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From: keithe@tekgvs.TEK.COM (Keith Ericson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Vendor Recommendation (was: Building a UNIX system)
Message-ID: <2643@tekgvs.TEK.COM>
Date: Tue, 8-Sep-87 19:47:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekgvs.2643
Posted: Tue Sep  8 19:47:08 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 10-Sep-87 05:31:33 EDT
References: <4305@teddy.UUCP>
Reply-To: keithe@tekgvs.UUCP (Keith Ericson)
Distribution: na
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR.
Lines: 62

In article <4305@teddy.UUCP> jpn@teddy.UUCP (John P. Nelson) writes:
>I'm trying to put together a 80386 UNIX system.  I'd like to hear any
>recommendations/horror stories that the net might have, both Hardware
>and Software.
>
>My requirements:  I'd like to get a 16 or 20 Meg 386 system, Hopefully
>with 3 or 4 Meg of 32bit ram.  A 1.2 Meg floppy will probably suffice
>at first, but I want the ability to upgrade to a tape drive later.  I
>need at LEAST 20Meg of usable file space after the system software is
>loaded (and swap space allocated).
>
I can speak to part of the hardware issue, and recommend a potential
vendor. We've been evaluating the Intel 80386 motherboards with the
80387s. (These are the "Fab 6" boards that _do_ function with the
80387.) Intel has proven to us that they are *serious* about only
producing high quality boards; the couple of problems we've run into
have been met with very high-level action to insure that it won't
happen again. (If anyone out there is having hardware problems I
know Intel will want to hear about - and will quickly take measures
to remedy - them.

Together with a pair of the Intel MEM020 boards (2 Megabyte, 32-bit-
wide) memory boards (for a total of 4-1/2 megabytes of RAM) and a
suitably sized hard disk you'll have a decent UNIX platform. (We've
been running Interactive's 386 System V.) We have Miniscribe 6085's in
some, Maxtor 2190's in others. (Unfortunately the disk controllers only
access 1024 of the 2190's 1224 cylinders, so instead of the almost 160
megabytes of disk we can only get to 115 megabytes. The WD 1006
controller, which does address 2048 cylinders, for some reason won't
properly cold boot, so I'm waiting for the new version of the 1006.
Sigh.)

One source for this hardware is Eltech Research, Inc., of Milpitas CA.
They sell the Intel motherboard system (I've verified - phone call -
that it is the Fab 6 version), running at 16 MHz with a Seagate ST251
(40 Megabyte), Teac High density floppy, HD/FD controller (probably
Everex), EGA controller (Everex MicroEnhancer - vanilla EGA), and Nanoa
"Hi-res" (820 x 620) monitor, the case, power supply, and keyboard,
burned in for 96 hours for $3,139.  And the 4 Megabytes of RAM will add
another $1200, for a total of $4,339.  For a UNIX system I'd recommend
swapping the ST251 for and ST4096 (full-height, 85 Megabytes).
Probably bump the price by something like $500-$550. (I've never seen
the Nanoa monitor but it's specs look impressive. We have NEC
Multisysnc's - they're OK.) I don't know what the 80387 will cost.

If you're interested, check out Eltech's ads in InfoWorld or PC Week.
Their phone number is (408) 942-0990. (I've always dealt with Angie
Wong, but there's no reason that others can't give you good service,
too.)

I have no connection with Eltech other than being a very (make that
very, VERY) satisfied customer. They've shown themselves to be
aggressive in pricing and service - even to the point of shipping
replacements to us before receiving our original parts (E.g., I
mis-ordered some tape-controller cards (internal instead of external);
the originals are still on my desk, waiting for paperwork from
Purchasing, while the replacements have already been shipped by
Eltech.) There are local companies I could deal with, but for now I'll
stick with a proven vendor.

keith (these are my own opinions, but I formed them on my employer's
       time - and money) ericson