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From: ken@hpcupt3.cup.hp.com (Kenneth M. Sumrall)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Do the Series 500 Workstations run HP BASIC/WS?
Message-ID: <48580038@hpcupt3.cup.hp.com>
Date: 28 Jun 91 04:04:53 GMT
References: <44375@fmsrl7.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino
Lines: 38

>
>    I was just asked if HP 9000 Series 500 workstations can run HP
>    Workstation BASIC, and I haven't a clue.
>
RMB runs on the 500, but only on the model 520, also known as the 9020.

>    Somebody just got a good deal on a used 500 for a project. The
>    machine came with HP-UX 5.? on it. The proud new owner heard that
>    the machine doesn't run RMB, and now he's worried. Personally, I'd
>    be surprised if it didn't (I've been programming 300s since '85,
>    and 500s were big brothers to the 300s then - of course, they're
>    obsolete now). But, I know very little specific about the 500s.
>
>    What are the major similarities/differences between 500s and 300s?
>    Do 500s use DIO slots? Do they have built in HPIB?  Anybody have a
>    spare set of 500 documentation laying around collecting dust?
>
Similarities:  Both run HP-UX, both run RMB.
Differences:   Just about everything else.

The s500 uses the FOCUS stack for CPU, MEMORY, and IOP cards.  It uses CIO
slots for the rest of I/O.  No DIO slots.

The 550 has a builtin HP-IB port.  It also supports a graphics box that plugs
into the FOCUS stack.

I believe s500 documentation is still available.

The part number for RMB is 97050B.  I don't know if HP still sells it, though.

>    Thanks in advance for anything and everything you can offer.
>
Your welcome.

| Ken Sumrall                          |     Internet: ken%hpda@hplabs.hp.com |
| HP California Language Labs          |           UUCP:  ...!hplabs!hpda!ken |
|    "I'd stomp desert dope heads for some gas in my moped!" - Bill the Cat   |
|              "What a stupid world" -Calvin (speaking to Hobbes)             |