Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpfcso!hpfcdc!rer
From: rer@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Rob Robason)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Anyone familiar w/ HP9000 series 520?
Message-ID: <5570450@hpfcdc.HP.COM>
Date: 17 Jul 90 16:26:20 GMT
References: <1990Jun27.215251.9406@sunstone.idbsu.edu>
Organization: HP Ft. Collins, Co.
Lines: 62

jahn> We were just given an HP9000 series 520, 3 processors, 8Mg
jahn> memory, HP7937 disc drive, with HP-UX (uname -a says 5.21 B?),
jahn> ...  something called Network Services/9000 (with things like
jahn> NFT??), and a HP27125A Interface card (it says ethernet and
jahn> IEEE802.3).

jahn> Does this sound familiar to anyone?  I'd like to find a corner in
jahn> some department where it could be of use, ...  it appears to be
jahn> sysV-like, and has the C compiler.  Can this thing talk TCP/IP
jahn> without spending money?

With the offer of the gentleman in a previous response to give you
WIN/9000 Berkeley/ARPA services, this will make a nice system.  You are
running the 5.2 version of the OS which, with the exception of a few
minor defect fixes in 5.3, is the latest version (in fact you may
actually be running 5.3, since I'm not sure the output of uname changed
with 5.3).

The 500 was a very nice system and was the first to provide symetric
multi-processing with up to 3 identical processors.  With the 8MB of RAM
you have, and the 3 processors, it should serve you well, though at
about 3MIPS it doesn't hold a candle to todays latest workstations.

The 520 Desktop system was replaced by the 300 series workstations,
while the 530/540/550 were replaced by our later PA-RISC 800 series.
They're all 9000s and run HP-UX, thus supporting a high degree of
portability.

A few limitations which you'll might want to be aware of:

* The display is not bitmapped (i.e.  does not support X Windows),
    though it can still do some pretty impressive graphics and screams
    as a terminal.

* The CPU is a stack based, segmented architecture.  Segments, by
    default, consist of TEXT (one per .o file linked in), GLOBAL DATA
    (heap where memory is malloc'ed, among other things, and the STACK
    (limited to 500 KB).  TEXT and STACK segments are swapped whole,
    while GLOBAL data is paged.

* Processes can only run on one processor at a time.  There is not
    provision to automatically co-process, though you can do this
    programmatically if you use shared-memory.  The best and easiest use
    of the multi-CPU capability is with multi-tasking, where the OS
    manages the scheduling of the 3 CPUs.

* The Network Services package may be needed for WIN/9000.  Other than
    that, they are only useful for connecting to other HP systems
    including the 1000 and 3000 with Network File Transfer (NFT), a sort
    of HP-only, pre-ARPA, ftp.

You may want to pick up some sort of backup device like a cartridge tape
drive, since you didn't describe one above.  You may also wish to add an
8 channel MUX for terminal connection or a 6 channel MUX for
modem/terminal connection.

With the 550 MB disk you mentioned you have, this system is still very
usable today.

Good Luck!

Rob "Old 500 user and SE" Robason