All-
Regarding my question about DEC 3000 machines and supported video at DU 4.x,
I received responses from:
Gyula Szokoly <szgyula_at_tarkus.pha.jhu.edu>
Harvey Rarback 630-252-0427 <RARBACK_at_cars3.uchicago.edu>
"Charles M. Richmond" <cmr_at_koibito.iisc.com>
"Dr. Tom Blinn, 603-884-0646" <tpb_at_zk3.dec.com>
Brian Benson <brian_at_darwin.lsmsa.edu>
My thanks to each of them!
As suspected, the built in video is supported. The ubiquitous Tom Blinn
had the response that detailed the situation the best, so I've included his
response in full.
It's also worth noting, as he did, that owners were notified in advance if
their video options were going to be unsupported, and the information was
communicated in multiple ways. Unfortunately for me, the workstation in
question is in another department on campus, and our campus operates on the
"loosely confederated feudal states" model, so I had no idea what information
the owner had received. The release notes for any of the 4.x releases do
indeed indicate (section 8.5) that the "Denali" graphics option is unsupported
on the DEC 3000 system under 4.x. Since I had no previous experience with
the 3000 I had no idea if that applied to this workstation or not, so I
thought it prudent to ask.
Thanks again to all!
> All-
>
> I'm preparing to upgrade a workstation in another department on campus from
> 3.x to 4.0d, but there's one thing I'm concerned about.
>
> I've seen many different messages in the past regarding DEC 3000 workstations
> and various video options being unsupported. Before I upgrade this
> workstation, I need to be sure that I won't run into problems with the video
> being unsupported.
>
> The workstation in question is a DEC 3000 M300LX, and it's using the built-in
> video board. I believe this means that it's a PMAGB-BE or PMAGB-BF (based
> on information in the owner's guide), but I'm not positive.
>
> I have to believe that it's supported, being it's the built-in video, but
> I thought I would check to make certain.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tim
> --
> Tim Mooney mooney_at_dogbert.cc.ndsu.NoDak.edu
> Information Technology Services (701) 231-1076 (Voice)
> Room 242-J1, IACC Building (701) 231-8541 (Fax)
> North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5164
The built-in video on ANY of the DEC 3000 family is supported. The only video
on TURBOchannel systems for which support has been dropped to date was one of
the mid-range 3D graphics options for which support was provided in the Open3D
kit. This announcement affected a small number of systems, was communicated
in a variety of forums, and took place during the V3.2x timeframe, if not even
earlier. Of course, some people pay no attention and discovered that support
for the option they happened to have installed had been dropped long after the
fact.
There are two places to look for information on base graphics support (that
is, 2D options). One is the DIGITAL UNIX release notes. The other is the
DIGITAL UNIX Software Product Description. And, of course, pay attention when
new kits come out, read the release notes even if you don't plan to install
the release right away.
Tom
Dr. Thomas P. Blinn, UNIX Software Group, Digital Equipment Corporation
110 Spit Brook Road, MS ZKO3-2/U20 Nashua, New Hampshire 03062-2698
Technology Partnership Engineering Phone: (603) 884-0646
Internet: tpb_at_zk3.dec.com Digital's Easynet: alpha::tpb
ACM Member: tpblinn_at_acm.org PC_at_Home: tom_at_felines.mv.net
Worry kills more people than work because more people worry than work.
Keep your stick on the ice. -- Steve Smith ("Red Green")
My favorite palindrome is: Satan, oscillate my metallic sonatas.
-- Phil Agre, pagre_at_ucsd.edu
Yesterday it worked / Today it is not working / UNIX is like that
-- apologies to Margaret Segall
Opinions expressed herein are my own, and do not necessarily represent
those of my employer or anyone else, living or dead, real or imagined.
Received on Sun May 10 1998 - 23:24:03 NZST