much better than Rev E. 3. If you've got the hang-on-power-on problems, get an upgrade to rev G. Thank you, and goodnight. -- Chip Salzenberg or A T Engineering Me? Speak for my company? Surely you jest! "It's no good. They're tapping the lines." ------------------------------ From: Ken Seefried iii Subject: real time operating systems for 386 Date: Wed, 8 Mar 89 18:30:38 EST Kenneth Salisbury asked about real time OS's for his Dell 310 80386 systems. The products that I know about are the ones from VenturCom. They sell two things that might be of use. The first is Venix, a Unix System V.2 (SVID) for the 80286 with real time extentions. Should run just fine on a 386. The second is called 386/RT, and is advertised as a real time extention to ISC 386/ix Unix System V.3. Venix is a pretty good product. I don't know anything about 386/RT other than what the ad says. Seems like these products would be a good way to go. You get the real-time stuff along with the excellent software development facilities of Unix. You can reach VenturCom at +1 617 661 1230. Disclaimer: VenturCom and I have no buisiness conection... ...ken seefried iii ken@gatech.edu ------------------------------ End of 80386 M/L ****************