Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpfcso!rjn From: rjn@hpfcso.HP.COM (Bob Niland) Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp Subject: Re: HP 9000/400 question Message-ID: <7370187@hpfcso.HP.COM> Date: 9 Aug 90 00:03:43 GMT References: Organization: Hewlett-Packard/FSY Ft.Collins,CO,USA Lines: 59 re: > I have a HP 9000/375 computer. Somebody informs me that any software > developed on my 375 will run on a 9000/400 series computer. Correct. For the same revs of HP-UX, the 300 and 400 are binary compatible. The HP-UX software is the very same product on both 300 and 400. Even hardware-level I/O drivers should work (although recompilation may be wise due to kernel table structure changes from release to release). > What kind of architecture is it? Compared to your 375, these things are the same: * Same SPU architecture, including 68030 processor daughter board, cache and memory management. Your self-modifying code for your 300 will work fine on your 400, (but will break on both 300 & 400 when you upgrade to 68040 with copyback cache enabled :-) * Both 300 and 400 upgradable to 68040. * Same RAM boards (SIMMs). * Same backplane (DIO-II), although future 400's will move away from DIO. * Same built-in AUI/ThinLAN, low-speed HP-IB, SCSI, HP-HIL, beep, centronics and first RS-232C port * 4 new video interfaces were introduced with the s400. They are also supported on the 300 (various releases). These things are different: * Boot ROM is a superset of the 300, and can boot DOMAIN as well as HP-UX. - Apollo keyboard port present (ignored by HP-UX). - Apollo serial ports 2&3 present (supported by HP-UX in a future rel). - Apollo token ring port optional. * The deskside 400 supports built-in SCSI peripherals (3 full-high 5.25-inch spaces, one divisible into 2 half-high). Although the 340 and 345 support a single 3.5-inch hard disk, no previous 300 has supported built-in 5.25 devices. * Maximum of 6 available DIO-II slots (vs 10 on 375). * Only two DIO-I (I/O) slot possible (vs 10 pairs on 375). * No built-in "Option 010" high-speed HP-IB available on 400. Must order separate 98625B card and A1401A DIO-II to DIO-I/O downconverter. * Any customer-supplied DIO cards that are bus-masters need to be re-tested on the 400 looking for 300-specific shortcuts assumed in their designs. * 3 EISA/ISA slots possible on 400"S" (vs 4 VME on 375). VME may yet become available on the 400. Regards, Hewlett-Packard Bob Niland Internet: rjn@hpfcrjn.FC.HP.COM 3404 East Harmony Road UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcrjn!rjn Ft Collins CO 80525-9599