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From: herndon@sctc.com (William R. Herndon)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apollo
Subject: Questions on DN3000.  Please help.
Message-ID: <1990Sep27.211009.5470@sctc.com>
Date: 27 Sep 90 21:10:09 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Secure Computing Technology Corporation
Lines: 49


    I have the opportunity to purchase a DN3000 very inexpensively for use
    as a personal workstation.  This machine has 4 Mbytes of RAM onboard
    and a 170 Mbyte Micropolis disk on an ESDI controller, but before I buy
    it I'd like to try and get some questions answered.

    1.  What is likely make and model of this controller?  The current owner
        states that it will accept one more disk and at least one floppy.
        HP/Apollo, on the other hand, states that it will not take another 
        disk, won't give me any information about what make or model 
        the controller is likely to be, and won't tell me where I can get
        a compatibility list for the DN3000.  They did say though that Apollo
        machines ARE NOT compatible with Western Digital controllers

    2.  Is Apollo usually this hard to deal with?

    3.  Can anyone direct me to a compatability list for the machine?

    4.  I am given to understand that this machine has 5 16 bit AT compatible
        slots.  Is this correct?  With a Motorola processor on the mother 
        board?  The owner informs me that the ESDI controller as well as the
        Token Ring controller are occupying two of these slots.

    5.  OK, assuming that it is possible, does this mean that off the shelf
        AT compatable hardware can be expected to work in the DN3000 
        ( assuming of course that the OS has correct drivers, and I can get the
        jumpers set correctly )?  I am primarily interested in these slots so 
        that I can expand the machine with a serial/parallel card and perhaps 
        a controller for a cartridge tape.

    6.  Does Apollo sell a hardware manual on this machine that I could 
        purchase seperately?

    7.  Does anyone have any general comments on the idea of using this 
        machine as a personal workstation.  Note that I am counting on the 
        fact that Domain 10.2's varient of BSD 4.3 is good enough to allow
        me to add a fair amount of PD software.
    
    Any and all help is appreciated.  Thanks in advance.


								- Max

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R. Herndon                              
Secure Computing Technology Corp.                  The opinions expressed are 
                                                   mine, ALL MINE!  HEH, HEH, 
herndon@sctc.com				   HEH, HEH!!!
(612) 482-7431