Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucbvax!hplabs!hpfcso!rjn
From: rjn@hpfcso.HP.COM (Bob Niland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Status of TCP/IP, ftp, etc. on 500 series machines
Message-ID: <7370067@hpfcso.HP.COM>
Date: 11 Jan 90 19:57:05 GMT
References: <21707@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Lines: 36

re: > I was hired to SysAdmin an HP 9000 model 500 ...

>  1.  Have the 500 series computers been declared obsolete
>      by HP?

Production was discontinued in 1989.  The hardware will remain on service
life for 10 years.  Accessories and software should be available through
1990.


>  2.  What is the most current version of the OS?  Can I
>      get in for cheap?  Will it fix any of these problems?

HP-UX 5.3.  To my knowledge, no further releases are planned.  Without
knowing the number of users and the specific SPU model number, I can't quote
an exact price.  Here is a ballpark figure (which does not include your
institution's educational discount):

 97089C        Model 550/560 16-user HP-UX 5.3        $5250.00
   Option 001  Upgrade discount                       -2625.00
   Option 022  Software on cartridge tape                 0.00

   
>  3.  I have been told that we have an "ethernet card" and
>      "an ethernet kernal driver" for the 500, courtesy of HP.
>      What is the official HP idea of how to use these things?

Probably a 27125A or 27125B LAN card.  It can connect to Ethernet 1.0 or
IEEE 802.3 nets, via 10BASE5 thickMAU or 10BASE2 thinMAU.  The HP network
software ("NS") for the Series 500 essentially only talks to other HP
systems.  ARPA/Berkeley services are available from a third party, the
Wollongong Group.  I have no ordering or pricing information.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland      rjn%hpfcrjn@hplabs.HP.COM             3404 East Harmony Road
                UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcla!rjn      Ft Collins CO 80525-9599